Georgian legislators welcome US House of Representatives discussion of Georgia Support Act
The Georgia Suport Act was introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly in January 2019. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian Foreign Ministry reported earlier today that the United States House of Representatives is holding discussions over the bipartisan Georgia Support Act.
The bill, introduced in the House on January 16, 2019, directs the Department of State to report to Congress on various topics related to Georgia.
- Foreign Affairs Committee of US House of Representatives approves bipartisan bill supporting Georgia
In particular, reports shall cover:
- U.S. security assistance to Georgia and an assessment of threats to the country's independence and its ability to defend itself
- cybersecurity cooperation between the United States and Georgia, and
- a strategy to help Georgia expand its capabilities to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda.
The US President shall also impose "entry and property-blocking sanctions against foreign persons responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses" in the two Russian occupied regions of Georgia: Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Georgian legislators welcome ongoing discussions in the House
Sofio Katsarava, the chair of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee said it proves how important US-Georgia partnership is. A fellow legislator Akaki Zoidze also said “it is very important” that the US Congress is discussing the bipartisan bill.
This is yet another clear proof of an unprecedented support and the high-level relations between the two countries”, Zoidze wrote on his Facebook page.
The First Deputy Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili said the Georgia Support Act underscores the US’ support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.
She said it also calls US officials to impose sanctions against the perpetrators on the occupied regions, as well as to sign a free trade agreement with Georgia.
Confident that the bill will receive support in the House, Tamar Chugoshvili hoped it will further be endorsed in the Senate as well.
We expect that by the end of the year, this act will enter into force and become the first fully-fledged law that the US will receive in support of Georgia and about Georgia”, Chugoshvili stated earlier today.
After the Georgia Support Act will be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, it will need to be signed by President Donald Trump to come into play.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill-Georgia’s Support Act yesterday, which urges further support for Georgia in the defence field and proposes sanctions against the individuals who violated human rights in the two Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill which not only condemns the occupation of Georgian lands but also provides sanctions against those who violate human rights in the two Russian-occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The bi-partisan Georgia Support Act has been introduced to US Congress 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."
The Hill has published an op-ed of the Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze on bolstering trade and security relations between Georgia and the United States.
The United States House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Georgia Support Act, introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly and co-sponsored by 31 other US legislators. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said the US is Georgia’s “closest strategic ally”, whereas the Georgia Support Act is “a landmark piece of legislation”.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze have thanked the US House of Representatives for passing the Georgia Support Act with strong bipartisan support, with Gakharia saying that “it is the first standalone legislation related to Georgia dedicated to taking our partnership to the next level.”
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the bill supporting Georgia passed by the US House of Representatives yesterday is “unprecedented”in US-Georgia relations and in the history of independent Georgia.He stated that the US passed the bill at a time when the American political agenda “is too busy” with different issues.
US congressman Adam Kinzinger says that the passage of a bipartisan bill supporting Georgia in the US House of Representatives sends a “strong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to think twice before he decides to get involved in Georgia’s internal issues.”
The Georgian capital of Tbilisi is hosting the 8th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (PA) on December 8-10.