We discuss Georgia frequently with our EU partners. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed international monitoring with his EU counterparts at the June European Council. My noble Friend the Minister for Europe, Baroness Kinnock, went on patrol with the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) on 24 June 2009.
The closure of the UN and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe missions in Georgia makes monitoring of the security and humanitarian situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia more difficult. Our EU partners have agreed with the UK that the extension of the mandate of the EUMM is even more important in these changed circumstances. We continue to lobby Russia to use its influence to help EUMM gain access to the separatist regions.