[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 344 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 344

Expressing support for the Government of Georgia's South Ossetian Peace 
 Plan and the successful and peaceful reintegration of the region into 
                                Georgia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 21, 2005

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the Government of Georgia's South Ossetian Peace 
 Plan and the successful and peaceful reintegration of the region into 
                                Georgia.

Whereas during December 1991, Georgia was internationally recognized as an 
        independent and sovereign country following the formal dissolution of 
        the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;
Whereas the United States supports the independence, sovereignty, territorial 
        integrity, and ongoing democratic reform process in Georgia;
Whereas the United States reaffirms its support for the peaceful resolution of 
        the conflict in Adjura and the restoration of democracy and political 
        stability in that region of Georgia;
Whereas as a result of a conflict from 1991 to 1992, a separatist regime has 
        enforced its rule in the Georgia territory of South Ossetia, 
        impoverishing the people living in South Ossetia, militarizing the area, 
        allowing organized crime to flourish, and posing a threat to the peace 
        and security in the region;
Whereas the Government of Georgia has announced a peace plan to reach a full 
        political settlement to the South Ossetian conflict;
Whereas the Government of Georgia has acknowledged that mistakes were made in 
        its past efforts in dealing with the region of South Ossetia;
Whereas at the 59th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Georgian 
        President Mikhail Saakashvili outlined specific components of a peace 
        initiative that includes demilitarization, confidence building measures, 
        and economic, social, cultural, and political steps to protect the South 
        Ossetian people and their rights while reintegrating the region, with 
        significant autonomy, into Georgia;
Whereas President Saakashvili reaffirmed the main principles of the peace 
        agreement at the Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe in January, 
        2005, held in Strasbourg, France;
Whereas a formal comprehensive peace proposal based on the Strasbourg principles 
        was formally proposed on October 27, 2005, at the Organization for 
        Security and Co-operation in Europe; and
Whereas on December 6, 2005, at their 13th Ministerial Council Meeting in 
        Ljubljana, Slovenia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in 
        Europe endorsed the Government of Georgia's peace plan, stating, ``We 
        welcome the steps taken by the Georgian side to address the peaceful 
        resolution of the conflict and believe that the recent proposals, in 
        particular the Peace Plan built upon the initiatives of the President of 
        Georgia presented at the 59th United Nations General Assembly and 
        supported by the sides, will serve as a basis for the peaceful 
        settlement of the conflict'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the Government of Georgia for its vision and 
        determination in its efforts to resolve peacefully the conflict 
        in South Ossetia;
            (2) supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
        integrity of the democratic Government of Georgia;
            (3) urges all Organization for Security and Co-operation in 
        Europe participating States to respect fully the independence, 
        sovereignty, territorial integrity of Georgia, refraining from 
        any acts constituting a threat of or use of force, direct or 
        indirect, and abiding by the principle of the inviolability of 
        frontiers;
            (4) expresses its support for the Government of Georgia's 
        plan to control peacefully and reestablish authority in the 
        region of South Ossetia, viewing it as an opportunity to 
        restore the territorial integrity of the country and to protect 
        the individual rights and democratic liberties of those living 
        in South Ossetia;
            (5) urges the United States to increase its efforts in 
        support of the peaceful reincorporation of South Ossetia to 
        Georgia, including efforts to support the greater involvement 
        of the international community, including the Russian 
        Federation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe, the European Union, and international organizations in 
        the peaceful settlement of the South Ossetian conflict; and
            (6) supports the ongoing democratic transformation in 
        Georgia and will continue to monitor closely the peace process 
        in South Ossetia, including the implementation by all sides of 
        their obligations under the peace plan if it is accepted.
                                 <all>