[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 35 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Pages 1174-1175]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

[[Page 1175]]

    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.