UN: Armenia votes against resolution on return of displaced to AbkhaziaMay 16, 2008 - 15:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The General Assembly today adopted a resolution in which it recognized the right of return of all refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), regardless of their ethnicity, to Abkhazia. With 14 votes in favor, 11 against and 105 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a Georgian-sponsored text that recognizes the right of return for IDPs and refugees and also their descendants. The resolution stresses the importance of preserving the property rights of the refugees and IDPs and underlines the urgent need for a timetable to ensure the prompt voluntary return of all refugees and IDPs. Assembly members also requested that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submit a comprehensive report at the Assembly's next session on the implementation of today's resolution. The countries which supported the resolution make 7 per cent of the total number of the UN member states. In favor: Albania, Azerbaijan, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, U.S. and Ukraine. Against: Russia, Armenia, Venezuela, India, Iran, China, Myanmar, Serbia, Syria, Sudan, the UN news center reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |