On 7th of September 2010, the 64th plenary session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution submitted by Georgia on the "Status of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia".

Despite serious destructive efforts to politicize the distinctly humanitarian and balanced approach of the Resolution and to block the consideration of the document itself, the Resolution was passed by wider margin than in previous years (with 50 countries voting in favor, 17 - against and 86 abstentions. Last year's voting was: 48 in favor, 19 - against with 78 abstentions). It is becoming more and clearer that Russia's efforts to politicize the issue of IDPs' return are yielding less fruits every year.

Recent vote marks the third straight year that the UN General Assembly has invoked the norms and principles of international law to defend the right of every IDP and refugee to return to the places of the original residence.

The Resolution stresses that the right of safe and dignified return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to their homes in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region is unchallenged and reiterates the need to respect the property rights of all displaced.

By condemning forced demographic changes caused by the conflicts on the territory of Georgia, the Resolution reaffirms the unacceptability of ethnic cleansing that had taken place in these regions since the beginning of the 1990s.

This Resolution also reiterates call for the need to develop concrete timetable for the return of all internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes throughout Georgia.

The Resolution underlines the urgent need for unimpeded access of humanitarian organizations to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. This paragraph takes on particular importance against the background of the Russian Federation and its proxy regimes still barring the humanitarian missions and international organizations from accessing the occupied territories of Georgia.

General Assembly also calls upon the participants of the Geneva Discussions to intensify their efforts aimed at finding solutions for the safe and dignified return of the IDPs and refugess. The Resolution continued the reporting system of the Secretary General on the status of the IDPs and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia. Next report of the Secretary General will be forthcoming in 2011.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia expresses its profound gratitude to those 50 Member States, whose delegations, together with Georgia, supported the Resolution. These countries are: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Albania, Andorra, United States, New Zealand, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Spain, Estonia, Honduras, Hungary, Japan, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Greece, San Marino, France, Saint Lucia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Croatia, Tuvalu.

Statement of the Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations, HE Ambassador Alexander Lomaia

Draft GA Resolution on the "Status of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia"