US House of Representatives Pass Bipartisan Bill to Support Georgia
The US House of Representatives conferred on the Georgia Support Act, presented by the co-chairs of the House Georgia Caucus, Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly, which has about 30 co-sponsors from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Even before the submission of the Act by the House of Representatives, the draft was collectively and unanimously accepted by several committees, including the Foreign Relations, Legal Affairs and Revenue Committees.
The manuscript declares the United States of America’s continuous assistance for the independence and sovereignty of Georgia. It acknowledges Georgia’s commitment to democratic values including free and fair elections, and further affirms US opposition to Russian aggression in the region.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Act provisions the right of citizens of Georgia to independently determine their future and make sovereign and self-governing choices on foreign and security policies. More essentially, embracing their country’s relationship with other countries and international organizations, without intrusion or coercion by other nations.
Specifically, the report shall cover:
- US security assistance to Georgia and an assessment of threats to the country's independence and its ability to defend itself
- cybersecurity cooperation between the United States and Georgia, and
- a strategy to help Georgia expand its capabilities to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda.” (House.gov)
The US President shall correspondingly enforce "entry and property-blocking sanctions against foreign persons responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses" in the two Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Rendering to the document - “It shall be the policy of the United States, in consultation with Georgia, to enhance Georgia’s deterrence, resilience, and self-defense, including through appropriate assistance to improve the capabilities of Georgia’s armed forces.”
The bill says that the US does not acknowledge the self-declared separatist Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, backed by the Russian Federation.
Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia, voiced appreciation to the US House of Representatives for implementing the Georgia Support Act.
“On behalf of the Georgian people, I want to thank the US House of Representatives for passing the Georgia Support Act. It represents the first standalone legislation related to Georgia dedicated to taking our partnership to the next level. The US is our closest strategic ally,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
The Prime Minister said that the Georgia Support Act considerably intensifies defense, economic, and cybersecurity relations between Georgia and the US.
“Closer partnership with the US will help create more jobs, build a strong middle class, and maintain sustainable security in Georgia,” the PM wrote.
By Beka Alexishvili