[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
[September 3, 2008]
[Pages 1173-1174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Situation in Georgia
September 3, 2008

    Last month, Russia invaded a sovereign neighbor and violated 
Georgia's territorial integrity. The people of Georgia withstood the 
assault from the Russian military, and the international community 
rallied to stand with the people of Georgia and their democratically 
elected Government.
    Early in the crisis, I directed a series of steps to demonstrate 
America's solidarity with Georgia, including instructing Secretary 
Gates to oversee a mission by the U.S. 
military to provide humanitarian aid for the people of Georgia. Since 
the conflict began, our Nation has provided nearly $30 million in 
humanitarian assistance to Georgia, including more than 1,200 tons of 
food and other relief supplies delivered by the U.S. military. While 
that mission continues, the United States is also prepared to help 
Georgia rebuild and regain its position as one of the world's fastest 
growing economies.
    On Monday, September 1, European leaders announced that the European 
Union is prepared to provide aid for reconstruction in Georgia, 
including the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and would soon 
convene an international conference to assist Georgia in its 
reconstruction. The United States applauds the actions taken by the 
European Union, and we will participate in the EU's reconstruction 
conference.
    As part of America's contribution to this international effort, 
today I am announcing $1 billion in additional economic assistance to 
meet Georgia's humanitarian needs and to support its economic recovery. 
More than half of these funds will be made available in the near term 
and will support reconstruction efforts in Georgia, assist the 
Government of Georgia in leading the nation's recovery, and meet ongoing 
humanitarian needs, including the resettlement of displaced families. 
The balance of the funds, together with assistance from the European 
Union and other partners, will help the Government of Georgia rebuild 
critical infrastructure and help local communities and businesses get 
back on their feet. My administration looks forward to working with 
Congress on elements of this package. The Vice President will brief Georgia's leadership on this package when he 
visits Tbilisi tomorrow.
    Today I have also directed a number of Federal agencies to expand 
their support for Georgia's economic recovery. U.S. Trade Representative 
Susan Schwab will take steps to expand trade 
and investment in Georgia, by negotiating an enhanced bilateral 
investment treaty and expanding preferential access to the U.S. market 
for Georgian exports. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez will assist U.S. firms interested in trade and investment 
in Georgia and dispatch a trade mission to Georgia in the coming weeks. 
Secretary of Transportation Peters will make 
available risk insurance to support U.S. maritime commerce with Georgia. 
Secretary of the Treasury Paulson will 
continue to lead our efforts to coordinate assistance efforts with 
international financial institutions, and Secretaries Rice and Gates will 
continue to coordinate with our international partners to ensure that 
our aid is delivered swiftly to those who need it most.
    Georgia has a strong economic foundation and leaders with an 
impressive record of reform. Our additional economic assistance will 
help the people of Georgia recover from the assault on their country and 
continue to build a prosperous and competitive economy.

Note: The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
version of this statement.

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