IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 491 
Affirming the support of the United States for Georgia’s accession to the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2014 
Mr. POE of Texas (for himself and Mr. KEATING) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Affirming the support of the United States for Georgia’s 
accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO). 
Whereas successive United States Administrations have sup-
ported Georgia’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO); 
Whereas the Government of Georgia has met the basic stand-
ards for accession, even as specific reforms continue, and 
has consistently displayed its willingness and ability to 
meet the responsibilities of membership in NATO; 
Whereas Georgia’s defense spending, as roughly 2.5 percent 
of GDP, is a half point higher than the baseline 2 per-
cent target set by NATO, which only the United States, 
the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Turkey, and Esto-
nia currently meet; 
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•HRES 491 IH 
Whereas it was declared by the Heads of State and Govern-
ment participating in the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucha-
rest, and reaffirmed in 2009 at the Summit in 
Strasbourg and Kehl, in 2010 at the Summit in Lisbon, 
and in 2012 at the summit in Chicago, that Georgia will 
become a member of NATO; 
Whereas the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic 
Partnership, signed in January 2009, outlines the impor-
tance of the bilateral relationship as well as the intent of 
both countries to expand democracy and economic pro-
grams, enhance defense and security cooperation, further 
trade and energy cooperation, and build people-to-people 
cultural exchanges; 
Whereas the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic 
Partnership pledges both sides to ‘‘strengthen Georgia’s 
candidacy for NATO membership’’, and to work within 
the framework of the NATO-Georgia Commission ‘‘to 
pursue a structured plan to increase interoperability and 
coordination of capabilities between NATO and Georgia, 
including via enhanced training and equipment for Geor-
gian forces’’; 
Whereas the European Union (EU)-Georgia Association 
Agreement, initialed in late November 2013 and expected 
to be signed before fall 2014, opens new opportunities of 
political association and deeper economic integration with 
the EU; 
Whereas the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free 
Trade Area is an integral part of the EU-Georgia Asso-
ciation Agreement, which aims to gradually integrate 
Georgia into the EU’s internal market; 
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•HRES 491 IH 
Whereas the ongoing EU-Georgia Visa Dialogue and the Visa 
Liberalization Action Plan, being implemented by Geor-
gia, aim at introducing the visa-free regime between the 
EU and Georgia in a secure and well-managed environ-
ment; 
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 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated in 
Tbilisi on July 5, 2010, that, ‘‘we continue to call for 
Russia to abide by the August 2008 ceasefire commit-
ment . . . including ending the occupation and with-
drawing Russian troops from South Ossetia and 
Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions’’; 
Whereas in October 2010, at the meeting of the United 
States-Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission, Sec-
retary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated, ‘‘the 
United States will not waver 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 Human Rights Watch concluded in its 2011 World 
Report that ‘‘Russia continued to exercise effective con- 
troll over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, preventing inter-
national observers’ access and veto in international mis-
sions working there’’; 
Whereas the Senate of the 112th United States Congress 
adopted a resolution (S. Res. 175) in July 2011 affirm-
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•HRES 491 IH 
ing the United States support for the sovereignty, inde-
pendence, and territorial integrity of the country of Geor-
gia, and calling upon Russia to remove its occupying 
forces from Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 
Whereas the House of Representatives of the 112th United 
States Congress adopted a resolution (H. Res. 526) in 
September 2012 affirming support for the sovereignty, 
independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia and the 
inviolability of its borders, and recognizing Abkhazia and 
South Ossetia as regions of Georgia illegally occupied by 
the Russian Federation; 
Whereas the August 2008 military conflict between Russia 
and Georgia resulted in civilian and military causalities, 
the violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial in-
tegrity, and increased the number of internally displaced 
persons; 
Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement negotiated 
by the European Union Presidency and agreed to by the 
Presidents of Georgia and the Russian Federation, pro-
vides that all Russian troops shall be withdrawn to 
preconflict positions; 
Whereas Georgia in 2010 made a unilateral pledge not to use 
force against Russia or Georgia’s Russian-occupied terri-
tories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and reiterated that 
pledge in a unanimous parliamentary resolution in 2013; 
Whereas since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has 
been reaffirmed by the international community in 36 
United Nations Security Council resolutions; 
Whereas Russia continues to erect physical barriers along the 
Administrative Boundary Lines of the occupied Georgian 
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where Russian 
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•HRES 491 IH 
troops continue to be stationed despite a commitment in 
the 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw to preconflict 
positions; 
Whereas Russia has not reciprocated to Georgia’s unilateral 
pledges for non-use of force; 
Whereas the United States supports Georgia’s independence, 
sovereignty, and territorial integrity within the inter-
nationally recognized borders of Georgia; 
Whereas at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin, Germany, 
between the Georgian foreign minister and foreign min-
isters of NATO, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clin-
ton 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 the North Atlantic Council Foreign Ministers, meet-
ing on December 7, 2011, applauded the significant oper-
ational support provided to NATO by aspirant partners 
Georgia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 
Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina; 
Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Munich on 
February 2, 2014, that ‘‘there is unfinished business in 
our common project of a Europe whole and free. Georgia 
and the states of the Balkans have unfulfilled aspirations 
for Euro-Atlantic integration. The pace of these integra-
tion efforts will be determined by the aspirants them-
selves. But we too share a responsibility for helping them 
achieve their rightful place in Europe and the Trans-
atlantic Alliance.’’; 
Whereas the Government of Georgia, beginning with the Rose 
Revolution of 2003, has taken significant steps toward 
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•HRES 491 IH 
promoting democratic, judicial, and economic reforms 
and has indicated its intent to continue to make progress 
in these areas; 
Whereas Georgia has initiated positive developments and 
commitments in the areas of constitutional reforms, 
strengthening the role of Parliament, and utilizing inter-
national election organizations and transparency; 
Whereas the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human 
Rights, other international observers, and the United 
States indicated that Georgia’s October 2013 Presidential 
election met international standards; 
Whereas international observers have hailed Georgia’s Octo-
ber 2012 parliamentary elections as competitive and com-
plimented the country’s leaders for conducting a demo-
cratic vote; 
Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry said in May 2013, 
‘‘We remain committed to Georgia’s territorial integrity 
and sovereignty within its internationally recognized bor-
ders, and to the continued strengthening of Georgia’s 
democratic institutions . . . and we continue to support 
Georgia’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic community’’; 
Whereas recognizing that members of NATO share a com-
mon adherence to democratic norms, Georgia can best 
prepare itself for membership by progressing on its demo-
cratic reform agenda; 
Whereas, H. Res. 526 of September 2012 also expresses sup-
port for Georgia’s NATO membership aspirations and to 
advance further implementation of decisions taken by the 
allies at the NATO Summits in Bucharest, Strasbourg 
and Kehl, and Lisbon with regard to Georgia’s NATO 
membership; 
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