US Senate committee approves bill countering Russian actions in Georgia
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The Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate has approved a bill featuring measures to counter Russian influence in Europe and Eurasia, including in Georgia.
The bill says that the Russian government continues to ignore the terms of the August 2008 ceasefire agreement relating to Georgia, which requires the withdrawal of Russian Federation troops, free access by humanitarian groups to the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and monitoring of the conflict areas by the European Union Monitoring Mission.
According to the bill, the US President should call on the government of Russia to withdraw all of its forces from the territories of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova.
Under the bill, the US should allocate $250 million in 2018-2019 "to counter the influence of the Russian Federation in Europe and Eurasia, and for other purposes”.
Now that the bill is already approved by the committee, it will be passed to a Senate plenary session for voting. The date of this has not been specified yet.
Once the bill is approved and comes into force, the US Secretary of State will have 90 days to set up a working group to manage the fund tasked to counter Russian actions in Europe and Eurasia.
United States (US) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is congratulating the people of Georgia as they celebrate 26 years since the restoration of the country’s independence.
"In a region that faces insecurity and outside pressure, Georgia has shown courage and determination in charting its own future”, United States President Donald Trump said in a letter sent to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
The United States (US) President Donald Trump sends a letter to his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Margvelashvili on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Georgia and the US.
United State congressmen have sent a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump asking to reiterate a firm, bipartisan support for Georgia, which they say is "one of our most reliable and steadfast regional partners”.
Georgia is a "beacon for democracy” and the United States needs to develop more trade with the country, says Congressman Ted Poe. He adds that he’d support a free trade agreement between the US and Georgia.
Georgia deserves recognition for liberalising its economy, fighting against corruption and embracing democracy, says the Heritage Foundation Vice President for Research.
The United States Senate has approved a bill featuring measures to counter Russian influence in Europe and Eurasia, including in Georgia. The bill was approved on June 15 with 97 votes in favour and two against.
Georgia is among key European countries that will receive United States funding to counter Russian influence and aggression. According to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, not less than $105,325,000 shall be made available for assistance for Georgia and not less than $420,700,000 for Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has welcomed the United States 2018 Spending Bill increasing US assistance for Georgia. US President Donald Trump signed the $1.3 trillion spending bill into law yesterday. $105,325,000 will now be made available for assistance for Georgia.
Senator Lindsey Graham praises Georgia's democratic reforms t a meeting held with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze who is currently visiting US. With the efforts of Lindsey Graham the subcommittee of Foreign Operations and Related Programs has prepared a bill to increase the budget of US support to Georgia.
US senators and state officials have expressed their support for Georgia during the recent hearing at the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, dedicated to the US relations and policy towards Russia.