HRES108APR8

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Week Ending April 8, 2005

House Resolution 108 commemorating the life of the late Zurab Zhvania, Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.

BRIEF

The Resolution laments the early death of courageous Georgian political leader Zurab Zhvania who, after leading the Republic of Georgia through the trying times as a fledgling democracy, died at age 41of asphyxiation caused by carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning heater. A nearly identical resolution passed the Senate in early February 2005.

Sponsor: Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA-24^th)

Vote: Passed House 402 to 0. (April 6, 2005) (RC 91)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

Commemorating the life of the late Zurab Zhvania, Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.

Whereas on the night of February 3, 2005, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, died, apparently due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a malfunctioning heater;

Whereas the death of Prime Minister Zhvania at the age of 41 is a tragic loss for the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas Zurab Zhvania was a dedicated reformer whose visionary leadership inspired a new generation of political leaders in the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas Zurab Zhvania founded the Citizen's Union Party, which won elections in 1995, making him the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament;

Whereas under the leadership of Speaker Zhvania, the Georgian Parliament was transformed into an effective and transparent legislative institution;

Whereas in November 2001, Speaker Zhvania resigned his position in protest when government authorities attempted to suppress the leading independent television station in the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas Zurab Zhvania formed the United Democrats, a party that blossomed into one of the major forces that brought about the Rose Revolution in the Republic of Georgia in November 2003;

Whereas in the most dangerous hours of the Rose Revolution, when it appeared that armed force could be used against the peaceful protestors, Zurab Zhvania dismissed his bodyguards and led a march to Parliament accompanied only by his young children;

Whereas Zurab Zhvania was named Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia in November 2003, and led governmental efforts to develop and implement far-reaching economic, judicial, military, and social reforms thereby turning the promise of the Rose Revolution into real results that have dramatically improved life in the Republic of Georgia;

Whereas the strong commitment of Zurab Zhvania to the peaceful restoration of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia was most recently displayed in the central role he played in the development of the unprecedented and generous proposal of the Republic of Georgia for resolving the status of South Ossetia peacefully and justly; and

Whereas Zurab Zhvania's vision of the historical destiny of the Republic of Georgia was eloquently expressed before the Council of Europe on April 27, 1999, when he said, `I am Georgian and therefore, I am European': Now, therefore, be it.

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) expresses its sympathy and deepest condolences to the family of Zurab Zhvania for their tragic loss of a son, husband, and father, and to the people of the Republic of Georgia for the death of their Prime Minister;

(2) commends the courage, energy, political imagination, and leadership of Zurab Zhvania that were so critical to the development of a democratic Republic of Georgia;

(3) recognizes that the integration of the Republic of Georgia into Euro-Atlantic institutions will be the completion of the vision of Zurab Zhvania and his most lasting legacy; and

(4) expresses its solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Georgia at this difficult time.

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