III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 175 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing violations of 

the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the importance 

of a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict within Georgia’s internationally recognized borders. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 10, 2011 

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. KYL, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. CASEY, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. KIRK, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. RISCH, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. 

BARRASSO, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. MENENDEZ, and Mr. COONS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JULY 27, 2011 

Reported by Mr. KERRY, without amendment 

JULY 29, 2011 

Considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing 

violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of 

Georgia and the importance of a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict 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; 


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SRES 175 ATS 

Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Charter, signed 

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

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 Hillary 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’’; 

Whereas, according to the Government of Georgia’s ‘‘State 

Strategy on Occupied Territories,’’ the Government of 

Georgia has committed itself to a policy of peaceful engagement, the protection of economic and human rights, 

freedom of movement, and the preservation of cultural 

heritage, language, and identity for the people of 

Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 

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; 


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SRES 175 ATS 

Whereas large numbers of persons remain displaced as a result of the August 2008 conflict as well as the earlier 

conflicts of the 1990s; 

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

by the Governments of Russia and Georgia provides that 

all troops of the Russian Federation 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; 

Whereas the recognition by the Government of Russia of 

Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 26, 2008, was in 

violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of 

Georgia; 

Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report 

2011 that ‘‘Russia continued to occupy Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and 

strengthened its military presence in the region by establishing a military base and placing an advanced surfaceto-air missile system in Abkhazia’’; 

Whereas the parties have taken some constructive steps in recent months, including the resumption of direct flights 

between Russia and Georgia, Russian troop withdrawal 

from the Georgian village of Perevi, and regular participation in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism; 

Whereas these positive steps neither adequately address the 

humanitarian situation on the ground nor constitute full 

compliance with the terms of the August 2008 ceasefire 

agreement; 


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SRES 175 ATS 

Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European Parliament, Georgian President Saakashvili declared that 

‘‘Georgia will never use force to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty’’; 

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 blocked 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 South Ossetia and Abkhazia; 

Whereas troops of the Russian Federation stationed in 

Abkhazia and South Ossetia continue to be present without the consent of the Government of Georgia or a mandate from the United Nations or other multilateral organizations; 

Whereas, at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin between 

the foreign ministers of Georgia and NATO, Secretary of 

State Clinton stated, ‘‘U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains steadfast. . . . 

We share Georgian concerns regarding recent Russian 

activities that can negatively affect regional stability.’’; 

Whereas, on April 25–26, 2011, Foreign Minister of Russia 

Sergei Lavrov made a high-profile visit to Abkhazia and 

South Ossetia, which was immediately criticized by the 

Department of State as ‘‘inconsistent with the principle 


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of territorial integrity and Georgia’s internationally recognized borders’’; 

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, and economics and trade; and 

Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not compromise longstanding United States policy or United 

States support for its 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 Abkhazia and South 

6 Ossetia as regions of Georgia occupied by the Rus7 sian 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 between Georgia and 

11 Russia, including returning military forces to pre12 war positions and ensuring access to international 

13 humanitarian aid to all those affected by the con14 flict; 


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1 (3) urges the Government of Russia and the au2 thorities in control in the regions of South Ossetia 

3 and Abkhazia to allow for the full and dignified re4 turn of internally displaced persons and inter5 national missions to the territories of Abkhazia and 

6 South Ossetia; 

7 (4) supports peaceful, constructive engagement 

8 and confidence-building measures between the Gov9 ernment of Georgia and the authorities in control in 

10 South Ossetia and Abkhazia and encourages addi11 tional people-to-people contacts; and 

12 (5) affirms that finding a peaceful resolution to 

13 the conflict is a key priority for the United States 

14 in the Caucasus region and that lasting regional sta15 bility can only be achieved through peaceful means 

16 and long-term diplomatic and political dialogue be17 tween all parties. 

Æ 


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