Head of Abkhazian MFA: return of refugees from Georgia will lead to war

Return of refugees to Abkhazia can lead to new conflicts and bloodshed, and, as a consequence, to a new war both within the republic and between Sukhumi and Tbilisi. This was stated by Sergey Shamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia in his comments on the resolution draft on situation of the refugees from Abkhazia and to South Ossetia, offered by Georgia and approved by the United Nations.

According to Mr Shamba, the draft cannot be viable, as it is recommendatory and was offered by Tbilisi without coordination with Abkhazians and Ossetians.

Let us remind you that on September 9 the UN General Assembly held voting on the resolution initiated by Tbilisi "Situation with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and Tskhinvali District/South Ossetia, Georgia". 48 delegations voted for the document, 19 - against and 78 refrained; 47 delegations evaded from voting. Russia voted against.

"The issue of returning refugees is on the agenda since 1994; and there are joint decisions signed by the Abkhazian and Georgian parties, and by the United Nations and Russia. We act in accordance with these agreements," Sergey Shamba said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his version, the refugee problem has both humanitarian and political character. Therefore, in his opinion, "it can't be solved overnight."

He has emphasized that due to the unilateral return of Georgian refugees in March 1999 to the Gali District of Abkhazia, initiated by the authorities of Abkhazia, up to 55,000 persons came back. However, the Office of the High Commissioner on Refugees of the United Nations gave no reaction to numerous appeals of the authorities of Abkhazia to register the returnees.

Let us note here that Russia's MFA gave tough reaction to adoption of the draft resolution about the situation of the IDPs and refugees from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"We believe that Georgia had brought in an obviously politicized draft, speculating on humanitarian aspects," the MFA has emphasized. "The document is directed not to improvement of the position of IDPs and refugees in the region after Tbilisi's aggression on South Ossetia in August 2008, but to the only target - to confirm the territorial integrity of Georgia within the existing borders."

The MFA's statement also runs that the Russian delegation made an offer to the authors of the draft to make a joint update and make corrections, "which would make the Georgian draft more balanced and statutory neutral." "However, the authors of the draft simply refused to talk to us, having confirmed by doing so that they need the tribune of the United Nations only for achieving their political aims, instead of solving humanitarian problems of the region," notes the Russia's MFA.

The "Trend" reports that President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, in his turn, was happy with the resolution on refugees' rights in Georgia, adopted by the UN General Assembly.

"This document recognizes the property rights of the people who had been forced, under the threat of physical destruction, to leave their homes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," said Mr Saakashvili.