H. Res. 526 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
September 19, 2012. 
Whereas a democratic and stable Republic of Georgia is in 
the political, security, and economic interests of the 
United States; 
Whereas the security of the Black Sea and South Caucasus 
region is important for Euro-Atlantic security, transpor-
tation, and energy diversification to and from Central 
Asia; 
Whereas Georgia has been a reliable partner and ally in en-
hancing global peace and stability with its significant 
contribution to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; 
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 in October 2010, at the meeting of the United 
States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, Sec-
retary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated, ‘‘the 
United States will not waver in its support for Georgia’s 
sovereignty and territorial integrity’’;
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breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and 
strengthened its military presence in the region by estab-
lishing a military base and placing an advanced surface- 
to-air missile system in Abkhazia’’; 
Whereas the Senate of the 112th United States Congress 
adopted a resolution in July 2011 affirming the United 
States’ support for the sovereignty, independence, and 
territorial integrity of the country of Georgia and calling 
upon Russia to remove its occupying forces from 
Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 
Whereas the United States Helsinki Commission called Rus-
sia to cease its continuing, illegal occupation of the South 
Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia and allow those 
who fled their homes during the 2008 war to go back 
without preconditions; 
Whereas the Russian Federation therefore remains in viola-
tion of August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement; 
Whereas at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin, Germany, 
between the Georgia foreign minister and foreign min-
isters of NATO, Secretary of State Clinton stated, ‘‘U.S. 
support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity 
remains steadfast . . . . We share Georgian concerns re-
garding recent Russian activities that can negatively af-
fect regional stability.’’; 
Whereas on November 23, 2010, Georgian President Mikheil 
Saakashvili committed before the European Parliament 
that ‘‘Georgia will never use force to restore its territorial 
integrity and sovereignty’’; 
Whereas the Government of Georgia, beginning with the Rose 
Revolution of 2003, has taken significant steps toward 
promoting democratic and economic reforms;
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Whereas in October 2012, Georgia will hold its seventh par-
liamentary elections since the country gained independ-
ence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and prospective 
presidential elections in 2013 to which the Government of 
Georgia has invited international election observers; 
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 Head of the OSCE/ODIHR long-term Election 
Observation Mission determined that Georgia’s May 2010 
municipal elections ‘‘were marked by clear improvements 
and efforts by the authorities to address problems occur-
ring during the process. It is now time to fix the remain-
ing shortcomings and take effective steps to prevent elec-
toral malpractices before the next elections at the na-
tional level.’’; and 
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 and ensuring that upcoming par-
liamentary and presidential elections are free, fair, and 
competitive: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports strengthened United States engage-
ments with the Republic of Georgia aimed at helping 
Georgia enhance its security and to restore its territorial 
integrity through exclusively peaceful means; 
(2) supports the implementation of the United 
States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, with a
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mutual desire to strengthen the bilateral relationship 
across political, economic, trade, energy, cultural, sci-
entific, people-to-people, defense, and security fields; 
(3) supports Georgia’s North Atlantic Treaty Orga-
nization (NATO) membership aspirations and to ad-
vance 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; 
(4) affirms that it is the policy of the United States 
to support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
integrity of Georgia and the inviolability of its borders, 
and to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as regions 
of Georgia illegally occupied by the Russian Federation 
and calls on the Russian Federation to fulfill all terms 
and conditions of the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agree-
ment, to end the occupation of the Georgian territories 
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and to withdraw com-
pletely its troops from the internationally recognized bor-
der of Georgia; 
(5) calls upon the Russian Federation, Venezuela, 
Nicaragua, Tuvalu, and Nauru to reverse the recognition 
of the occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South 
Ossetia as independent and respect the independence,
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sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia within its 
internationally recognized borders; 
(6) supports the Government of Georgia’s commit-
ment to a policy of peaceful, constructive engagement 
and confidence building measures towards the occupied 
territories and encourages it to continue to uphold eco-
nomic and human rights, ensure freedom of movement, 
facilitate people-to-people contacts, and to preserve cul-
tural heritage, language, and ethnic identity aimed at 
reconciling divided communities of the Georgian regions 
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 
(7) urges the Government of Russia and the au-
thorities in control in the regions to allow for the full 
and dignified, secure, and voluntary return of internally 
displaced persons and international missions access to 
the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; 
(8) recognizes progress on government transparency 
and economic reforms and encourages Georgia to con-
tinue strengthening its democracy by implementing re-
forms that expand media transparency and freedoms, in-
crease government transparency, accountability, and re-
sponsiveness, promote political competition and demo-
cratic electoral processes, strengthen the rule of law and 
judicial independence, and further implement judicial re-
forms; and
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(9) affirms that a peaceful resolution to the conflict 
is a key priority for the United States in the Caucasus 
region, and that lasting regional stability can only be 
achieved through peaceful means and long-term diplo-
matic and political dialogue between all parties. 
Attest: 
Clerk.