Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia
has been reaffirmed by the international community and 36 United Nations
Security Council resolutions;
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 Hillary
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
;
Whereas, according to the Government of Georgia’s
State Strategy on Occupied Territories,
the Government of
Georgia has committed itself to a policy of peaceful engagement, the protection
of economic and human rights, freedom of movement, and the preservation of
cultural heritage, language, and identity for the people of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia;
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 large numbers of persons remain displaced as a
result of the August 2008 conflict as well as the earlier conflicts of the
1990s;
Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed
to by the Governments of Russia and Georgia provides that all troops of the
Russian Federation shall be withdrawn to pre-conflict positions;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 recognition by the Government of Russia of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 26, 2008, was in violation of the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia;
Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report
2011 that Russia continued to occupy Georgia’s breakaway regions of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia and strengthened its military presence in the region
by establishing a military base and placing an advanced surface-to-air missile
system in Abkhazia
;
Whereas the parties have taken some constructive steps in
recent months, including the resumption of direct flights between Russia and
Georgia, Russian troop withdrawal from the Georgian village of Perevi, and
regular participation in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism;
Whereas these positive steps neither adequately address
the humanitarian situation on the ground nor constitute full compliance with
the terms of the August 2008 ceasefire agreement;
Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European
Parliament, Georgian President Saakashvili declared that Georgia will
never use force to restore its territorial integrity and
sovereignty
;
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 blocked 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 South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Whereas troops of the Russian Federation stationed in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia continue to be present without the consent of the
Government of Georgia or a mandate from the United Nations or other
multilateral organizations;
Whereas, at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin between
the foreign ministers of Georgia and NATO, Secretary of State Clinton stated,
“U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains
steadfast. … We share Georgian concerns regarding recent Russian activities
that can negatively affect regional stability.”;
Whereas, on April 25–26, 2011, Foreign Minister of Russia
Sergei Lavrov made a high-profile visit to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which
was immediately criticized by the Department of State as inconsistent
with the principle of territorial integrity and Georgia’s internationally
recognized borders
;
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, and economics and trade; and
Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not
compromise longstanding United States policy or United States support for its
allies and partners worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
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 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 between Georgia and Russia, 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 authorities in control in the regions of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia to allow for the full and dignified return of internally
displaced persons and international missions to the territories of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia;
(4)supports
peaceful, constructive engagement and confidence-building measures between the
Government of Georgia and the authorities in control in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia and encourages additional people-to-people contacts; and
(5)affirms that
finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict is a key priority for the United
States in the Caucasus region and that lasting regional stability can only be
achieved through peaceful means and long-term diplomatic and political dialogue
between all parties.