Supports Georgia's aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Recognizes the benefits of closer economic and political ties between NATO members and Georgia.
Calls on Russia to respect the rights of countries to make their own sovereign choices with regard to international partnerships, including to join NATO.
Urges: (1) the Administration and the Department of State to work with Georgia to support its NATO entry, and (2) NATO members to extend a Membership Action Plan to Georgia at the NATO Summit in September 2014.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 491 Introduced in House (IH)]
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 supported Georgia's
aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);
Whereas the Government of Georgia has met the basic standards 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 percent target set by NATO, which only
the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Turkey, and
Estonia currently meet;
Whereas it was declared by the Heads of State and Government participating in
the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest, 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 importance of the bilateral relationship as
well as the intent of both countries to expand democracy and economic
programs, 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 Georgian 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 Association Agreement, which aims to gradually
integrate Georgia into the EU's internal market;
Whereas the ongoing EU-Georgia Visa Dialogue and the Visa Liberalization Action
Plan, being implemented by Georgia, aim at introducing the visa-free
regime between the EU and Georgia in a secure and well-managed
environment;
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 commitment . . . including ending the occupation and
withdrawing 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, Secretary 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 international observers' access and veto in
international missions working there'';
Whereas the Senate of the 112th United States Congress adopted a resolution (S.
Res. 175) 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 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 integrity, 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, provides 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 territories 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 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 internationally recognized borders of
Georgia;
Whereas at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin, Germany, between the Georgian
foreign minister and foreign ministers of NATO, Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham 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 the North Atlantic Council Foreign Ministers, meeting on December 7,
2011, applauded the significant operational 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 integration
efforts will be determined by the aspirants themselves. But we too share
a responsibility for helping them achieve their rightful place in Europe
and the Transatlantic Alliance.'';
Whereas the Government of Georgia, beginning with the Rose Revolution of 2003,
has taken significant steps toward 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 international 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 October 2012 parliamentary
elections as competitive and complimented the country's leaders for
conducting a democratic 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 borders, 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 common adherence to democratic
norms, Georgia can best prepare itself for membership by progressing on
its democratic reform agenda;
Whereas, H. Res. 526 of September 2012 also expresses support 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;
Whereas, during the NATO Military Committee (MC) visit to Georgia on February
11, 2014, and February 12, 2014, General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the
NATO MC emphasized Georgia's significant progress in achieving its
ambitious defense reforms; expressed the Committee's ``strong support''
for the reforms and its confidence that the ``transformation is
comprehensive, solid and irreversible'', also noting that ``The NATO
Military Committee strongly supports these reforms and looks forward to
strengthening military cooperation, both in terms of operational
engagements and interoperability in order to maintain the beneficial
partnership we have built throughout the years.'';
Whereas Georgia has been a reliable partner and ally in enhancing global peace
and stability with its contribution to operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan;
Whereas in Iraq, thousands of Georgian forces helped guard the Iraqi side of the
Iraq-Iran border, having redeployed from the safety of the Green Zone to
accept this dangerous mission;
Whereas in Afghanistan, Georgia has contributed troops to the NATO-International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission since 2004, and engaged in
combat operations in Helmand province side-by-side with the United
States Marines;
Whereas Georgia has been the largest non-NATO troop contributor and the fifth
largest troop contributor overall, serving without any national caveats;
Whereas, despite the heavy casualties, Georgia is committed to remain in the
NATO ISAF until the end of the mission and stands ready to continue its
significant contribution to the NATO's post-ISAF missions in
Afghanistan;
Whereas Georgia remains committed to provide full transit capacity in support of
the United States and coalition troops in Afghanistan;
Whereas NATO agreed to include Georgia in the NATO Response Force in 2015;
Whereas Georgia expressed its intent to participate in EU and United Nations-led
crisis management and stabilization missions;
Whereas the United States rejects the long-outdated notion of the spheres of
influence and strongly stands by the principle that sovereign
democracies are free in their decision and choice of their own
partnerships and alliances;
Whereas Georgia has sought to strengthen its economic and political ties with
NATO countries; and
Whereas the United States has long supported the European aspirations of
Georgia: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports Georgia's aspirations to join the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);
(2) recognizes the significant benefits of closer economic
and political ties between NATO members and Georgia which will
spur economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions and
norms, and bolster the rule of law in the South Caucasus region
as well as other countries in Eastern Europe;
(3) calls on the Government of Russia to respect the rights
of countries to make their own sovereign choices with regard to
international partnerships, including to join NATO;
(4) urges the Administration and the United States
Department of State to continue to work closely with Georgia to
support its entry into NATO;
(5) acknowledges and supports the progress made by Georgia
in the NATO membership process; and
(6) urges NATO members to extend a Membership Action Plan
(MAP) to Georgia at the NATO Summit in the United Kingdom in
September 2014.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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