European Community Monitoring Mission Medal

 

Post Yugoslavia Civil Wars - 1991.

 

Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.

 

 

The European Community Monitoring Mission Medal is a campaign medal presented for peace keeping services as authorised by the European Community. The medal was instituted in 1995 and was awarded to personnel who had served at least 21 days monitoring borders, inter-ethnic relations and refugee traffic in the former Yugoslavia (and Georgia) between 27 July 1991 and 30 June 1993.

 

Service undertaken on behalf of the European Community did not count as qualifying service for the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal.

 

 

The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter and was struck in silver. The obverse of this medal depicts at its centre an image showing the outline of Yugoslavia with the inscription; ‘EC MONITOR MISSION’ within. Around the rim of the medal are 12 five pointed stars representing the European Community countries that were involved.

 

The reverse depicts a dove - the symbol of peace.

 

The ribbon is attached by way of a trough shaped ‘ringlet’ which surmounts the medal.

 

The medal was issued un-named.

 

 

 

The ribbon is 36mm wide and Navy blue in colour. Narrow blue, white and red strips are found along either edge, while two narrow yellow stripes are located towards the centre.

 

 

None were authorised for this medal.

 

Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.

 

 

 

* It should be noted that the values quoted above reflect the average price that a medal dealer may expect to sell this medal for - please see the ‘things you should know’ web page for more details about valuing medals.

 

 

This section contains information on:-

 

- The European Union Monitoring Mission.

- The 2008 South Ossetia War.

 

The European Union Monitoring Mission - The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) (previously ECMM, European Community Monitor Mission) is a program initiated by the European Union to monitor borders, inter-ethnic relations, refugee traffic, and political and security developments in the former Yugoslavia and within the borders of Georgia recognized by most of the international community (including the EU).

 

The mission in the former Yugoslavia started in July 1991 while the mission in Georgia started following the 2008 South Ossetia war. The EUMM program operates under the CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy) of the EU. The ECMM was renamed the European Union Monitoring Mission on 22 December 2000

 

This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.

 

The 2008 South Ossetia War - The Russia–Georgia War of 2008 (also known as the 2008 South Ossetia War, Five-Day War or August War) was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and the separatist South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other.

 

The 1991–92 South Ossetia War between ethnic Georgians and Ossetians had left slightly more than a half of South Ossetia under de facto control of a Russian-backed, internationally unrecognised government.

 

Most ethnic Georgian parts of South Ossetia remained under the control of Georgia (Akhalgori district, and most villages surrounding Tskhinvali), with Georgian, North Ossetian and Russian Joint peacekeeping force present in the territories. A similar situation existed in Abkhazia after the War in Abkhazia (1992–93). Increasing tensions escalated during the summer months of 2008. On 5 August, a Russian spokesman said Russia would defend Russian citizens in South Ossetia if they were attacked.

 

During the night of 7 to 8 August 2008, Georgia launched a large-scale military offensive against South Ossetia, in an attempt to reclaim the territory. Georgia claimed that it was responding to attacks on its peacekeepers and villages in South Ossetia, and that Russia was moving non-peacekeeping units into the country.

 

The Georgian attack caused casualties among Russian peacekeepers, who resisted the assault along with Ossetian militia. Georgia successfully captured most of Tskhinvali within hours. Russia reacted by deploying units of the Russian 58th Army and Russian Airborne Troops into South Ossetia one day later, and launched airstrikes against Georgian forces in South Ossetia and military and logistical targets in Georgia proper. Russia claimed these actions were a necessary humanitarian intervention and peace enforcement.

 

Russian and Ossetian forces battled Georgian forces throughout South Ossetia for four days, the heaviest fighting taking place in Tskhinvali. On 9 August, Russian naval forces allegedly blockaded a part of the Georgian coast and landed marines on the Abkhaz coast. The Georgian Navy attempted to intervene, but was defeated in a naval skirmish. Russian and Abkhaz forces opened a second front by attacking the Kodori Gorge, held by Georgia. Georgian forces put up only minimal resistance, and Russian forces subsequently raided military bases in western Georgia.

 

After five days of heavy fighting in South Ossetia, the Georgian forces retreated, enabling the Russians to enter uncontested Georgia and temporarily occupy the cities of Poti, Gori, Senaki, and Zugdidi.

 

Through mediation by the French presidency of the European Union, the parties reached a preliminary ceasefire agreement on 12 August, signed by Georgia on 15 August in Tbilisi and by Russia on 16 August in Moscow. Several weeks after signing the ceasefire agreement, Russia began pulling most of its troops out of uncontested Georgia. Russia established buffer zones around Abkhazia and South Ossetia and created checkpoints in Georgia's interior. These forces were eventually withdrawn from uncontested Georgia.

 

However some Western officials insist the troops did not return to the line where they were stationed prior to the beginning of hostilities as described in the peace plan. Russian forces remain stationed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia under bilateral agreements with the corresponding governments.

 

A number of incidents occurred in both conflict zones in the months after the war ended.

 

This information was taken from ‘Wikipedia’. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It is reproduced on this web-site under the ‘creative commons’ licence which can be found here.