[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8714-S8715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 698--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT 
   TO THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF GEORGIA AND THE SITUATION WITHIN 
              GEORGIA'S INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BORDERS

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 698

       Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia 
     has been reaffirmed by the international community and 36 
     United Nations Security Council resolutions;
       Whereas the Helsinki Final Act resulting from the 
     Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975 
     states that parties ``shall regard as inviolable all one 
     another's frontiers'' and that ``participating States will 
     likewise refrain from making each other's territory the 
     object of military occupation'';
       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 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'' and went 
     on to ``urge the world not to recognize [Abkhazia and South 
     Ossetia] as independent states'';

[[Page S8715]]

       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 the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed to 
     by the Governments of Russia and Georgia, provides that all 
     Russian troops 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 International Crisis Group concluded in its 
     June 7, 2010, report on South Ossetia that ``Moscow has not 
     kept important ceasefire commitments, and some 20,000 ethnic 
     Georgians from the region remain forcibly displaced'';
       Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report 
     2010 that ``Russia continued to exercise effective control 
     over South Ossetia and . . . Abkhazia, preventing 
     international observers' access and vetoing international 
     missions working there'';
       Whereas, in October 2010, Russian troops withdrew from the 
     small Georgian village of Perevi;
       Whereas the withdrawal of Russian troops from Perevi is a 
     positive step, but it does not constitute compliance with the 
     terms of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia ceasefire agreement;
       Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European 
     Parliament, Georgian President Saakashvili committed Georgia 
     to not use force to restore control over the Georgian 
     territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
       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 vetoed 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 the regions of 
     South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
       Whereas Russian troops stationed in the regions of Abkhazia 
     and South Ossetia continue to be present without a mandate 
     from the United Nations or other multilateral organizations;
       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, economics and trade, and others; 
     and
       Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not 
     compromise longstanding United States policy, principles of 
     the Helsinki Final Act, and United States support for United 
     States allies and partners worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, 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 the areas of 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, 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 de facto 
     authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to 
     allow for the full and dignified return of internally-
     displaced persons and international observer missions to the 
     territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
       (4) supports constructive engagement and confidence-
     building measures between the Government of Georgia and the 
     de facto authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and 
     Abkhazia; and
       (5) affirms that the path to lasting stability in this 
     region is through peaceful means and long-term diplomatic and 
     political dialogue.

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