UN resolution on refugees from Abkhazia, S. Ossetia can aggravate situation - Moscow
MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has given a negative evaluation of the resolution of the UN General Assembly on refugees and displaced persons from Abkhazia and South Ossetia initiated by Georgia.
"Russia voted against the resolution in the belief that it is not compatible with reality and is fraught with the aggravation of the situation in the region, hindrances in the solution of numerous humanitarian issues," the Foreign Ministry commentary says.
It also says that the resolution "does not promote confidence between the Abkhaz, South Ossetian and Georgian sides which is a necessary condition for resolving the refugee problem among others."
"The results of voting proved that this politicized initiative of Tbilisi does not enjoy great support at the United Nations: most member-states either abstained or were absent during the General Assembly debate on the issue," the commentary says.
"Once again Georgia chose to use a humanitarian issue for its own political interests instead of the interests of thousands of Georgians, Abkhaz, Ossetian and people of other nationalities who suffered from its short-sighted and aggressive policy," the commentary says.
"This was intentionally done in circumvention of the Geneva discussion which today is the only format of dialogue for representatives of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia. The discussion of the issue in New York would have any sense only with the involvement of the Abkhaz and South Ossetian sides," the commentary says.
"Tbilisi's stubborn refusal to accept the realities existing in the region and to sign legally-binding agreements on non-use of force with the South Ossetian and Abkhaz sides indicates that Georgia is not set on conducting a serious negotiating process aimed at settling the situation," the Foreign Ministry believes.
