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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

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and gas pipelines now being built from Baku in Azerbaijan to the port of Ceyhan in Turkey;

Whereas Georgia has also become a key player in the Global War on Terrorism by combating members of al Qaeda and other Muslim terrorist organizations thought to be operating in areas such as the Pankisi Gorge and by working with the United States which currently has a small military mission in Georgia to help train border guards and others to help the Government of Georgia secure its borders and prevent the infiltration of terrorists and others;

Whereas the United States supports Georgia's efforts to reestablish government control and political stabilization in regions such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia; and

Whereas a representative democracy, political stability, economic growth, and peace are essential to Georgia itself and to the Caucasus region as well: Now, therefore, be it

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:

1 That the House of Representatives

(1) congratulates the people of the Republic of Georgia for their commitment to democracy, peace,

stability, and economic opportunity;

(2) commends President Saakashvili for his vision of, and commitment to, a peaceful, democratic Georgia, the rule of law, an open market economy,

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regional cooperation, and closer integration into

western institutions;

(3) supports the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and democratic government of

Georgia; and

(4) pledges to provide support and assistance to the people and Government of Georgia to help them consolidate the democratic process in their country.

Mrs. DAVIS. In November 2003, in what has become known as the "Rose Revolution," the Government of the Republic of Georgia collapsed after several weeks of peaceful and bloodless protests following parliamentary elections determined to be fraudulent.

The Speaker of the Parliament, acting as Interim President, worked diligently to restore order and calm and to prepare Georgia for a new presidential election. After a free, fair and democratic process, Mikhail Saakashvili was overwhelmingly elected and sworn into office on January 24th of this year as President of the Republic of Georgia.

Georgia is a small but strategic country located in the Caucasus between Russia, Iran, Turkey and Central Asia. Georgia has become a key player in the war against terrorism in that region by combating members of al-Qaeda and other Muslim terrorist organizations thought to be operating in areas such as the Pankisi Gorge. The United States currently has a small military mission in Georgia training border guards and other security forces to help the Government secure its borders and prevent the infiltration of terrorists and criminals. Georgia is of additional interest to the West because of oil and gas pipelines now being built from Baku in Azerbaijan to the port of Ceyhan in Turkey.

Georgia's position in the Caucasus and its status as a former Soviet State has also resulted in a great deal of internal problems with separatist movements in regions such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The United States supports Georgia's efforts to reestablish Government control and political stability throughout the entire country.

President Saakashvili is a young, energetic leader who has received extensive educational training here in the U.S. He has repeatedly stressed the importance of strong ties with the United States while reaching out to Russia. When President Saakashvili visited the United States Congress earlier this year, he delivered a strong message of peace, stability, democracy, political reform, economic opportunity and closer cooperation with the West.

Representative democracy, political stability, economic growth and peace are essential to Georgia itself, to the Caucasus region and to the West.

H. Res. 483, as originally introduced, contains outdated language which my amendment replaces. The amendment congratulates the people of Georgia for their commitment to democracy, peace, stability and economic opportunity. The resolution commends President Saakasvili for his commitment for a peaceful, democratic Georgia, the rule of law, and open-market economy, regional cooperation and closer integration into Western institutions.

Finally, the resolution expresses our support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and democratic Government of the Republic of Georgia and pledges to provide support and assistance to the people and Government of the Republic of Georgia. I urge adoption of the amendment and the resolution.

I will now recognize our Ranking Member, Mr. Wexler, for a statement.

Mr. WEXLER. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I concur with your comments. I would simply add that when people suggest that we, at times, may expect too much from Ukraine

or Belarus or others; that we have examples here in Georgia that would serve as a model for those countries in the region transforming themselves as early democracies in a very successful way.

And we should hold Ukraine and Belarus and others to the same standards that we are holding Georgia, in a very positive light. And I commend the Chair for bringing this resolution to the Committee. Mrs. DAVIS. Thank you, Mr. Wexler.

Mr. McCotter, do you have a statement?

Are there any other Members who wish to be recognized?

Are there any other amendments?

If not, the question is on the amendment. All those in favor say, "Aye." All those opposed, "No."

The Chair will now entertain a motion that the resolution as amended be reported favorably to the Full Committee.

Mr. WEXLER. So moved.

Mrs. DAVIS. The question occurs on the motion to report the resolution H. Res. 483, as amended, favorably. All in favor say, "Aye." All opposed, "No."

The motion is approved, and the bill is reported favorably.

Without objection, the bill will be reported favorably to the Full Committee in the form of a single amendment in the nature of a substitute incorporating the amendments adopted here today.

Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and conforming amendments.

Pursuant to notice, I call up resolution H. Res. 726 for purposes of markup. Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.

[H. Res. 726 follows:]