[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 10 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise today to express my condolences to the 
family of Mr. Zurab Zhvanai, the Prime Minister of Georgia, who died 
early today in what appeared to have been a tragic accident. My prayers 
go out to his wife and his three children that he leaves behind.
  Prime Minister Zhvania was one of the leading figures that peacefully 
brought about democratic change in Georgia following the country's 
fraudulent November 2003 elections. The prime minister, along with 
Mikail Saakashvili, the current president of Georgia, spearheaded the 
``Rose Revolution'' that toppled the government of Eduard Shevardnadze 
and ushered in a new era in Georgian history, one that has set Georgia 
on a pro-Western reform path.
  Prime Minister Zhvania was a dynamic young man who became an 
inspiration to millions of Georgians, became a close personal friend of 
many in the Bush Administration, in Congress, and in Washington, DC, 
and was viewed throughout the world as a positive force for democratic 
reform in Georgia. His energy, courage, and humility will be missed, 
and his contributions to democracy and liberty will not be forgotten.
  The death of Prime Minister Zhvania, while tragic, does not spell the 
end of democratic reforms in Georgia. In fact, his contributions to 
Georgian democracy will be long lasting. In the short time Prime 
Minister Zhvania was in power, he and his team began a process of 
significant institutional reconstruction and orientation that will one 
day, in the not-so-distant future, firmly entrench Georgia into the 
western institutions of the European Union and NATO.
  Tomorrow, in Tbilisi, a large international conference will convene 
to discuss Georgia and the Caucasus region integration with the West. 
And, in less than two weeks, the Community of Democracies will hold a 
workshop with representatives from more than 17 countries to discuss 
and develop action plans for further democratic and institutional 
reform in Georgia. Neither would have occurred had it not been for the 
courage and dedication to democracy and freedom exhibited by President 
Saakashvili and his trusted advisor and ally, Zurab Zhvania, which led 
the Rose Revolution to victory and brought hope to the Georgian people.
  I believe that one of the finest tributes to the Prime Minister's 
memory will be for all of us, in Georgia and in the West, to redouble 
our efforts to ensure that Zurab Zhvania's aspirations for democracy in 
Georgia are fully realized in the critical months ahead. Let me say 
that America will continue to work with the people of Georgia, 
President Saakashvili, and other Georgian leaders to ensure that their 
aspiration to become fully integrated into the world's community of 
nations is met, as expeditiously and irreversibly as possible.
  The United States mourns the loss of such an intelligent and vibrant 
democratic leader as was found in Prime Minister Zhvania. As President 
Saakashvili was quoted as saying earlier today, ``I have lost my 
closest friend, my most loyal adviser, my biggest ally.'' Let me say to 
President Saakashyili and the Georgian people, America shares your loss 
and honors the accomplishments and memory of Prime Minister Zurab 
Zhvania.

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