[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 108 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         April 5, 2005.
Whereas on the night of February 3, 2005, the Prime Minister of the Republic of 
        Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, died, apparently due to carbon monoxide 
        poisoning caused by a malfunctioning heater;
Whereas the death of Prime Minister Zhvania at the age of 41 is a tragic loss 
        for the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania was a dedicated reformer whose visionary leadership 
        inspired a new generation of political leaders in the Republic of 
        Georgia;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania founded the Citizen's Union Party, which won elections in 
        1995, making him the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament;
Whereas under the leadership of Speaker Zhvania, the Georgian Parliament was 
        transformed into an effective and transparent legislative institution;
Whereas in November 2001, Speaker Zhvania resigned his position in protest when 
        government authorities attempted to suppress the leading independent 
        television station in the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania formed the United Democrats, a party that blossomed into 
        one of the major forces that brought about the Rose Revolution in the 
        Republic of Georgia in November 2003;
Whereas in the most dangerous hours of the Rose Revolution, when it appeared 
        that armed force could be used against the peaceful protestors, Zurab 
        Zhvania dismissed his bodyguards and led a march to Parliament 
        accompanied only by his young children;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania was named Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia in 
        November 2003, and led governmental efforts to develop and implement 
        far-reaching economic, judicial, military, and social reforms thereby 
        turning the promise of the Rose Revolution into real results that have 
        dramatically improved life in the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas the strong commitment of Zurab Zhvania to the peaceful restoration of 
        the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia was most recently 
        displayed in the central role he played in the development of the 
        unprecedented and generous proposal of the Republic of Georgia for 
        resolving the status of South Ossetia peacefully and justly; and
Whereas Zurab Zhvania's vision of the historical destiny of the Republic of 
        Georgia was eloquently expressed before the Council of Europe on April 
        27, 1999, when he said, ``I am Georgian and therefore, I am European'': 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its sympathy and deepest condolences to the family of 
        Zurab Zhvania for their tragic loss of a son, husband, and father, and 
        to the people of the Republic of Georgia for the death of their Prime 
        Minister;
            (2) commends the courage, energy, political imagination, and 
        leadership of Zurab Zhvania that were so critical to the development of 
        a democratic Republic of Georgia;
            (3) recognizes that the integration of the Republic of Georgia into 
        Euro-Atlantic institutions will be the completion of the vision of Zurab 
        Zhvania and his most lasting legacy; and
            (4) expresses its solidarity with the people and Government of the 
        Republic of Georgia at this difficult time.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.