[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 33 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 33

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should expand 
      its relationship with the Republic of Georgia by commencing 
           negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 18, 2007

Mr. Lugar submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                          Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should expand 
      its relationship with the Republic of Georgia by commencing 
           negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement.

Whereas, in the November 2003 Rose Revolution, the people of the Republic of 
        Georgia protested fraudulent elections in a non-violent manner and 
        demanded a fair election, resulting in a democratically elected new 
        government;
Whereas, based on commitments to maintain an open economy and adhere to free 
        trade principles including the reduction and elimination of trade 
        barriers, Georgia was granted membership in the World Trade Organization 
        on June 14, 2000;
Whereas Georgia was found to have accorded its citizens the right to emigrate, 
        travel freely, and to return to their country without restriction 
        meeting the human rights criteria consistent with the objectives of the 
        Trade Act of 1974, and based on these findings was granted permanent 
        normal trade relations through a waiver of Jackson-Vanik sanctions in 
        2000;
Whereas, in 1994, Georgia concluded a bilateral investment treaty with the 
        United States, its largest source of foreign direct investment, in order 
        to promote and facilitate non-discriminatory, open, and fair commercial 
        policies;
Whereas the United States is one of Georgia's largest trading partners and the 
        commercial relationship presents an opportunity for American companies 
        to expand and prosper;
Whereas the Georgian government has made significant efforts to promote regional 
        cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution;
Whereas Georgia has demonstrated a commitment to responsible facilitation of the 
        energy resources located within the region;
Whereas Georgia has taken important steps toward the creation of democratic 
        institutions and a free-market economy and, as a participating state of 
        the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), is 
        committed to developing a system of governance in accordance with the 
        principles regarding human rights and humanitarian affairs that are set 
        forth in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
        Europe (also known as the ``Helsinki Final Act''); and
Whereas the United States is committed to aiding in regional development, 
        economic integration and supporting democracy in the South Caucuses: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the United States 
should expand its relationship with the Republic of Georgia by 
commencing negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement.
                                 <all>