Marian Staszewski, a deputy head of EU-funded mission probing into the August war, is paying three-day visit to breakaway Abkhazia, the local news agency, Apsnipress, reported.

Staszewski, accompanied by two other members of the mission, met with Sergey Shamba, the breakaway region’s foreign minister, in Sokhumi on May 29 and were due to visit upper Kodori Gorge on May 30, according to Apsnipress.

The mission, led by Swiss diplomat, Heidi Tagliavini, is expected to present its report to EU, OSCE, Georgia and Russia on July 31, 2009; but the mission can be extended beyond that deadline if necessary.