Georgia’s MFA strives to increase awareness of IDP issues

Georgia’s Foreign Minister is attending the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and meeting world officials to raise awareness and support for the issues facing some of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens.

In New York, Minister Maia Panjikidze was scheduled to meet numerous officials with the aim of widening the circle of support towards a Georgia-sponsored resolution reiterating the right of return of all displaced persons and refugees of breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.

"Georgia’s goal is to keep the issue high on the international agenda and increase the number of supporter countries of the resolution. If the supporter circle is solid, the resolution will have a greater moral importance for the side that has to respect and fulfill the stated objectives of this resolution,” Panjikidze said.

The resolution about Georgia’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees passed for the seventh time at the UN General Assembly this year. Over the years support for the resolution had increased, where this year 69 of 193 members voted in favour of the Georgia-sponsored resolution. Russia consistently voted against the resolution.

Panjikidze believed increasing the level of support for the resolution would have a positive influence on the Geneva International Discussions.

"When the vast majority of world countries support this idea it creates a better environment for us to work in different directions and the return of refugees has to become a real process,” Panjikidze said.

In the framework of the 69th United Nations General Assembly Georgia’s Foreign Minister has already met her counterparts from Cyprus, Serbia, East Timor and Eritrea.

Meanwhile, Panjikidze also met with members of the Jewish Society in America and discussed Georgia’s foreign policy and reforms.

Head of the Jewish Society in America said: "We discussed a number of important issues including the Georgian–Israeli, Georgia-United States and Georgia-Jewish relations. It was a very positive and productive meeting. The Jewish community feels very comfortable and very welcome in Georgia.”