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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 527 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 527

 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2018

  Mr. Perdue (for himself, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Isakson) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 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.

Whereas, in 1918, the people of Georgia established the Democratic Republic of 
        Georgia;
Whereas Georgia was illegally invaded and annexed by the Soviet Red Army in 
        1921, leading to 70 years of Soviet occupation until 1991, when Georgia 
        regained its independence;
Whereas the territorial integrity of Georgia has been continually reaffirmed by 
        the international community, international law, and over 30 United 
        Nations Security Council resolutions since 1993;
Whereas the Russian Federation's invasion of Georgia in August 2008 resulted in 
        civilian and military causalities, the occupation of two Georgian 
        regions, Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, and the 
        violation of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of internally displaced civilians were forcefully 
        expelled from the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia 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;
Whereas the Russian Federation continues to violate the European Union-mediated, 
        August 12, 2008, Ceasefire Agreement between Georgia and the Russian 
        Federation;
Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has intensified steps to 
        separate Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia from the rest of 
        Georgia by continuing its fortification of the occupation lines and 
        constructing barbed wire fences to further divide the population;
Whereas Georgia remains in full compliance with the European Union-mediated, 
        August 12, 2008, Ceasefire Agreement, and continues its efforts to reach 
        tangible results in the Geneva International Discussions;
Whereas the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied Georgian territories 
        of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia has deteriorated, and 
        the Parliament of Georgia adopted a resolution on March 21, 2018, in 
        recognition of this fact;
Whereas the United States 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;
Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Partnership, signed in January 2009, 
        outlines the importance of bilateral efforts to advance cooperation in 
        the areas of education, public outreach, health, and cultural exchanges 
        to ensure the strong and enduring people-to-people ties between the 
        United States and Georgia;
Whereas the Memorandum on Deepening the Defense and Security Partnership between 
        the United States and Georgia, signed in July 2016, enhances the defense 
        and security cooperation and reinforces our shared determination to 
        strengthen Georgia's resilience and self-defense capabilities;
Whereas relations between the United States and Georgia have developed into a 
        strong alliance based on shared values and principles;
Whereas, since 1994, the Georgia National Guard has had a partnership with the 
        country of Georgia through the National Guard State Partnership Program, 
        helping build capacity among partner forces and providing deterrence 
        against the aggression of the Government of the Russian Federation;
Whereas the Government of Georgia has shown an unwavering commitment to 
        strengthening transatlantic security by being the largest non-NATO troop 
        contributor to the International Security Assistance Force mission in 
        Afghanistan and one of the top overall contributors to Resolute Support;
Whereas the Government of Georgia has been a leader of the region in democratic 
        development and has initiated positive commitments in the areas of 
        judicial reforms, strengthening the role of Parliament, and utilizing 
        international election monitoring organizations and transparency;
Whereas, on August 1, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence visited Georgia to condemn 
        the Russian Federation's occupation of Georgian territory and attend 
        Exercise Noble Partner, involving 800 Georgian and 1,600 United States 
        troops;
Whereas, on November 20, 2017, the Department of State made a determination 
        approving a sale of the Javelin missile system to Georgia, providing 
        increased capacity to meet Georgia's national defense requirements;
Whereas, on January 26, 2018, the United States Government condemned the Russian 
        Federation's ratification of an agreement with de facto leaders of South 
        Ossetia regarding a joint military force; and
Whereas a democratic and stable Georgia is in the political, security, and 
        economic interests of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the people of Georgia on the occasion of 
        the 100th anniversary of the first Democratic Republic of 
        Georgia;
            (2) acknowledges the close and enduring strategic 
        partnership and strong alliance between the United States and 
        Georgia;
            (3) supports strengthening the defense and security 
        cooperation between the United States and Georgia;
            (4) supports further developing trade and commerce 
        relations between the United States and Georgia;
            (5) reaffirms the support of the United States for 
        Georgia's accession to NATO;
            (6) continues to condemn the Russian Federation's 
        occupation of Georgian sovereign territory, and recognizes 
        Georgia's regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South 
        Ossetia as Russian-occupied territories within the 
        internationally recognized borders of Georgia;
            (7) remembers the victims of the August 2008 war between 
        Georgia and the Russian Federation;
            (8) condemns human rights abuses by the Government of the 
        Russian Federation in the occupied Georgian territories of 
        Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, including the 
        recent killing of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga 
        Otkhozoria, and Davit Basharuli;
            (9) reaffirms the support of the United States for a 
        peaceful, unified Georgia and a secure future for the region;
            (10) reaffirms the necessity of the implementation of the 
        August, 12, 2008, Ceasefire Agreement that stipulates the 
        withdrawal of Russian Federation forces to their pre-conflict 
        locations and establishes international security mechanisms on 
        the ground;
            (11) emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safe and 
        dignified return of internally displaced persons; and
            (12) recognizes the Government of Georgia's ongoing efforts 
        to strengthen democracy in Georgia by implementing reforms that 
        expand media transparency and freedoms, increase government 
        transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, promote 
        political competition and democratic electoral processes, and 
        strengthen judicial independence and the rule of law.
                                 <all>
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