IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 483
Pledging continued United States support for the sovereignty, independence, 
territorial integrity, and democratic and economic reforms of the Republic 
of Georgia. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2003
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Pledging continued United States support for the sov-
ereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and demo-
cratic and economic reforms of the Republic of Georgia.
Whereas on November 23, 2003, Eduard Shevardnadze 
stepped down as President of the Republic of Georgia 
after nearly three weeks of peaceful and bloodless pro-
tests following parliamentary elections the opposition con-
tended were rigged; 
Whereas the observer mission of the Organization for Secu-
rity and Cooperation in Europe reported that recent elec-
toral processes in the Republic of Georgia did not meet 
the standards of a free and fair election; 
Whereas the Department of State issued statements on No-
vember 20–21, 2003, expressing deep disappointment
•HRES 483 IH 
that ‘‘massive vote fraud’’ had taken place during the 
November 2, 2003, parliamentary elections in the Repub-
lic of Georgia; 
Whereas the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Georgia 
ruled that the November 2 election was fraudulent; 
Whereas the political opposition of the Republic of Georgia, 
lead by Nino Budzhanadze, Mikhail Saakashvili, and 
Zurab Zhvaniva, successfully drove from office President 
Eduard Shevardnadze through a bloodless revolution; 
Whereas Eduard Shevardnadze, as foreign minister of the 
Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev, made an enor-
mous contribution to the transformation of world politics, 
and later, as the President of the Republic of Georgia, 
Eduard Shevardnadze exhibited wisdom, courage, and na-
tionalism in stepping down from the presidency rather 
than using force to maintain his leadership; 
Whereas in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic 
of Georgia the Parliamentary Speaker Nino Budzhanadze 
has become interim president; 
Whereas on November 23, 2003, the United States recog-
nized Nino Burdzhanadze as the interim president of the 
Republic of Georgia, offered its support, and urged that 
new elections be free and fair; 
Whereas on November 24, 2003, the European Union ex-
pressed support for the interim government and called 
for democratic elections; 
Whereas interim president Nino Burdzhanadze called for 
order to be re-established and for presidential elections to 
be held within a constitutionally-mandated 45 days;
•HRES 483 IH 
Whereas a representative democracy is an indispensable con-
dition for the stability, peace, and development of the Re-
public of Georgia; 
Whereas the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
Europe has pledged up to $6,000,000 to help administer 
presidential and legislative elections in the Republic of 
Georgia; 
Whereas 
Congress 
has 
earmarked 
or 
allocated 
$1,100,000,000 in aid to the Republic of Georgia, among 
the highest for the Eurasian region in per capita terms, 
over the decade spanning 1992–2002; 
Whereas the Members of the House of Representatives have 
pledged to provide further support and assistance to the 
people of the Republic of Georgia to help them consoli-
date the democratic process in their country; 
Whereas the United States supports a free, democratic, 
strong, and successful Republic of Georgia; and 
Whereas the current political situation in the Republic of 
Georgia requires urgent attention: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) congratulates Eduard Shevardnadze and the 
leaders of the political opposition of the Republic of 
Georgia—Nino Budzhanadze, Mikhail Saakashvili, 
and Zurab Zhvaniva—for their courage and patriot-
ism in dealing with the recent political crisis in the 
Republic of Georgia peacefully and bloodlessly; 
(2) urges all political segments, as well as social 
sectors and institutions in the Republic of Georgia,
•HRES 483 IH 
to strive, through dialogue, to achieve the national 
reconciliation for which both the people of the Re-
public of Georgia and the international community 
yearn; 
(3) calls on the interim government to act expe-
ditiously to conduct free, fair, and open elections; 
and 
(4) calls on the President to urge the people in 
all sectors of society of the Republic of Georgia to 
respect and preserve the free exercise of the essen-
tial elements of democracy.
Æ