Georgian PM, Parliament Speaker thank US for passing 'historic bill' supporting Georgia
The US House of Representatives passed the Georgia Support Act yesterday. Photo: shutterstock.
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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.”
Talakvadze said that “it is a very important decision,” and “we are very grateful for the great support.”
On behalf of the Georgian people, I want to thank the US House of Representatives for passing the #Georgia Support Act. It represents the first standalone legislation related to Georgia dedicated to taking our partnership to the next level. The #US is our closest strategic ally.
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) October 22, 2019
The United States House of Representatives passed the bipartisan bill introduced by congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Gerry Connolly [and co-sponsored by 31 other US legislators] yesterday.
With the passing the Georgia Support Act the US declares its support for:
- Continued development of democratic values in Georgia, including free and fair elections, public sector transparency and accountability, the rule of law, and anti-corruption efforts.
- The country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
- The right of the Georgian people to freely determine their future and make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and security policy.Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic and European integration.
Grateful to #US House of Representatives for passing the historic legislation — #Georgia Support Act. #Georgia???????? is proud to be the true ally and partner to the #USA???????? Thank you @RepKinzinger @GerryConnolly @LeaderHoyer @GOPLeader @HouseForeign @HouseGOP @HouseDemocrats ???????????????????? https://t.co/xrq7vOrOgS
— Embassy of Georgia???????? in US (@GeorgianEmbassy) October 22, 2019
After the Georgia Support Act is also passed by the Senate, it will need to be signed by President Donald Trump in order to be officially enacted.
See the Support Act here.
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”.
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.
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 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."
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.”
US congressman Brendan Boyle said he supported the Georgia Support Act in the House of Representatives “to reaffirm and strengthen the US-Georgia partnership”.
The US Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Alex Mooney are visiting Georgia between November 5 and 9, and are scheduled to meet with the Georgian PM, parliament speaker, foreign minister and defence minister.
The state partnership programme fosters interoperability between the US and Georgia and promotes peace and security, the US Embassy to Georgia reports.US Major General Thomas Carden is in Tbilisi to attend the 25th anniversary of the state partnership programme “to commemorate the enduring relationship between the country of Georgia and the US state of Georgia,” the US Embassy said.