Georgian MFA: "important Georgian support" in US Consolidated Appropriations Act

The United States Senate Committee on Appropriations on Thursday unveiled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the main bill of the US budget for Fiscal Year 2022, with the Georgian Foreign Ministry saying the bill contains the "most important wording" in support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

This bill reaffirms a strong bipartisan support of Georgia by the US Congress and highlights the US-Georgia strategic partnership, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the package which the Congress will vote on in the coming days.

The text of the bill says: None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be made available for assistance for the central government of a country that the Secretary of State determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations has recognized the independence of, or has established diplomatic relations with, the Russian Federation occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia. 

It also maintains more than $132 million funding to be spent on areas including the strengthening of the Georgian economy, and combat readiness and defense capability of the Georgian Defence Forces. 

The Bill also provides for the allocation of at least $295 million to countries of Europe and Eurasia, including Georgia, as part of a fund designed “to counter Russian influence”.