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(1) urges the European Union to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization for purposes of

prohibiting funding from the European Union to Hezbollah and recognizing it as a threat to inter

national security;

(2) condemns the continuous terrorist attacks

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Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

by Hezbollah; and

(3) condemns Hezbollah's continuous support of other Palestinian terrorist organization such as

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that "massive vote fraud" had taken place during the November 2, 2003, parliamentary elections in the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Georgia ruled that the November 2 election was fraudulent;

Whereas the political opposition of the Republic of Georgia, lead by Nino Budzhanadze, Mikhail Saakashvili, and Zurab Zhvaniva, successfully drove from office President Eduard Shevardnadze through a bloodless revolution; Whereas Eduard Shevardnadze, as foreign minister of the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev, made an enormous contribution to the transformation of world politics, and later, as the President of the Republic of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze exhibited wisdom, courage, and nationalism in stepping down from the presidency rather than using force to maintain his leadership;

Whereas in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia the Parliamentary Speaker Nino Budzhanadze has become interim president;

Whereas on November 23, 2003, the United States recognized Nino Burdzhanadze as the interim president of the Republic of Georgia, offered its support, and urged that new elections be free and fair;

Whereas on November 24, 2003, the European Union expressed support for the interim government and called for democratic elections;

Whereas interim president Nino Burdzhanadze called for order to be re-established and for presidential elections to be held within a constitutionally-mandated 45 days;

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Whereas a representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace, and development of the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has pledged up to $6,000,000 to help administer presidential and legislative elections in the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas Congress has earmarked or allocated $1,100,000,000 in aid to the Republic of Georgia, among the highest for the Eurasian region in per capita terms, over the decade spanning 1992-2002;

Whereas the Members of the House of Representatives have pledged to provide further support and assistance to the people of the Republic of Georgia to help them consolidate the democratic process in their country;

Whereas the United States supports a free, democratic, strong, and successful Republic of Georgia; and

Whereas the current political situation in the Republic of Georgia requires urgent attention: Now, therefore, be it

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Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) congratulates Eduard Shevardnadze and the leaders of the political opposition of the Republic of Georgia-Nino Budzhanadze, Mikhail Saakashvili, and Zurab Zhvaniva-for their courage and patriotism in dealing with the recent political crisis in the Republic of Georgia peacefully and bloodlessly;

(2) urges all political segments, as well as social sectors and institutions in the Republic of Georgia,

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to strive, through dialogue, to achieve the national reconciliation for which both the people of the Republic of Georgia and the international community

yearn;

(3) calls on the interim government to act expeditiously to conduct free, fair, and open elections; and

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all sectors of society of the Republic of Georgia to respect and preserve the free exercise of the essential elements of democracy.

(4) calls on the President to urge the people in

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Mrs. DAVIS. At this point, for the sake of time, I will also place the amendment I am offering on the table as well.

The clerk will read the amendment.

Ms. HALLOCK. “Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute

Mrs. DAVIS. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered as read.

Without objection.

[The amendment referred to follows:]