[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S329-S330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE

 Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, last Friday, January 23rd, was 
the birthday of President Eduard Shevardnadze. This is a man whose 
active and courageous involvement helped bring the cold war to a 
peaceful end and who is now rebuilding Georgia from a ruinous civil 
war. He has taken a courageous position, even in the face of 
assassination attempts, to bring about and maintain the independence of 
freedom of his native country, Georgia.
  Mr. Shevardnadze is working hard to bring about difficult economic 
reform and to build an independent legislative branch. He has 
introduced some remarkable changes in Georgia: he introduced a new 
currency, adopted and implemented a new constitution, removed mafia 
leaders from powerful positions, secured the transportation of Caspian 
oil through Georgia and has worked hard at establishing regional 
cooperation with other leaders in the Caucasus and Central Asia. His 
dedication to furthering independence, economic prosperity and harmony 
in the region places him as a historic world figure. Mr. Shevardnadze's 
achievements should be noted and recognized on the occasion of his 70th 
birthday.
  I ask that my letter to President Shevardnadze be printed in the 
Record.
  The letter follows:


                                               Washington, DC,

                                                 January 23, 1998.
     His Excellency President Shevardnadze,
     President of Georgia,
     Tbilisi, Georgia.
       Dear President Shevardnadze, I am writing to congratulate 
     you on the occasion of your 70th birthday and to take this 
     opportunity to acknowledge your courageous work in building a 
     free and independent Georgia. Your initiatives in promoting 
     and advancing the economic and political freedom of your 
     country are well noted by your friends and admirers 
     throughout the world and place you as a historic world 
     figure. Please count me as one of those who acknowledges your 
     great contributions to the creation of a better world.
       As Georgia continues to develop and improve, let us hope 
     that our nations will share the fruits of our labors through 
     peace and security for all the newly independent states. The 
     challenges to this are real, but with men of vision such as 
     yourself, it is my belief that this can be accomplished.
       I hope our paths will cross on the ``Silk Road'' before 
     your next birthday and I can extend to you personally my best 
     wishes and regards. Again my sincere congratulations on your 
     birthday, please accept my heartfelt

[[Page S330]]

     wishes for your continued vigor and commitment to your native 
     land which now has the honor and privilege of your full 
     attention. May this year be your most fulfilling and 
     productive yet.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Sam Brownback,
     U.S. Senator.

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