112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 175
Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing
violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
IN THE
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 10, 2011
Mrs.
SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. KYL, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr.
SESSIONS, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. CASEY, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. KIRK,
Mr. RUBIO, Mr. RISCH, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. MENENDEZ, and
Mr. COONS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
July 27, 2011
Reported
by Mr. KERRY, without amendment
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing
violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Whereas,
since 1993, the territorial integrity of
Whereas
the United States-Georgia Strategic Charter, signed on January 9, 2009,
underscores that `support for each other's sovereignty, independence,
territorial integrity and inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation
of our bilateral relations';
Whereas,
in October 2010, at the meeting of the United States-Georgia Charter on
Strategic Partnership, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, `The United
States will not waiver in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial
integrity.';
Whereas
the White House released a fact sheet on July 24, 2010, calling for `
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,
according to the Government of Georgia's `State Strategy on Occupied
Territories,' the Government of Georgia has committed itself to a policy of
peaceful engagement, the protection of economic and human rights, freedom of
movement, and the preservation of cultural heritage, language, and identity for
the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
Whereas
the August 2008 conflict between the Governments of Russia and Georgia resulted
in civilian and military causalities, the violation of the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Georgia, and large numbers of internally displaced
persons;
Whereas
large numbers of persons remain displaced as a result of the August 2008
conflict as well as the earlier conflicts of the 1990s;
Whereas
the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed to by the Governments of
Russia and
Whereas
the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement provides that free access shall be
granted to organizations providing humanitarian assistance in regions affected
by violence in August 2008;
Whereas
the recognition by the Government of Russia of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on
August 26, 2008, was in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of
Whereas
Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report 2011 that `Russia continued to
occupy Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and
strengthened its military presence in the region by establishing a military
base and placing an advanced surface-to-air missile system in Abkhazia';
Whereas
the parties have taken some constructive steps in recent months, including the
resumption of direct flights between
Whereas
these positive steps neither adequately address the humanitarian situation on
the ground nor constitute full compliance with the terms of the August 2008
ceasefire agreement;
Whereas,
on November 23, 2010, before the European Parliament, Georgian President Saakashvili declared that `
Whereas
Secretary of State Clinton stated in Tbilisi on July 5, 2010, `We continue to
call for Russia to abide by the August 2008 cease-fire commitment . . .
including ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from South
Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions.';
Whereas
the Russian Federation blocked the extension of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Georgia and the United Nations
Observer Mission in Georgia, forcing the missions to withdraw from South
Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Whereas
troops of the
Whereas,
at the April 15, 2011, meeting in
Whereas,
on April 25-26, 2011, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov
made a high-profile visit to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which was immediately
criticized by the Department of State as `inconsistent with the principle of
territorial integrity and Georgia's internationally recognized borders';
Whereas
the Senate supports United States efforts to develop a productive relationship
with the Russian Federation in areas of mutual interest, including
non-proliferation and arms control, cooperation concerning the failure of the
Government of Iran to meet its international obligations with regard to its
nuclear programs, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, anti-piracy, and economics
and trade; and
Whereas
the Senate agrees that these efforts must not compromise longstanding
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) 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 occupied by the Russian Federation;
(2) calls upon the Government of
Russia to take steps to fulfill all the terms and conditions of the 2008
ceasefire agreements between Georgia and Russia, including returning military
forces to pre-war positions and ensuring access to international humanitarian
aid to all those affected by the conflict;
(3) urges the Government of Russia
and the authorities in control in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to
allow for the full and dignified return of internally displaced persons and
international missions to the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
(4) supports peaceful, constructive
engagement and confidence-building measures between the Government of Georgia
and the authorities in control in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and encourages
additional people-to-people contacts; and
(5) affirms
that finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict is a key priority for the
(http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c112:2:./temp/~c112ggqXHy::)