BRUSSELS, July 24 (UPI) -- Internal talks among EU member states regarding an expansion of the group's monitoring mission in Georgia is a positive step, Georgia's EU ambassador says.
Ambassador Salome Samadashvili praised EU members' discussions of including personnel from the United States or Turkey in the Georgia mission following the recent withdrawal of international observers, the EUobserver said Friday.
"There should be an interest from all sides in building bridges with the U.S. or other parties to make sure there is a wider presence, both institutionally and on the ground," Samadashvili said.
Russia brought about the withdrawal of observers from the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe earlier this year.
Wednesday's discussion between EU officials resulted in support from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic for potential third party involvement in Georgia.
The EUobserver said Georgia has expressed a willingness to accept Turkey as an addition to the EU mission. No news regarding Georgia's take on potential U.S. involvement was reported.
