SRES139MAY13

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending May 13, 2005

Senate Resolution 139 expressing support for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia.

Click flag for map and country data, Republic of Georgia.

BRIEF

A remnant of post WWII occupation by the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and the Cold War that ensued. The small country of Georgia found itself free from the Soviet government in 1991. However, about three thousand Russian troops remain in this country of 4.7 million people.

Probably most notable about Georgia and democracy is the so-called Rose Revolution in which thousand amassed non-violently to protest and eventually coup the remaining Soviet-era government leaders. Since then, Russia has agreed to remove its’ military presence but has not done so completely.

The Georgian Parliament has voted in support of removing the Russian troops.

The Resolution comes immediately after President Bush’s visit to Georgia where he urged democratic forces to continue their efforts and told Russia it was time to remove the troops.

Sponsor: Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (May 12, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

S. Res. 139

Whereas, on April 9, 1991, the Republic of Georgia declared independence from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;

Whereas, during December 1991, the Republic of Georgia was internationally recognized as an independent and sovereign country following the formal dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;

Whereas the disposition of former Soviet troops stationed in certain newly independent countries was resolved by 1994 with the complete withdrawal of Russian Federation military personnel from the Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania;

Whereas in the years following the restoration of Georgian independence, successive governments of Georgia sought to negotiate the closure of Russian military bases located in, and the withdrawal of military personnel from, Georgia;

Whereas, during the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit at Istanbul, Turkey in 1999, Georgia and Russia concluded a bilateral agreement as part of the Adapted Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty;

Whereas as part of such bilateral agreement, which is known as the ``Istanbul Commitments'', on November 17, 1999, Russia committed to close bases at Gudauta and Vaziani by July 1, 2001, and committed to conclude negotiations on bases at Batumi and Akhalkalaki, and all other Russian military facilities during 2000;

Whereas Russia has failed to fulfill its obligations under the Istanbul Commitments;

Whereas more than 3,000 Russian military personnel remain in Georgia at various bases and facilities throughout the country;

Whereas, during November 2003, the Georgian people, in the historic ``Rose Revolution'', peacefully protested fraudulent elections resulting in the holding of new elections and the installation of a new government committed to democracy, the rule of law, observance of human rights, restoration of sovereignty, and economic development; and

Whereas on March 10, 2005, the democratically elected Parliament of the Republic of Georgia passed a measure expressing its dissatisfaction with Russia's continued military presence in Georgia: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That--

(1) it is the sense of the Senate that--

(A) the Russian Federation should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Georgia;

(B) President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Government and people of Georgia deserve congratulations for the accomplishments and successful reforms carried out in Georgia since President Mikheil Saakashvili's inauguration in January 2004, and that the United States should continue to support such reforms and should encourage and assist Georgia with strengthening its democratic institutions and resolving its separatist conflicts peacefully; and

(C) the United States should continue to support Georgia in its efforts to negotiate an agreement for ending Russia's military presence in Georgia, in accordance with Russia's obligations under the bilateral agreement made between Russia and Georgia as part of the Adapted Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty known as the ``Istanbul Commitments''; and

(2) the Senate--

(A) supports the efforts of President Bush to encourage Russia and Georgia to expeditiously reach agreement on the closure of Russian military bases in, and the withdrawal of military personnel from, Georgia;

(B) commends President Bush for being the first United States President to visit Georgia since its recognition as an independent and sovereign country; and

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