Saakashvili: Unconditional Return of IDPs Essential for Conflict Resolution
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 17 Jul.'08 / 18:39


Unconditional return of displaced persons back to Abkhazia is an essential part of the Abkhaz conflict resolution, President Saakashvili said on July 17 shortly before meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister in Batumi.

President Saakashvili made the remarks in response to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov???s statement on July 17, when he said that signing a non-use of force treaty was required before starting discussions over return of displaced persons. ???We think that signing a treaty on the non-use of force without any preconditions is an absolutely unavoidable first step,??? Lavrov said and added that at this stage return of displaced persons was ???absolutely unreal.???

???I want to respond to the Russian Foreign Ministry???s shameful statement,??? President Saakashvili told journalists in Batumi, ???usually I do not respond to their statements, because some low rank officials say so much nonsense sometimes that even our Foreign Ministry does not respond to them ??? but what they said today is already a political statement and it is a very alarming statement, which should be discussed at a serious level.???

???They said for the first time today that they would not allow the return of refugees to Abkhazia,??? Saakashvili said and added that this statement was made ???in response to the western pressure that the displaced persons should be returned to Abkhazia.???

???I want to say that the refugees will return to Abkhazia and we will secure this process together with the international community,??? he continued. ???Nobody in other capitals, including in Moscow, will assume the responsibility for such an inhumane and barbaric decision [not to allow IDPs to return]. This decision is the repetition of the most disgraceful and barbaric precedents which occurred in Europe in the past. And I do not think that it will be an issue of serious discussions even in the Russian government. I hope that we are dealing with very incorrect judgments of a very narrow group of people.???

???We will achieve peaceful resolution of conflicts and unconditional return of refugees is a part of peaceful resolution of conflicts. It was one of the most barbaric and forgotten ethnic cleansing,??? he added.