VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: GEORGIAN UNGA IDP AND

UNCLAS STATE 051795

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PHUM GE
SUBJECT: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: GEORGIAN UNGA IDP AND
REFUGEE RESOLUTION


1. (U) This is an action message. USUN is authorized to
vote in support of UN General Assembly Agenda Item 16
resolution on the "Status of Internally Displaced Persons
and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia," in para 2 below,
which is scheduled for a vote on May 15.


2. (U) Begin resolution:

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 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;
noting the conclusions of the Budapest (1994),Lisbon
(1996) and Istanbul (1999) summits of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),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, 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 pre-conflict demographic composition in
Abkhazia, Georgia,

Emphasizing that rights of Abkhaz population who live in
Abkhazia, Georgia have to be protected and guaranteed,

Recognizes the right of return of all refugees and
internally displaced persons and their descendants,
regardless of ethnicity, to Abkhazia, Georgia;

Emphasizes the importance of preserving the property
rights of refugees and internally displaced persons from
Abkhazia, Georgia including victims of 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;

Underlines the urgent need for rapid development of a
timetable to ensure the prompt voluntary return of all
refugees and internally displaced persons, to their homes
in Abkhazia, Georgia;

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,

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 the
international peace, security and development".

End resolution.
RICE