US Congress draft bill condemns recognition of Georgian occupied regions by Syria
Georgian diplomats are sure that the US Congress will pass the bill. Photo: newsbtc.com.
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US Congressman Francis Rooney has presented a draft bill to the US Congress which condemns last year’s recognition of independence of the two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Syria.
The draft cites Georgia as “one of the US’ most reliable allies in Eurasia” and urges the US government and its partners to take active steps suspend the Russian invasion in its neighboring states.
The resolution reiterates the US’ firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemns the occupation of the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia),” the Georgian Foreign Ministry cites the draft bill as saying.
The bill praises Georgia’s role in protection of international peace and security and says that Russia uses undeveloped states like Syria to achieve its regional goals.
We condemn the recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as an independent state by a client state of Russia, by the Arabian Republic of Syria,” the bill reads.
Great meeting with Congressman @RepRooney. He is a staunch supporter of #Georgia & introduced in the House a very important resolution on #Georgia condemning so-called recognition of independence of #Geo’s occupied regions by #Syria. pic.twitter.com/07sGYpU63j
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) February 7, 2019
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met Rooney in Washington yesterday and personally thanked him for pushing forward the draft bill.
The draft bill is one more message to those who support Russia’s illegal activities that the international community will never tolerate the recognition of Georgian occupied regions as independent states,” Zalkaliani said.
Reconciliation Minister Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has stated that Syria's recognition of the occupied regions will never make any influence on the firm position of the international community.
However, stating it clear that such a decision is unacceptable is very important," Tsikhelashvili said.
Only Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have recognised the independence of the Georgian regions so far, since the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
The interim government of Venezuela under Juan Guaido has announced plans to revoke the recognition if they preserve power.
The US state department has already included Syria and Nauru on the list of countries which will not receive financial support from the United States.
The reason behind the ban was a US legislative act adopted in May 2017, which supports Georgia’s territorial integrity.
No country can receive funding from the United States if it recognises the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied by Russia, or establishes diplomatic ties with them”, says the document.
Syria announced its decision to establish diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia in May 2018.
The decision was strongly condemned by the Georgian government.