III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 698 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the territorial integrity 

of Georgia and the situation within Georgia’s internationally recognized 

borders. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 9, 2010 

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. GRAHAM) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the territorial integrity of Georgia and the situation within Georgia’s internationally recognized borders. 

Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has 

been reaffirmed by the international community and 36 

United Nations Security Council resolutions; 

Whereas the Helsinki Final Act resulting from the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975 

states that parties ‘‘shall regard as inviolable all one another’s frontiers’’ and that ‘‘participating States will likewise refrain from making each other’s territory the object 

of military occupation’’; 

Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Charter, signed 

on January 9, 2009, underscores that ‘‘support for each 


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•SRES 698 IS 

other’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and 

inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation of our 

bilateral relations.’’; 

Whereas, in October 2010, at the meeting of the United 

States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, Secretary of State Clinton stated, ‘‘The United States will 

not waiver in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and 

territorial integrity.’’; 

Whereas the White House released a fact sheet on July 24, 

2010, calling for ‘‘Russia to end its occupation of the 

Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’’ and 

for ‘‘a return of international observers to the two occupied regions of Georgia.’’; 

Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Tbilisi in 

July 2009 that the United States ‘‘will not recognize 

Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states’’ and 

went on to ‘‘urge the world not to recognize [Abkhazia 

and South Ossetia] as independent states.’’; 

Whereas the August 2008 conflict between the Governments 

of Russia and Georgia resulted in civilian and military 

causalities, the violation of the sovereignty and territorial 

integrity of Georgia, and large numbers of internally displaced persons; 

Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed to 

by the Governments of Russia and Georgia, provides that 

all Russian troops shall be withdrawn to pre-conflict positions; 

Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement provides 

that free access shall be granted to organizations providing humanitarian assistance in regions affected by violence in August 2008; 


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•SRES 698 IS 

Whereas the International Crisis Group concluded in its June 

7, 2010, report on South Ossetia that ‘‘Moscow has not 

kept important ceasefire commitments, and some 20,000 

ethnic Georgians from the region remain forcibly displaced.’’; 

Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report 

2010 that ‘‘Russia continued to exercise effective control 

over South Ossetia and . . . Abkhazia, preventing international observers’ access and vetoing international missions working there’’; 

Whereas, in October 2010, Russian troops withdrew from the 

small Georgian village of Perevi; 

Whereas the withdrawal of Russian troops from Perevi is a 

positive step, but it does not constitute compliance with 

the terms of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia ceasefire 

agreement; 

Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European Parliament, Georgian President Saakashvili committed Georgia to not use force to restore control over the Georgian 

territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 

Whereas Secretary of State Clinton stated in Tbilisi on July 

5, 2010, ‘‘We continue to call for Russia to abide by the 

August 2008 cease-fire commitment . . . including ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from 

South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions.’’; 

Whereas the Russian Federation vetoed the extension of the 

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 

(OSCE) Mission to Georgia and the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, forcing the missions to withdraw from the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; 


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Whereas Russian troops stationed in the regions of Abkhazia 

and South Ossetia continue to be present without a mandate from the United Nations or other multilateral organizations; 

Whereas the Senate supports United States efforts to develop 

a productive relationship with the Russian Federation in 

areas of mutual interest, including non-proliferation and 

arms control, cooperation concerning the failure of the 

Government of Iran to meet its international obligations 

with regard to its nuclear programs, counter-terrorism, 

Afghanistan, anti-piracy, economics and trade, and others; and 

Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not compromise longstanding United States policy, principles of 

the Helsinki Final Act, and United States support for 

United States allies and partners worldwide: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) affirms that it is the policy of the United 

3 States to support the sovereignty, independence, and 

4 territorial integrity of Georgia and the inviolability 

5 of its borders and to recognize the areas of Abkhazia 

6 and South Ossetia as regions of Georgia occupied by 

7 the Russian Federation; 

8 (2) calls upon the Government of Russia to 

9 take steps to fulfill all the terms and conditions of 

10 the 2008 ceasefire agreements, including returning 

11 military forces to pre-war positions and ensuring acVerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Dec 10, 2010 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR698.IS SR698

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1 cess to international humanitarian aid to all those 

2 affected by the conflict; 

3 (3) urges the Government of Russia and the de 

4 facto authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and 

5 Abkhazia to allow for the full and dignified return 

6 of internally displaced persons and international ob7 server missions to the territories of Abkhazia and 

8 South Ossetia; 

9 (4) supports constructive engagement and con10 fidence-building measures between the Government 

11 of Georgia and the de facto authorities in the re12 gions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; and 

13 (5) affirms that the path to lasting stability in 

14 this region is through peaceful means and long-term 

15 diplomatic and political dialogue. 

Æ 


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