[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14856-S14857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 391--CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO 
   ENGAGE IN AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH THE LEADERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
 GEORGIA TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE PLANNED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND 
THE EXPECTATION THAT SUCH ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN A MANNER CONSISTENT 
                       WITH DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Dodd) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 391

       Whereas the Republic of Georgia, which is an emerging 
     democracy strategically located between Turkey and Russia, is 
     an important political and geopolitical ally of the United 
     States;
       Whereas Georgia has made significant economic progress 
     since 2000, with an economic growth rate that now exceeds 9 
     percent on an annual basis, and was named the top economic 
     reformer in the world by the World Bank in 2006;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia has been a leader in 
     addressing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction 
     under the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia is working to become a 
     candidate for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) and the European Union;
       Whereas the United States Government strongly supports the 
     territorial integrity of Georgia and works actively toward a 
     peaceful settlement of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia 
     conflicts that might lead those regions toward greater 
     autonomy within a unified Georgia;
       Whereas the popular uprising in Georgia in 2003, the Rose 
     Revolution, led to the establishment of democracy in that 
     country;
       Whereas opposition parties in Georgia engaged in 
     demonstrations lasting several days beginning on November 2, 
     2007;
       Whereas the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, 
     declared a state of emergency on November 7, 2007, after 
     which the country's main opposition television station, 
     Imedi, was closed;
       Whereas Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza 
     visited Georgia on November 10-11, 2007, and urged the 
     Government of Georgia to reopen its private television 
     stations, stating on Georgian state television: ``A 
     cornerstone of democracy is that all TV stations should 
     remain open.'';
       Whereas President Saakashvili ended emergency rule on 
     November 17, 2007, and announced presidential elections to be 
     held on January 5, 2008;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia has announced the 
     reopening of the major opposition television station, Imedi;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia has invited international 
     election monitors to oversee the elections and thereby 
     contribute to greater international recognition of the 
     Georgian political process; and
       Whereas freedom of the press, freedom of political 
     expression, and a fair and impartial judiciary are among the 
     most fundamental tenets of democracy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the President should publicly state strong support for 
     free and fair elections to be held in Georgia on January 5, 
     2008, in accordance with democratic principles; and
       (2) the Government of Georgia, in order to restore faith in 
     the democratic evolution of the country--
       (A) must conduct free and fair elections, without 
     government interference; and
       (B) must permit all independent media to remain open and 
     report on the elections.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk concerning 
the upcoming elections in the Republic of Georgia.
  I am pleased that Senators Biden and Dodd have agreed to cosponsor 
this legislation. Our goal is to express our strong hopes that the 
Republic of Georgia will return to the democratic path and embrace a 
free and fair election process. The United States was founded on the 
principles of personal rights and liberties, and we must champion a 
respect for democracy and human rights. This must include U.S. efforts 
to expand initiatives that promote freedom of the press and freedom of 
the media worldwide, which I believe underpin a nation's ability to 
respect human rights and practice democratic governance.

[[Page S14857]]

  The international community has monitored closely developments over 
the last several weeks and months in the Republic of Georgia. I have 
visited Georgia on several occasions and consider myself a strong 
friend of the Georgian people.
  In 2003 the population of Georgia rose up to overthrow their 
government. The Rose Revolution, as it was called, was truly an 
inspirational moment for supporters of democracy and freedom around the 
world. President Bush has rightly called Georgia and the government of 
President Saakashvilli ``a beacon for democracy.''
  The Georgian President and a strong cabinet of reform-minded leaders 
have implemented an aggressive reform agenda with the goal of joining 
the European Union and the NATO Alliance. This independent course was a 
brave effort to emerge from the authoritarian shadows of the Soviet 
Union and reduce its dependency on Russia.
  In addition to political reforms, Georgia has enjoyed remarkable 
economic progress. This year the country's economy is estimated to grow 
at a rate of 9 percent and continues to be an international leader in 
its economic reform efforts.
  Unfortunately, this impressive record has been threatened by recent 
events that could undermine the progress that has been achieved in 
Georgia. I was dismayed to learn of the imposition of emergency rule 
and the government's action to assert control over private media 
companies. While the threats to Georgia are clear and extremely 
dangerous, the suspension of basic freedoms was a significant step 
backward on Tbilisi' s path toward a market oriented, democratic 
country. It is important that the United States express our concerns 
about activities that may undermine the strong record that has been 
built by Georgia.
  I was relieved to learn that emergency rule was ended on November 17 
and that restrictions on private media will be lifted this week. I 
applaud the efforts by the Department of State to send a strong, clear 
and unequivocal message to the government in Tbilisi.
  The Republic of Georgia must return to the path of democracy. 
President Saakashvili has an opportunity to take important steps in 
this direction by ensuring that all political parties have equal 
opportunity and access to media coverage and that the election process 
is free and fair. I recommend that the Government of Georgia reject the 
strategies of some countries, including most recently Russia, to 
frustrate and interfere with international election monitors, 
particularly those from the OSCE. Instead, Georgia should take 
additional steps to ensure that the OSCE and other constructive 
organizations who want to observe the elections can participate fully 
and as quickly as possible.
  It is my goal that this resolution will serve as encouragement to 
President Saakashvili and his government to embrace democracy and 
ensure that the upcoming elections are the freest and fairest in 
Georgian history.

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