[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 472 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 472

  To honor the people of Georgia on the first anniversary of the Rose 
                              Revolution.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 18, 2004

 Mr. McCain (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Biden, and Mr. 
  Hagel) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  To honor the people of Georgia on the first anniversary of the Rose 
                              Revolution.

Whereas, on November 23, 2004, the people of Georgia will celebrate the first 
        anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the peaceful and bloodless protests 
        that followed parliamentary elections deemed to be fraudulent;
Whereas following the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze, Interim 
        President Nino Burdzhanadze worked diligently to restore order and to 
        prepare Georgia for a new Presidential election;
Whereas after a free, fair, and democratic election was held, Mikheil 
        Saakashvili was sworn into office on January 25, 2004, as President of 
        Georgia;
Whereas President Saakashvili visited the United States Congress earlier this 
        year and delivered a strong message of peace, stability, democracy, 
        political reform, and economic opportunity;
Whereas Georgia is a small but strategically situated country located in the 
        Caucasus, and is of additional interest to the United States because of 
        the oil and gas pipelines now being constructed from Baku, Azerbaijan to 
        the port of Ceyhan, Turkey;
Whereas Georgia has also become a key player in the global war on terrorism by 
        combating members of al Qaeda and other Muslim terrorist organizations, 
        denying them sanctuary in remote areas such as the Pankisi Gorge, and 
        working with the United States to help train border guards;
Whereas Georgia has recently increased its commitment of troops in Iraq and its 
        contributions to help build peace and democracy in Afghanistan and 
        Kosovo;
Whereas the United States supports Georgia's efforts to peacefully reestablish 
        government control, security, and political stability in regions such as 
        Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
Whereas the United States congratulates the Government of Georgia on the 
        peaceful resolution of the conflict in Adjara and welcomes the 
        restoration of democracy and political stability in that region; and
Whereas the United States supports representative democracy, political 
        stability, economic growth, and peace in Georgia and throughout the 
        Caucasus region: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, that the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the people of Georgia on the first 
        anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the peaceful and bloodless 
        protests that followed parliamentary elections deemed to be 
        fraudulent, and for their commitment to democracy, peace, 
        stability, and economic opportunity;
            (2) commends President Mikheil Saakashvili for his vision 
        of, and commitment to, a peaceful and democratic Georgia, the 
        rule of law, an open market economy, regional cooperation, and 
        closer integration into western institutions;
            (3) supports the sovereignty, independence, territorial 
        integrity, and democratic government of Georgia; and
            (4) supports continued assistance to the people and 
        Government of Georgia to help them consolidate the democratic 
        process in their country.
                                 <all>