30/04/2009 Session
Strasbourg, 29.04.2009 - In a text adopted today on the humanitarian consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia and the follow-up given to Resolution 1648 (2009), PACE recommends that priority be given to dialogue between all parties, and steps must be taken to support civil society initiatives. “It is the people living in the conflict region who are the victims of this conflict. Steps have to be taken to give them opportunities to build up a humane and peaceful future without further war. To achieve this, building trust is essential. Without political willingness to go for solutions, nothing will change,” said Corien Jonker (Netherlands, EPP/CD), Rapporteur for the Committee on Migration, who made a fact-finding visit to South Ossetia on 13 and 14 March this year.
The Assembly strongly urged the parties to keep the administrative borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia open and remain flexible concerning the issue of access to the region from the north or the south. Since security is one of the overriding concerns, access should also be given to the European Union Monitoring Mission. The parliamentarians also stressed that solutions must be found for the problem of displaced persons and refugees who can not return home. Return must be voluntary and in safety and dignity.
Noting that the immediate humanitarian needs following the conflict have been met during the winter, the Assembly feels that priority should now be given to rebuilding the homes and structures destroyed during the war, and asks the parties involved to ensure that all basic utilities such as gas, electricity and water are not interrupted.
Furthermore the Georgian, Russian and the de facto South Ossetian and Abkhaz authorities are demanded to fully implement all the earlier recommendations concerning the war by the Parliamentary Assembly.