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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

(4) calls on the President to urge the people in all sectors of society of the Republic of Georgia to respect and preserve the free exercise of the essen

tial elements of democracy.

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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:]

H.L.C.

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

TO H. RES. 483

OFFERED BY MRS. JO ANN DAVIS OF VIRGINIA

Strike the preamble and insert the following:

Whereas on November 23, 2003, Eduard Shevardnadze, in what has become known as the "Rose Revolution", stepped down as President of the Republic of Georgia after several weeks of peaceful and bloodless protests following parliamentary elections determined to be fraudulent;

Whereas interim president Nino Burdzhanadze worked diligently to restore order and to prepare Georgia for a new presidential election;

Whereas after a free, fair, and democratic election was held, Mikhail Saakashvili was sworn into office on January 24, 2004, as President of Georgia;

Whereas President Saakashvili, who has received a law degree from Columbia University and a Doctorate of Judicial Science from George Washington University, has repeatedly stressed the importance of strong ties with the United States;

Whereas President Saakashvili visited the United States Congress earlier this year and delivered a strong message of peace, stability, democracy, political reform, and economic opportunity;

Whereas Georgia is a small, but strategically situated country located in the Caucasus, between the Russian Federation, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asia and is of additional interest to the United States because of oil