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A/RES/67/268 GA

Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia

67
Session
62
Yes
16
No
84
Abstentions
Draft symbol A/67/L.68
Adopted symbol A/RES/67/268
Category POLITICAL AND LEGAL QUESTIONS
P5 Positions
Russia United States United Kingdom China ~ France
UN Document A/RES/67/268 ↗

Vote Recorded VoteA/67/PV.86 June 13, 2013

— Abstain (84)
✗ No (16)
Absent (31)
✓ Yes (62)
Speeches following this vote (7) may include explanations of vote
The Acting President
Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.
Mr. Ntwaagae (Botswana)
My delegation is wholly in sympathy with the plight of internally displaced persons in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Indeed, we are concerned that it has taken us far too long to find a solution to the problem. We very much respect the need for unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected population, but my delegation believes that a solution must be found to the problem and that we must be guided…
Mr. Guerber (Switzerland)
Switzerland would like to explain its abstention in the voting on resolution 67/268, introduced by the representative of Georgia and entitled “Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia”. Expressing its ongoing policy, Switzerland recalls the obligation to pay particular attention to the situation of internally dis…
Mr. Fernandes (Brazil)
Although Brazil acknowledges the difficult situation arising from the high number of Georgian IDPs and refugees, we have maintained our abstention in the voting today out of the belief that resolution 67/268 deals with issues that are subject to the discussions in Geneva. Brazil supports the territorial integrity of Georgia and does not recognize the independence of Abkhazia or South Ossetia. Br…
Ms. Ivanović (Serbia)
I am taking the floor to explain our vote on resolution 67/268. As a country that has been faced with a protracted refugee and internally displaced persons situation in its territory, Serbia is fully committed to finding just, comprehensive and sustainable solutions to displacement situations all over the world. We support the long-standing practice of the General Assembly of seeking common unde…
Mr. Eler (Türkiye)
I am taking the floor to briefly explain our position. We are concerned that the conflicts in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia remain unresolved. The situation has serious economic, social and humanitarian consequences, primarily for the people of Georgia, but also for the peoples of the Caucasus region as a whole. Turkey supports all efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful resolu…
The Acting President
We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 34?
Full text of resolution OCR extract — may contain errors
United Nations A/RES/67/268 General Assembly Distr.: General 23 August 2013 Sixty-seventh session Agenda item 34 12-49468 *12-49468* Please recycle Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 13 June 2013 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/67/L.68)] 67/268. Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including its resolutions 62/153 of 18 December 2007, 62/249 of 15 May 2008, 63/307 of 9 September 2009, 64/162 of 18 December 2009, 64/296 of 7 September 2010, 65/287 of 29 June 2011, 66/165 of 19 December 2011 and 66/283 of 3 July 2012, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions on Georgia relating to the need for all parties to work towards a comprehensive peace and the return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places of origin, and stressing the importance of their full and timely implementation, Recognizing the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement 1 as the key international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, Concerned by forced demographic changes resulting from conflicts in Georgia, Concerned also by the humanitarian situation caused by armed conflict in August 2008, which resulted in the further forced displacement of civilians, Mindful of the urgent need to find a solution to the problems related to forced displacement in Georgia, Underlining the importance of the discussions that commenced in Geneva on 15 October 2008 and of continuing to address the issue of the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of internally displaced persons and refugees on the basis of internationally recognized principles and conflict-settlement practices, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 66/283,2 _______________ 1 E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. 2 A/67/869. A/RES/67/268 Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia 2/2 1. Recognizes the right of return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to their homes throughout Georgia, including in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia; 2. Stresses the need to respect the property rights of all internally displaced persons and refugees affected by the conflicts in Georgia and to refrain from obtaining property in violation of those rights; 3. Reaffirms the unacceptability of forced demographic changes; 4. Underlines the urgent need for unimpeded access for humanitarian activities to all internally displaced persons, refugees and other persons residing in all conflict-affected areas throughout Georgia; 5. Calls upon all participants in the Geneva discussions to intensify their efforts to establish a durable peace, to commit to enhanced confidence-building measures and to take immediate steps to ensure respect for human rights and create favourable security conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of all internally displaced persons and refugees to their places of origin; 6. Underlines the need for the development of a timetable to ensure the voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return of all internally displaced persons and refugees affected by the conflicts in Georgia to their homes; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-eighth session the item entitled “Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development”. 86th plenary meeting 13 June 2013
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