Yerevan opposes Tbilisi-backed UN resolution on IDPs
Armenia has voted against a United Nations
resolution on displaced persons who fled Georgia`s unrecognized
republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
According to the Georgia Online news website, the neighboring South Caucasus republic was among 19 countries opposing the Tbilisi-backed resolution. 48 countries voted for the document and 78 UN members abstained.
The resolution asserted the rights of all refugees and IDPs, regardless of their ethnic affiliation, to return to their homes in Georgia, including those in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It also said it was necessary to draw up a timetable for a safe return of all displaced people affected by conflicts.
Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, maintained prior to the vote that the resolution was politically motivated and demanded stopping discussions on the issue and preventing it from being put up for a vote. But the demand was not discussed, and the UN General Assembly confirmed that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are Georgian territories.
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier slammed the document as ``counterproductive,`` saying that it ignored the post-war reality of the two newly independent states in the Caucasus.
In May 2008 the General Assembly passed a similar resolution, referring only to Abkhazia, with 14 ``yes`` votes against 11 ``no`` votes.
Analysts say the outcome of the UN vote clearly shows that separatism trends are condemned worldwide and draws a real picture about countries opposed to supporting the territorial integrity of other states, as well as indicates which states are friendly to Russia and which ones favor the West.
Yerevan`s voting against the UN resolution has raised eyebrows in Georgia. Georgi Khaindrava, Georgia`s former state minister for conflicts and opposition leader, believes the step was taken on Russia`s behest.
``Certainly, Armenia will not act against the position of its strategic ally. So, Yerevan`s voting against the resolution does not come as such a surprise,`` Khaindrava said.
He noted that the resolution is a document ``outlining not political, but humanitarian arguments``, and the countries supporting the principles of justice supported it.
``Evidently, Armenia is considering political interests more than the principles of justice and humanitarian issues,`` Khaindrava added.
Besides Armenia, the opponents of the resolution included Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia, while supporters included Azerbaijan, Austria, Canada, Chili, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, and the United States.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has welcomed the adoption of the resolution. He also said Moscow has sustained ``a diplomatic defeat.``
Observers recalled that a brief war erupted between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia in early August 2008 when Georgia launched large-scale military operations to restore its territorial integrity. Moscow retaliated by sending troops to the pro-Russian region, which struck at the Georgian armed forces. A ceasefire was subsequently reached on August 17, with France`s mediation. On August 26, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Only Nicaragua and Venezuela had followed suit in acknowledging the regions` independence.
According to the Georgia Online news website, the neighboring South Caucasus republic was among 19 countries opposing the Tbilisi-backed resolution. 48 countries voted for the document and 78 UN members abstained.
The resolution asserted the rights of all refugees and IDPs, regardless of their ethnic affiliation, to return to their homes in Georgia, including those in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It also said it was necessary to draw up a timetable for a safe return of all displaced people affected by conflicts.
Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, maintained prior to the vote that the resolution was politically motivated and demanded stopping discussions on the issue and preventing it from being put up for a vote. But the demand was not discussed, and the UN General Assembly confirmed that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are Georgian territories.
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier slammed the document as ``counterproductive,`` saying that it ignored the post-war reality of the two newly independent states in the Caucasus.
In May 2008 the General Assembly passed a similar resolution, referring only to Abkhazia, with 14 ``yes`` votes against 11 ``no`` votes.
Analysts say the outcome of the UN vote clearly shows that separatism trends are condemned worldwide and draws a real picture about countries opposed to supporting the territorial integrity of other states, as well as indicates which states are friendly to Russia and which ones favor the West.
Yerevan`s voting against the UN resolution has raised eyebrows in Georgia. Georgi Khaindrava, Georgia`s former state minister for conflicts and opposition leader, believes the step was taken on Russia`s behest.
``Certainly, Armenia will not act against the position of its strategic ally. So, Yerevan`s voting against the resolution does not come as such a surprise,`` Khaindrava said.
He noted that the resolution is a document ``outlining not political, but humanitarian arguments``, and the countries supporting the principles of justice supported it.
``Evidently, Armenia is considering political interests more than the principles of justice and humanitarian issues,`` Khaindrava added.
Besides Armenia, the opponents of the resolution included Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia, while supporters included Azerbaijan, Austria, Canada, Chili, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, and the United States.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has welcomed the adoption of the resolution. He also said Moscow has sustained ``a diplomatic defeat.``
Observers recalled that a brief war erupted between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia in early August 2008 when Georgia launched large-scale military operations to restore its territorial integrity. Moscow retaliated by sending troops to the pro-Russian region, which struck at the Georgian armed forces. A ceasefire was subsequently reached on August 17, with France`s mediation. On August 26, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Only Nicaragua and Venezuela had followed suit in acknowledging the regions` independence.
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