[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2939-S2940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 527--CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA ON THE 
 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AS A DEMOCRATIC 
 REPUBLIC AND REAFFIRMING THE STRENGTH OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 
                       UNITED STATES AND GEORGIA

  Mr. PERDUE (for himself, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Isakson) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 527

       Whereas, in 1918, the people of Georgia established the 
     Democratic Republic of Georgia;
       Whereas Georgia was illegally invaded and annexed by the 
     Soviet Red Army in 1921, leading to 70 years of Soviet 
     occupation until 1991, when Georgia regained its 
     independence;
       Whereas the territorial integrity of Georgia has been 
     continually reaffirmed by the international community, 
     international law, and over 30 United Nations Security 
     Council resolutions since 1993;
       Whereas the Russian Federation's invasion of Georgia in 
     August 2008 resulted in civilian and military causalities, 
     the occupation of two Georgian regions, Abkhazia and the 
     Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, and the violation of 
     Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of internally displaced 
     civilians were forcefully expelled from the Abkhazia and 
     Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia of Georgia in the 1990s, and 
     again in 2008, and continue to be deprived of the right to 
     return in a safe and dignified manner;
       Whereas the Russian Federation continues to violate the 
     European Union-mediated, August 12, 2008, Ceasefire Agreement 
     between Georgia and the Russian Federation;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has 
     intensified steps to separate Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/
     South Ossetia from the rest of Georgia by continuing its 
     fortification of the occupation lines and constructing barbed 
     wire fences to further divide the population;
       Whereas Georgia remains in full compliance with the 
     European Union-mediated, August 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, 
     and continues its efforts to reach tangible results in the 
     Geneva International Discussions;
       Whereas the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied 
     Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South 
     Ossetia has deteriorated, and the Parliament of Georgia 
     adopted a resolution on March 21, 2018, in recognition of 
     this fact;
       Whereas the United States Government supports Georgia's 
     sovereignty and right to choose its own alliances, and 
     recognizes the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/
     South Ossetia as Russian Federation-occupied territories 
     within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia;
       Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Partnership, 
     signed in January 2009, outlines the importance of bilateral 
     efforts to advance cooperation in the areas of education, 
     public outreach, health, and cultural exchanges to ensure the 
     strong and enduring people-to-people ties between the United 
     States and Georgia;
       Whereas the Memorandum on Deepening the Defense and 
     Security Partnership between the United States and Georgia, 
     signed in July 2016, enhances the defense and security 
     cooperation and reinforces our shared determination to 
     strengthen Georgia's resilience and self-defense 
     capabilities;
       Whereas relations between the United States and Georgia 
     have developed into a strong alliance based on shared values 
     and principles;
       Whereas, since 1994, the Georgia National Guard has had a 
     partnership with the country of Georgia through the National 
     Guard State Partnership Program, helping build capacity among 
     partner forces and providing deterrence against the 
     aggression of the Government of the Russian Federation;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia has shown an unwavering 
     commitment to strengthening transatlantic security by being 
     the largest non-NATO troop contributor to the International 
     Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan and one of 
     the top overall contributors to Resolute Support;
       Whereas the Government of Georgia has been a leader of the 
     region in democratic development and has initiated positive 
     commitments in the areas of judicial reforms, strengthening 
     the role of Parliament, and utilizing international election 
     monitoring organizations and transparency;
       Whereas, on August 1, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence 
     visited Georgia to condemn the Russian Federation's 
     occupation of Georgian territory and attend Exercise Noble 
     Partner, involving 800 Georgian and 1,600 United States 
     troops;
       Whereas, on November 20, 2017, the Department of State made 
     a determination approving a sale of the Javelin missile 
     system to Georgia, providing increased capacity to meet 
     Georgia's national defense requirements;
       Whereas, on January 26, 2018, the United States Government 
     condemned the Russian Federation's ratification of an 
     agreement with de facto leaders of South Ossetia regarding a 
     joint military force; and
       Whereas a democratic and stable Georgia is in the 
     political, security, and economic interests of the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the people of Georgia on the occasion of 
     the 100th anniversary of the first Democratic Republic of 
     Georgia;
       (2) acknowledges the close and enduring strategic 
     partnership and strong alliance between the United States and 
     Georgia;
       (3) supports strengthening the defense and security 
     cooperation between the United States and Georgia;
       (4) supports further developing trade and commerce 
     relations between the United States and Georgia;
       (5) reaffirms the support of the United States for 
     Georgia's accession to NATO;
       (6) continues to condemn the Russian Federation's 
     occupation of Georgian sovereign territory, and recognizes 
     Georgia's regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South 
     Ossetia as Russian-occupied territories within the 
     internationally recognized borders of Georgia;
       (7) remembers the victims of the August 2008 war between 
     Georgia and the Russian Federation;
       (8) condemns human rights abuses by the Government of the 
     Russian Federation in the occupied Georgian territories of 
     Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, including the 
     recent killing of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga 
     Otkhozoria, and Davit Basharuli;
       (9) reaffirms the support of the United States for a 
     peaceful, unified Georgia and a secure future for the region;
       (10) reaffirms the necessity of the implementation of the 
     August, 12, 2008, Ceasefire Agreement that stipulates the 
     withdrawal of Russian Federation forces to their pre-conflict 
     locations and establishes international security mechanisms 
     on the ground;
       (11) emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safe and 
     dignified return of internally displaced persons; and
       (12) recognizes the Government of Georgia's ongoing efforts 
     to strengthen democracy in Georgia by implementing reforms 
     that expand media transparency and freedoms, increase 
     government transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, 
     promote political competition and democratic electoral 
     processes, and strengthen judicial independence and the rule 
     of law.

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