IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1544 

Reaffirming the strength of the relationship between the United States and 

the Republic of Georgia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 20, 2010 

Ms. SCHWARTZ (for herself and Mr. SHUSTER) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the strength of the relationship between the 

United States and the Republic of Georgia. 

Whereas the August 2008 military conflict between the Republic of Georgia and the Russian Federation resulted in 

the destruction of significant infrastructure and property, 

vast humanitarian requirements, and a further weakening 

of relations between the Government of Georgia and their 

breakaway regions; 

Whereas according to the report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, 

the Russia-Georgia military conflict resulted in the tragic 

loss of nearly 1,000 military, law enforcement, and civilian lives and over 100,000 internally displaced persons; 

Whereas since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has 

been continually reaffirmed by the international commuVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:04 Jul 21, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1544.IH HR1544

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•HRES 1544 IH 

nity, international law, and 32 United Nations Security 

Council resolutions; 

Whereas despite the six-point agreement signed by Georgia 

and Russia on August 12, 2008, which requires both 

sides to withdraw all forces to their pre-conflict positions, 

thousands of Russian forces remain in Abkhazia and 

South Ossetia; 

Whereas the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), 

the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the United Nations Observer Mission 

in Georgia have been blocked in their efforts to observe 

humanitarian and political conditions in Abkhazia and 

South Ossetia; 

Whereas the United States supports Georgia’s sovereignty 

and right to choose its own alliances, and recognizes the 

areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as occupied territories within the international borders of the Republic of 

Georgia; 

Whereas the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) continues to assist Georgia in strengthening domestic governance, improving economic and energy stability, and in providing housing and social service 

assistance to internally displaced persons; 

Whereas the United States also provides significant assistance in infrastructure, enterprise, and businesses development through the congressionally created Millennium 

Challenge Corporation; 

Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Partnership, 

signed in January 2009, outlines the importance of the 

bilateral relationship as well as the intent of both countries to expand democracy and economic programs, enVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:04 Jul 21, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1544.IH HR1544

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•HRES 1544 IH 

hance defense and security cooperation, further trade and 

energy cooperation, and build people-to-people cultural 

exchanges; 

Whereas Georgia has initiated positive developments in the 

areas of constitutional reforms, strengthening the role of 

Parliament, institutionalizing judicial independence, and 

utilizing international election organizations; 

Whereas OSCE determined that Georgia’s May 2010 municipal elections ‘‘were marked by clear improvements and 

efforts by the authorities to address problems occurring 

during the [election] process’’; 

Whereas the assessment report concluded that while these 

elections ‘‘marked progress toward meeting international 

election standards’’, significant reforms were still required in voter and candidacy rights, the establishment of 

a level playing field for all candidates, and media freedoms and clarification on electoral procedures and competence; and 

Whereas Georgia continues to make important contributions 

to Operation Enduring Freedom and is currently the second highest per capita contributor of troops to the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led International 

Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the close and enduring relation3 ship between the United States and the Republic of 

4 Georgia; 


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•HRES 1544 IH 

1 (2) remembers the victims of the August 2008 

2 military conflict between Georgia and the Russian 

3 Federation; 

4 (3) reaffirms its support for a peaceful, secure 

5 future for the region and for the unification of Geor6 gia; 

7 (4) supports the implementation of the United 

8 States-Georgia Strategic Partnership and the contin9 ued growth of bilateral relations; and 

10 (5) encourages Georgia to strengthen its democ11 racy by implementing reforms that expand media 

12 transparency and freedoms, increase government 

13 transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, 

14 promote political competition and democratic elec15 toral processes, strengthen the rule of law, and im16 plement judicial reforms. 

Æ 


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