The urgent humanitarian needs following the conflict between Georgia and Russia in 2008 have been dealt with, but there are still significant long-term humanitarian challenges which cannot be solved as long as "people's lives are becoming trumped by politics", PACE said today.
According to the adopted text, based on a report by Tina Acketoft (Sweden, ALDE), with the exception of limited returns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to the Gali and Akhalgori regions, the prospects for the return of displaced persons are dim. This means that durable housing solutions and the provision of livelihoods for displaced persons will continue to be a challenge for the Georgian authorities.
According to the Assembly, the daily lives of persons affected by the conflict could be improved by taking small steps, such as allowing freer access across the administrative boundary line or increasing dialogue at all levels (students, civil society, political level) to tackle ingrained distrust. (more...)
See also:
Georgia and the Council of Europe
Russian Federation and the Council of Europe
