Georgia’s draft on refugees hampers resolution of problem – FM.

16/7 Tass 76

MOSCOW, July 16 (Itar-Tass) — Discussions at the U.N. General Assembly on the refugee problem without Abkhazia and South Ossetia are becoming more and more politicised and preventing the resolution of the problem, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry commented on the July 15 meeting that involved Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and the co-chairmen of the Geneva discussions for security and stability in Transcaucasia – EU representative Pierre Morel, U.N. representatives Antti Turunen and OSCE special envoy Giedrius Cekuolis.

“During the meeting, the parties discussed the border situation and studied mechanisms to prevent incidents in the region. Russia expressed concern over Georgian special services’ action in border regions that is fraught with the growth of tension,” the ministry said.

“By discussing humanitarian issues the parties noted that the voting on Georgia’s draft resolution on refugees hampers the work of the humanitarian group of the Geneva discussions on Transcaucasia. Russia stressed that it was necessary to discuss the refugee problem with the involvement of Abkhazian and South Ossetian representatives.” “Without them the debates on any documents are taking the form of politicised demonstration. Such debates prevent the resolution of the problem,” the ministry said.

Leave a comment