US Congressmen Kinzinger, Connolly reintroduce Georgia Support Act
The previous Georgia Support Act passed the House of Representatives on October 22, 2019. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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US Congressmen, co-chairs of the Georgia Caucus Representatives Gerry Connolly and Adam Kinzinger have reintroduced the Georgia Support Act.
The document asserts US’ ‘continued support’ for the independence and sovereignty of Georgia, recognises Georgia’s commitment to democratic values including free and fair elections, and affirms US opposition to Russian aggression in the region.
The congressmen say that in Georgia’s occupied regions of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia, Russia has fomented ‘unrest, aided separatist movements, and committed serious human rights abuses, including ongoing detentions and killings.’
Russian forces continue to harass civilian communities along the administrative boundary line and impede the right of return of internally displaced persons. The Georgia Support Act bolsters Georgia’s territorial integrity by authorizing sanctions against those responsible for or complicit in human rights violations in these occupied territories,” said the congressmen.
Russia redoubled its occupation efforts during the pandemic. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Connolly said that ‘I am proud to reintroduce the Georgia Support Act, which strengthens the vital US-Georgia partnership, a strategically important relationship in a critical part of the world.’
He stated that ‘as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I am pleased that this bill recognises that Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country.’
The Georgia Support Act passed the House of Representatives on October 22, 2019. The legislation also passed in the 115th Congress.
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.
The US Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Alex Mooney have visited the occupation line in the village of Odzisi, Gori municipality, near Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region.
The United States Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Alex Mooney, who are visiting Georgia on November 5-9, met with the Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze today. Kinzinger and Mooney reiterated the US support for Georgia, its territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
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 approval of the Georgia Support Act by the United States House of Representatives “reaffirms and increases the strength” of the strategic partnership between the two countries, Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, said on Thursday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili said on Thursday the approval of Georgia Support Act by the United States House of Representatives showed the “importance” of Georgia as a “reliable strategic partner” for the US.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger, the Co-Chair of the Georgia Caucus of the United States House of Representatives, on Sunday made a call for sending the high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) platforms to Georgia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.