**UN Reiterates Right of Return for Displaced Persons in Abkhazia and South Ossetia**
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution reaffirming the right of return for all displaced persons and refugees in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The vote, which took place on June 3, saw 107 countries voting in favor of the resolution, with 9 against and 49 abstentions.
The resolution, which has been adopted by the UN General Assembly every year since 2008, condemns the forced demographic changes in the Russia-occupied regions of Georgia. It also reaffirms the right of internally displaced persons (IDPs), regardless of their ethnicity, to return to their homes in dignity and safety, and stresses the need to respect and protect their property rights.
The composition of countries that voted against the resolution remained largely unchanged from last year, with Russia, Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Nicaragua, Sudan, and Zimbabwe voting “no”. However, there were some changes in the list of countries that abstained. Syria, which had previously voted against the resolution, abstained this year after the fall of the Assad regime last December.
The number of votes in favor of the resolution increased from 103 to 107 compared to last year. Four more countries – Paraguay, South Korea, Seychelles, and Sierra Leone – voted in favor of the resolution this year. China, which had previously abstained, also chose not to vote this year.
**Georgian Foreign Ministry Welcomes Supportive Statements**
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has welcomed supportive statements made by several delegations during the discussion of the IDP resolution. These included the European Union, the United Kingdom, Lithuania (on behalf of the Baltic and Nordic countries), Canada (on behalf of Australia and New Zealand), and Japan.
**Practical Implications of the Resolution**
The adoption of the IDP resolution has practical implications beyond its humanitarian context. It directs the UN secretary-general to prepare an annual report on the situation of displaced persons in Georgia and on the implementation of the resolution.
In a related development, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s speech at the 79th UNGA session did not mention Russia while addressing the occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This has been seen as an attempt to maintain a diplomatic tone in international relations.
The adoption of the IDP resolution is a significant development for Georgia, which has been advocating for the rights of displaced persons in its breakaway regions. The resolution reaffirms the country’s commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict and promoting human rights in the region.
