[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16017-S16018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 418--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
     PROVOCATIVE AND DANGEROUS STATEMENTS MADE BY OFFICIALS OF THE 
    GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION CONCERNING THE TERRITORIAL 
                  INTEGRITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

  Mr. BIDEN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 418

       Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of the 
     Republic of Georgia has been reaffirmed by the international 
     community, international law, and 32 United Nations Security 
     Council Resolutions;
       Whereas the Republic of Georgia has pursued the peaceful 
     resolution of territorial conflicts in the regions of 
     Abkhazia and South Ossetia since the end of hostilities in 
     1993;
       Whereas, by stating that the Russian Federation should 
     diplomatically recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as 
     independent states, certain officials of the Government of 
     the Russian Federation have undermined the peace and security 
     of those regions and the Republic of Georgia as a whole; and
       Whereas the statements of those officials are incompatible 
     with the role of the Russian Federation as one of the world's 
     leading powers and are inconsistent with the commitments of 
     the Russian Federation to international peacekeeping: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns recent statements by officials of the 
     Government of the Russian Federation that the Russian 
     Federation should recognize the regions of Abkhazia and South 
     Ossetia as states independent of the Republic of Georgia as a 
     violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Georgia and 
     the commitments of the Russian Federation to international 
     peacekeeping;
       (2) calls upon the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     disavow these statements;
       (3) affirms that the restoration of the territorial 
     integrity of the Republic of Georgia is in the interest of 
     all who seek peace and stability in the region; and

[[Page S16018]]

       (4) urges all parties to the conflicts in the Republic of 
     Georgia and governments around the world to eschew rhetoric 
     that escalates tensions and undermines efforts to negotiate a 
     settlement to the conflicts.

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