Georgia praises support act put forward to US congress

Georgia has never had such support from a US legislative body during its independence, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani said while speaking about the bi-partisan Georgia Support Act introduced by Co-Chairmen of the Georgia Caucus Congressmen Ted Poe and Gerald Connolly on June 26.

The legislation reasserts the United States’ support for Georgia’s sovereignty and opposition to the "forceful and illegal Russian invasion of Abkhazia and Tskhinivali region/South Ossetia."

Zalkaliani has assessed the move by the congressmen as "unprecedented” expecting the document is going to develop US-Georgia relations to a new level.

"This resolution protects every direction of cooperation between the US and Georgia. Special emphasis is made on cooperation in the fields of defence and security, as well as free trade possibilities,” Zalkaliani said.

The Georgia Support Act:

• Calls for increased security assistance to Georgia to enhance the country’s deterrence, resilience, and self-defense.
• Sanctions Russian actors in the occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia linked to serious human rights abuses.
• Aids Georgia in defense against Russia’s cyber-enabled warfare by increasing U.S. cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia.
• Requires the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to improve Georgia’s capabilities to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda campaigns.

Chairmen of #Georgia Caucus, Poe - Connolly, introduce Georgia support act @JudgeTedPoe@GerryConnollyhttps://t.co/Jf8VPCcIuq

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) June 27, 2018

"The friendship between our two nations has been forged in blood, as Georgian troops fight and die alongside American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is no doubt, the United States must do more to help Tbilisi continue its democratic trajectory and defend against the very real Russian threat to its territorial integrity and democratic institutions," Congressman Poe said.

He has assessed Georgia as a "stalwart friend of the United States and serves as a regional model for democracy and liberty in a part of the world where government repression is the norm."

On the other hand, Georgia Support Act demonstrates the United States’ robust support of Georgia’s sovereignty, continued democratic development, and security, especially in the face of Russian aggression, according to Congressman Connolly.