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A/RES/62/249 GA

Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia

62
Session
14
Yes
11
No
105
Abstentions
Draft symbol A/62/L.45
Adopted symbol A/RES/62/249
Category POLITICAL AND LEGAL QUESTIONS
Voeten Topics ⓘ
Sponsors (1)
P5 Positions
Russia ✗ United States ✓ United Kingdom ~ China ~ France ~
UN Document A/RES/62/249 ↗

Vote Recorded Vote — A/62/PV.97 May 15, 2008

— Abstain (105)
✗ No (11)
Absent (62)
✓ Yes (14)
Speeches following this vote (10) may include explanations of vote
The Acting President
Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote following the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.
Mr. Matussek (Germany)
Germany fully and wholeheartedly supports the need for a swift return of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes and properties in Abkhazia, Georgia. Germany, as the coordinator of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Georgia, has co-sponsored all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, which have made clear and urgent reference to the deplorable …
Mr. Mantovani (Italy)
Recalling the declarations of 18 April and 2 May 2008 by the presidency of the European Union on behalf of its member countries, Italy reiterates its firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, as most recently affirmed in Security Council resolution 1808 (2008), of 15 April. Italy is concerned about recent …
Mr. İlkin (Türkiye)
I am taking the floor to briefly explain our position with regard to the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. First of all, I would like to reiterate our firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. I also wish to reaffirm our support for international efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the Abkhaz conflict, …
Mr. Chatel (France)
I would first like to recall the commitment of France to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. France firmly supports the right of all refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to Abkhazia. We also reaffirm the fact that their right to their property is not at all affected by their absence. I would like…
Ms. Pierce (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Allow me to begin by echoing your condolences, Mr. President, to the peoples of China and of Burma/Myanmar with regard to the sad events that have occurred in those countries. The United Kingdom abstained today on this resolution, in line with our long-standing position. We recall the annual General Assembly resolution on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, which reaffirms the righ…
Mr. Ashiki (Japan)
Japan abstained in the voting on this resolution in the light of the various possible implications of adopting it under this particular agenda item. With regard to the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, Japan has steadfastly supported the principle of the territorial integrity of Georgia within its borders and the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Japan also supports the ongoing efforts of the Group o…
Mr. Soler Torrijos (Panama)
Panama decided to abstain from voting on this resolution and believes that it is appropriate to offer an explanation of vote. Panama is a party to all conventions on the protection of human rights and reaffirms its support of the general principles on the protection of the human rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, and their right to return to their places of origin. We reaffirm …
Mr. Pham Hai Anh (Viet Nam)
Viet Nam supports efforts by the parties concerned to settle their dispute by peaceful means through existing mechanisms, with a view to achieving a comprehensive, lasting and reasonable solution to the question of Abkhazia, thus contributing to peace and stability in the region. In that spirit, Viet Nam calls upon the parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, refraining from steps that could…
The Acting President
We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 16.
Full text of resolution OCR extract — may contain errors
United Nations A/RES/62/249 General Assembly Distr.: General 29 May 2008 Sixty-second session Agenda item 16 07-47871 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 15 May 2008 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/62/L.45)] 62/249. Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including its resolution 62/153 of 18 December 2007, Recognizing the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement 0F1 as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, Deeply concerned about violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Abkhazia, Georgia, particularly ethnicity-based violence, Recalling all relevant Security Council resolutions, and noting the conclusions of the Budapest (1994), Lisbon (1996) and Istanbul (1999) summits of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in particular the reports of “ethnic cleansing” and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Abkhazia, Georgia, Deploring practices of arbitrary forced displacement and their negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by large groups of people, and deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation created by the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of persons from Abkhazia, Georgia, Deeply concerned by the demographic changes resulting from the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, and regretting any attempt to alter the pre-conflict demographic composition in Abkhazia, Georgia, Emphasizing that the rights of the Abkhaz population living in Abkhazia, Georgia, have to be protected and guaranteed, 1. Recognizes the right of return of all refugees and internally displaced persons and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to Abkhazia, Georgia; 2. Emphasizes the importance of preserving the property rights of refugees and internally displaced persons from Abkhazia, Georgia, including victims of _______________ 1 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. A/RES/62/249 2 reported “ethnic cleansing”, and calls upon all Member States to deter persons under their jurisdiction from obtaining property within the territory of Abkhazia, Georgia, in violation of the rights of returnees; 3. Underlines the urgent need for the rapid development of a timetable to ensure the prompt voluntary return of all refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes in Abkhazia, Georgia; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled “Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development”. 97th plenary meeting 15 May 2008
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