[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 550 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 550

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding provocative and dangerous 
   statements made by the Government of the Russian Federation that 
    undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 2, 2008

Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Casey, 
Mr. Smith, and Mr. Lieberman) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                              May 20, 2008

                Reported by Mr. Biden, without amendment

                              June 3, 2008

                        Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding provocative and dangerous 
   statements made by the Government of the Russian Federation that 
    undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia.

Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia has 
        been reaffirmed by the international community and 32 United Nations 
        Security Council resolutions;
Whereas the Government of the Republic of Georgia has pursued with good faith 
        the peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts in the regions of 
        Abkhazia and South Ossetia since the end of hostilities in 1993;
Whereas President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has offered a clear plan for 
        resolving the conflict in Abkhazia and securing legitimate interests of 
        the Abkhaz and South Ossetian people within a unified Georgia;
Whereas, for several years, the Government of Russia has engaged in an ongoing 
        process of usurping the sovereignty of Georgia in Abkhazia and South 
        Ossetia by awarding subsidies, the right to vote in elections in Russia, 
        and Russian passports to people living in those regions;
Whereas the announcement of the Government of the Russian Federation that it 
        will establish ``official ties'' with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia 
        and South Ossetia and further involve itself in aspects of their 
        government appears to be a thinly veiled attempt at annexation;
Whereas the statements and counter-productive behavior of the Government of the 
        Russian Federation in these regions has undermined the peace and 
        security of those regions, the Republic of Georgia, and the region as a 
        whole; and
Whereas the consistent effort to undermine the sovereignty of a neighbor is 
        incompatible with the role of the Russian Federation as one of the 
        world's leading powers and is inconsistent with the commitments to 
        international peacekeeping made by the Government of the Russian 
        Federation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns recent decisions made by the Government of the 
        Russian Federation to establish ``official ties'' with the 
        breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a process that 
        further impedes reconciliation between those regions and the 
        Government of Georgia and violates the sovereignty of the 
        Republic of Georgia and the commitments of the Government of 
        the Russian Federation to international peacekeeping;
            (2) calls upon the Government of the Russian Federation to 
        disavow this policy, which gives the appearance of being 
        motivated by an appetite for annexation;
            (3) affirms that the restoration of the territorial 
        integrity of the Republic of Georgia is in the interest of all 
        who seek peace and stability in the region;
            (4) urges all parties to the conflicts in the Republic of 
        Georgia and governments around the world to eschew rhetoric 
        that escalates tensions and undermines efforts to negotiate a 
        settlement to the conflicts; and
            (5) commends the Government of Georgia for acting with 
        restraint in the face of serious provocation.
                                 <all>