[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 698 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 698

  Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the territorial 
integrity of Georgia and the situation within Georgia's internationally 
                          recognized borders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 9, 2010

   Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the territorial 
integrity of Georgia and the situation within Georgia's internationally 
                          recognized borders.

Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by 
        the international community and 36 United Nations Security Council 
        resolutions;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act resulting from the Conference on Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe in 1975 states that parties ``shall regard as 
        inviolable all one another's frontiers'' and that ``participating States 
        will likewise refrain from making each other's territory the object of 
        military occupation'';
Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Charter, signed on January 9, 2009, 
        underscores that ``support for each other's sovereignty, independence, 
        territorial integrity and inviolability of borders constitutes the 
        foundation of our bilateral relations.'';
Whereas, in October 2010, at the meeting of the United States-Georgia Charter on 
        Strategic Partnership, Secretary of State Clinton stated, ``The United 
        States will not waiver in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and 
        territorial integrity.'';
Whereas the White House released a fact sheet on July 24, 2010, calling for 
        ``Russia to end its occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia 
        and South Ossetia'' and for ``a return of international observers to the 
        two occupied regions of Georgia.'';
Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Tbilisi in July 2009 that the 
        United States ``will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as 
        independent states'' and went on to ``urge the world not to recognize 
        [Abkhazia and South Ossetia] as independent states.'';
Whereas the August 2008 conflict between the Governments of Russia and Georgia 
        resulted in civilian and military causalities, the violation of the 
        sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and large numbers of 
        internally displaced persons;
Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed to by the Governments 
        of Russia and Georgia, provides that all Russian troops shall be 
        withdrawn to pre-conflict positions;
Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement provides that free access shall 
        be granted to organizations providing humanitarian assistance in regions 
        affected by violence in August 2008;
Whereas the International Crisis Group concluded in its June 7, 2010, report on 
        South Ossetia that ``Moscow has not kept important ceasefire 
        commitments, and some 20,000 ethnic Georgians from the region remain 
        forcibly displaced.'';
Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report 2010 that ``Russia 
        continued to exercise effective control over South Ossetia and . . . 
        Abkhazia, preventing international observers' access and vetoing 
        international missions working there'';
Whereas, in October 2010, Russian troops withdrew from the small Georgian 
        village of Perevi;
Whereas the withdrawal of Russian troops from Perevi is a positive step, but it 
        does not constitute compliance with the terms of the August 2008 Russia-
        Georgia ceasefire agreement;
Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European Parliament, Georgian 
        President Saakashvili committed Georgia to not use force to restore 
        control over the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
Whereas Secretary of State Clinton stated in Tbilisi on July 5, 2010, ``We 
        continue to call for Russia to abide by the August 2008 cease-fire 
        commitment . . . including ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian 
        troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict 
        positions.'';
Whereas the Russian Federation vetoed the extension of the Organization for 
        Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Georgia and the 
        United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, forcing the missions to 
        withdraw from the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Whereas Russian troops stationed in the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia 
        continue to be present without a mandate from the United Nations or 
        other multilateral organizations;
Whereas the Senate supports United States efforts to develop a productive 
        relationship with the Russian Federation in areas of mutual interest, 
        including non-proliferation and arms control, cooperation concerning the 
        failure of the Government of Iran to meet its international obligations 
        with regard to its nuclear programs, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, 
        anti-piracy, economics and trade, and others; and
Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not compromise longstanding 
        United States policy, principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and United 
        States support for United States allies and partners worldwide: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to 
        support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
        integrity of Georgia and the inviolability of its borders and 
        to recognize the areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as regions 
        of Georgia occupied by the Russian Federation;
            (2) calls upon the Government of Russia to take steps to 
        fulfill all the terms and conditions of the 2008 ceasefire 
        agreements, including returning military forces to pre-war 
        positions and ensuring access to international humanitarian aid 
        to all those affected by the conflict;
            (3) urges the Government of Russia and the de facto 
        authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to 
        allow for the full and dignified return of internally displaced 
        persons and international observer missions to the territories 
        of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
            (4) supports constructive engagement and confidence-
        building measures between the Government of Georgia and the de 
        facto authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; 
        and
            (5) affirms that the path to lasting stability in this 
        region is through peaceful means and long-term diplomatic and 
        political dialogue.
                                 <all>