US Congressmen Initiate Resolution on Georgia

United States Senators David Perdue, Ben Cardin and Johnny Isakson initiated and submitted a resolution on Georgia to the Senate, 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.

The document once again confirms the strong bipartisan support of the US Congress for Georgia.

The resolution reads that the Russian Federation’s invasion of Georgia in August 2008 resulted in civilian and military causalities, the occupation of two Georgian regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced civilians were forcefully expelled from the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions 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,” the text reads.

The document says that the Government of the Russian Federation has intensified steps to separate the breakaway regions from the rest of Georgia by continuing its fortification of the occupation lines and constructing barbed wire fences to further divide the population.

“The US 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,” the resolution reads.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (MFA) says the resolution emphasizes the US-Georgia strategic partnership and supports further strengthening of the partnership between the US and Georgia in the field of defense and security, as well as the development of trade and commercial relations between the two countries.

"It is noteworthy that the US Senate reiterates strong support for Georgia's NATO membership and emphasizes Georgia's great contribution to Euro-Atlantic security. Georgia is described as a leader in the democratic development of the region and in strengthening of the parliament's role…The resolution supports an independent, united, peaceful Georgia and the safe future of the region.” - notes the Georgian MFA.

Georgia’s Vice-Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze welcomed the registration of the resolution on Georgia, saying it is a bipartisan resolution that clearly emphasizes the US attitude towards Georgia, Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.

“I want to thank the Congressmen and Congress for this support. This is a draft that I am sure will be approved by other congressmen and will be another expression of US Congressional support for Georgia," said Janelidze.

State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili says such support from Georgia’s main strategic partner is of utmost importance for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“Georgia will achieve the main aim – its unification - with the help of such efforts and peacekeeping policies,” she added.

By Thea Morrison

28 May 2018 18:07