[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5556-5557]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF ZURAB ZHVANIA, PRIME MINISTER OF REPUBLIC OF 
                                GEORGIA

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 108) commemorating the life of the late Zurab 
Zhvania, Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 108

       Whereas on the night of February 3, 2005, the Prime 
     Minister of the Republic of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, died, 
     apparently due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a 
     malfunctioning heater;
       Whereas the death of Prime Minister Zhvania at the age of 
     41 is a tragic loss for the Republic of Georgia;

[[Page 5557]]

       Whereas Zurab Zhvania was a dedicated reformer whose 
     visionary leadership inspired a new generation of political 
     leaders in the Republic of Georgia;
       Whereas Zurab Zhvania founded the Citizen's Union Party, 
     which won elections in 1995, making him the Speaker of the 
     Georgian Parliament;
       Whereas under the leadership of Speaker Zhvania, the 
     Georgian Parliament was transformed into an effective and 
     transparent legislative institution;
       Whereas in November 2001, Speaker Zhvania resigned his 
     position in protest when government authorities attempted to 
     suppress the leading independent television station in the 
     Republic of Georgia;
       Whereas Zurab Zhvania formed the United Democrats, a party 
     that blossomed into one of the major forces that brought 
     about the Rose Revolution in the Republic of Georgia in 
     November 2003;
       Whereas in the most dangerous hours of the Rose Revolution, 
     when it appeared that armed force could be used against the 
     peaceful protestors, Zurab Zhvania dismissed his bodyguards 
     and led a march to Parliament accompanied only by his young 
     children;
       Whereas Zurab Zhvania was named Prime Minister of the 
     Republic of Georgia in November 2003, and led governmental 
     efforts to develop and implement far-reaching economic, 
     judicial, military, and social reforms thereby turning the 
     promise of the Rose Revolution into real results that have 
     dramatically improved life in the Republic of Georgia;
       Whereas the strong commitment of Zurab Zhvania to the 
     peaceful restoration of the territorial integrity of the 
     Republic of Georgia was most recently displayed in the 
     central role he played in the development of the 
     unprecedented and generous proposal of the Republic of 
     Georgia for resolving the status of South Ossetia peacefully 
     and justly; and
       Whereas Zurab Zhvania's vision of the historical destiny of 
     the Republic of Georgia was eloquently expressed before the 
     Council of Europe on April 27, 1999, when he said, ``I am 
     Georgian and therefore, I am European'': Now, therefore, be 
     it.
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its sympathy and deepest condolences to the 
     family of Zurab Zhvania for their tragic loss of a son, 
     husband, and father, and to the people of the Republic of 
     Georgia for the death of their Prime Minister;
       (2) commends the courage, energy, political imagination, 
     and leadership of Zurab Zhvania that were so critical to the 
     development of a democratic Republic of Georgia;
       (3) recognizes that the integration of the Republic of 
     Georgia into Euro-Atlantic institutions will be the 
     completion of the vision of Zurab Zhvania and his most 
     lasting legacy; and
       (4) expresses its solidarity with the people and Government 
     of the Republic of Georgia at this difficult time.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. McCotter) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 108.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today, the House considers H. Res. 108, introduced by the esteemed 
Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Gallegly). It is a resolution commemorating the 
life of the late Zurab Zhvania, who at the time of his death was the 
Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.
  On February 3, Prime Minister Zhvania died suddenly, apparently as a 
result of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a malfunctioning heater. 
This resolution expresses the House of Representative's sympathy and 
condolences to the family of Zurab Zhvania and to the people of Georgia 
for the death of their Prime Minister.
  The resolution also commemorates the life of Zurab Zhvania and calls 
for the completion of his vision to integrate Georgia into the greater 
European-Atlantic community. Prime Minister Zhvania was a prominent 
leader in Georgia's Rose Revolution. He was a true reformer, a strong 
believer in democracy, and a good friend to America. In fact, Georgia 
recently decided to increase its troop levels in Iraq at the very time 
when other nations are drawing down their military presence in that 
country. Georgia also participates in the peacekeeping mission in 
Kosovo and has troops in Afghanistan.
  The death of Zurab Zhvania is a tragic loss for Georgia and all those 
who support democracy in that nation. I ask my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume and join my colleague from Michigan in commemorating the 
extraordinary life and the tragic death of Zurab Zhvania, the late 
Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.
  While he served in the position of Prime Minister for a relatively 
short time, all independent observers conclude that he contributed 
immeasurably to the democratic reform of the Republic of Georgia. He 
was committed to opening the minds of the Georgian people and inspiring 
them to move away from the regressive wrongdoings of the Communist 
establishment.
  He will always be known as a true reformer, a strong believer in 
democratic values, and a good friend of America. We are all saddened by 
his loss, and I join my colleagues in expressing condolences to the 
family of Mr. Zhvania.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 
108, commemorating the life of the late Prime Minister of the Republic 
of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania. I commend my colleagues, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. 
Smith, and Mr. Wexler, for introducing this resolution and I am proud 
to be a cosponsor. I want to thank them for providing us an opportunity 
to recognize the life and contributions of Prime Minister Zhvania to 
the cause of freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, on February 3 of this year, the Republic of Georgia 
suffered a tremendous loss with the untimely passing of their Prime 
Minister, Zurab Zhvania. An academic and unlikely political hero, 
Zhvania was elected to the Georgian national parliament in 1992, after 
the collapse of the Soviet Union. His passion and his eloquence brought 
him to the attention of Eduard Shevardnadze, and eventually to the 
office of Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. A champion of democracy 
and freedom of the press, Zhvania distanced himself from Shevardnadze 
and joined a party of young reformers who brought about the Rose 
Revolution in 2003. As the Prime Minister, Zhvania led the economic and 
social reform efforts that have transformed the lives of the Georgian 
people.
  His visionary leadership in guiding the Republic of Georgia as it 
reached independence, his commitment to the development of core 
democratic values, and his tremendous courage in the face of adversity, 
will make the late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania a towering figure in 
the history of the independent Republic of Georgia.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 108.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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