The FINANCIAL — Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze appeared before the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The Minister spoke about the important progress Georgia has achieved in terms of human rights protection over the past few years. He also focused on the Government’s human rights action plan and initiatives. The importance of involving the civil society in these processes was also highlighted.
Mikheil Janelidze thanked the High Commissioner for Human Rights for bringing to the attention of the Council the alarming situation in Georgia’s occupied regions at the last session. According to him, Despite the Georgian government’s efforts, the humanitarian and human rights situation in both occupied regions of Georgia remains of grave concern, “especially when no international monitoring mechanisms, including the UN human rights machinery, are allowed to the regions” – the Minister said.
The Minister said that the illegally erected razor wires and other artificial obstacles along the occupation line continue to affect the everyday life of the local population, according to MFA of Georgia.
“These disruptive steps are directed against the Georgian government’s policy of engagement and aim at the full isolation of the occupied regions from the international community. We firmly pursue the engagement, confidence building and reconciliation process with the population living in the occupied territories and stand ready to share all benefits of the policies and reforms introduced by the Government of Georgia” – Mikheil Janelidze said calling on the international community, and the UN Human Rights Council, in particular, for resolute action.
According to the Minister, compatriots living in the occupied territories are an integral part of Georgia’s history and future, despite the current artificial barriers. “There will be a day when IDPs and refugees – victims of the several waves of ethnic cleansing – will return in safe and dignified manner to their homes and fully re-integrate with their brothers and sisters, creating a vibrant society where human rights and individual freedoms as well as cultural and linguistic diversity are top priorities” – he added.
The 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council is held in Geneva on 27 and 28 February. The Georgian Foreign Minister met the Swiss Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs the U.N. and the High Commissioner for Refugees. Within the framework of his visit, Mikheil Janelidze also holds bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of various countries.
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