US House subcommittee proposes caveat to financial assistance for Georgia bill
The draft of the bill also clarifies that the withholding of funds doesn't apply to programmes that support 'democracy, the rule of law, civil society and the media, or programmes to reduce gender-based violence and to protect vulnerable populations".
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A Houses of Representatives subcommittee has proposed adding a caveat to $132,025,000 in financial assistance for Georgia with the stipulation that 15 per cent of the funding may not go through if the State Secretary reports the Georgian government is not taking effective steps to:
- Strengthen democratic institutions
- Combat corruption within the government, including in the application of anti-corruption laws and regulations
- Ensure the rule of law in the private sector is consistent with internationally recognised standards, including protecting the rights of foreign businesses to operate free from harassment and to fully realise all due commercial and financial benefits resulting from investments made in Georgia
On the other hand, the draft of the bill also clarifies that the withholding of funds doesn't apply to programmes that support 'democracy, the rule of law, civil society and the media, or programmes to reduce gender-based violence and to protect vulnerable populations".
There is also a chapter in the document about the occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, which reads that “none of the funds appropriated by this Act may be made available to support the Russian Federation’s occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia".
The document also reads that the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive directors of each international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any assistance by such institution (including any loans, credit lines, or guarantees) for any programme that violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
A US House of Representatives subcommittee has proposed making financial assistance for Georgia conditional on the fulfilment of several requirements, which has the opposition raising the alarm bell while the ruling party states that the country will not bear any losses.
The US 2019 state budget bill provides increased support for Georgia, with more than $127 million in aid. This is $22 million more than last year, the Georgian Foreign Ministry reports. The draft budget reads that $275 million will be allocated in total for countries in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
PM Bakhtadze thanked the senators for their support for Georgia and emphasised that a bill drafted by five senators, Jeanne Shaheen among them, is a clear demonstration of this support.
Five US senators have introduced a bill to the Senate which provides tougher sanctions against Russia for its illegal activities in Ukraine, Georgia and for its support of the violent regime of Bashar-al-Assad in Syria.
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.
Notes have been added to the Georgia section of the US Fiscal Year 2021 State and Foreign Operations Funding bill, released by the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on July 6.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the US House of Representatives subcommittee bill, stating that ‘international partners are Georgia's closest allies.’
US Congressman Adam Kinzinger says the US Congress has never discussed imposing sanctions on Georgia, responding to speculations on the Georgia section of the US Fiscal Year 2021 State and Foreign Operations Funding bill, released by the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on July 6.
The bill which was earlier approved by the House of Representatives said that Georgia should receive “not less than USD $132 million in financial assistance.”