Georgian MFA: "important Georgian support" in US Consolidated Appropriations Act
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”. Photo: shutterstock.com
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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”.
A US-Georgia free trade agreement (FTA) would have a net positive effect for both countries, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani told Brock Bierman, an opinion contributor for the American newspaper The Hill.
It is “extremely important” for the European Union that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are “under its umbrella”, Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and Vice Parliament Speaker, said on Wednesday.
There is practically no alternative for the European Union other than issuing a “clear and strong message” that it must open the door to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, Ryszard Czarnecki, member of the European Conservative and Reform Group in the European Parliament, said on Tuesday.
Gaining European Union membership is a long and time-consuming process, Georgia's Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Monday following the EU Council’s decision to ask the European Commission to examine the applications for the membership submitted by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Senator Ben Cardin, the Chairman of the United States Helsinki Commission, as well as Co-Chairman Congressman Steve Cohen, ranking members of the Commission Sen. Roger F. Wicker and Congressman Joe Wilson praised the “strong” support shown by the Georgian Government to Ukraine on Tuesday.
The United States Appropriations Act for 2023 has earmarked at least $132,025,000 in assistance for Georgia, the figures released on Tuesday show.