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Statement by Lithuania on behalf of the Nordic and the Baltic States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden at the UNGA debate under the agenda item 32 on the draft resolution “Status of internally displaced persons and ref

Statement by Lithuania on behalf of the Nordic and the Baltic States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden at the UNGA debate under the agenda item 32 on the draft resolution “Status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia” on Tuesday, 4 June 2024.

President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Baltic and the Nordic States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Lithuania.

Since Russia’s war against Georgia in 2008, the territorial integrity of Georgia continues to be violated, displacing thousands of people and negatively affecting their rights under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We reiterate our full support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. 

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) established that while in effective control and decisive influence exercised by Russia over Georgian Abkhaz territory Russia is responsible for multiple human rights violations, including the right to life, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to liberty and security, the right to respect for private and family life, protection of property, the right to education and the right to freedom of movement.

In pursuit of full accountability for those violations and crimes we support all efforts in this regard. We note the 2022 International criminal court (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for three individuals charged with war crimes in connection with Russia’s invasion. However, more needs to be done. The most recent report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights based on the Human Rights Council resolution “Cooperation with Georgia” (52/40 adopted in 2023) urges all relevant actors in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to ensure independent, impartial and thorough investigations.

We remain concerned with the human rights situation on the ground. Regrettably, no international human rights monitoring mechanisms have been able to achieve unrestricted access to assess the situation. We call for immediate humanitarian access to assess the situation in these regions, as well as full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected population.

We reiterate our support to the process of Geneva International Discussions, established pursuant to the 12 August 2008 Six-point agreement and regret continuous disengagement by the Russian participants of the GID.    

In this context, we welcome the Georgian Government cooperation with international organizations and the commitment to provide IDPs with necessary assistance and support in terms of housing and improvement of their socio-economic conditions.

However, we must also note our deep concern with the recent adoption by the Georgian Parliament of the Law on "transparency of foreign influence” - despite the repeated calls to retract such legislation. The adopted legislation, if enforced, would limit the capacity of civil society and media organizations to operate freely, restrict the right to freedom of expression and negatively affect international assistance, including to the IDP’s. Moreover, violence against peaceful protesters and intimidations of the opposition and CSOs is not acceptable, in particular for an EU candidate country. Human rights, including the right to freedom of expression and the right to assembly, must be respected and secured.

President,

The situation in Georgia should also be seen in broader regional context, where in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law Russia is continuing to pursue it policy of miliary occupation of the neighboring countries’ territories.  According to recent data by the International Organization for Migration, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has caused over 3 689 000 internally displaced people and over 5 974 800 displaced abroad.

The resolution we are adopting today reconfirms the need to continue working for the protection and assistance to those who have been forcibly displaced and have not been able to exercise their right to safe and dignified return home for more than a decade.

We underscore the need for UN’s continuous engagement, therefore, as in previous years, our countries will vote in favor of this resolution, and we call on all UN Member States to vote YES.

I thank you.