UN passes resolution on Abkhazia and South Ossetia despite Russian protest

On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted another resolution on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the draft of which was brought in by Georgia; Russia called not to support it.

The resolution was supported by 62 countries; 16 delegations voted against; and 84 countries abstained.

The resolution, in particular, reflects the decision to put the issue of the protracted conflicts in the GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) region, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia, on the agenda of the next session of the UN GA.

The text of the present resolution "is a highly politicized product," said Vitaly Churkin, the Russia's permanent representative to the UN, during the discussion of the draft resolution.

In particular, he drew attention to the fact that through the resolution the belonging of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to Georgia emphasized. This, he said, "does not take into account the existence of independent states in the region."

In her turn, Maia Panjikidze, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, said that the UN resolution is needed in order to keep the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons in the focus of the international community, the "Georgia-News" reports.

Resolutions of the UN GA are of advisory nature and have no legal force, The RAPSI remarks.