First Anniversary of the Rose Revolution

FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROSE REVOLUTION -- (Senate - November 18, 2004)

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 472, which was submitted earlier today by Senator McCain.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

A resolution (S. Res. 472) to honor the people of Georgia on the first anniversary of the Rose Revolution.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the RECORD.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The resolution (S. Res. 472) was agreed to.

The preamble was agreed to.

The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

S. Res. 472

Whereas, on November 23, 2004, the people of Georgia will celebrate the first anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the peaceful and bloodless protests that followed parliamentary elections deemed to be fraudulent;

Whereas following the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze, 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, Mikheil Saakashvili was sworn into office on January 25, 2004, as President of Georgia;

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, and is of additional interest to the United States because of the oil and gas pipelines now being constructed from Baku, Azerbaijan to the port of Ceyhan, 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, denying them sanctuary in remote areas such as the Pankisi Gorge, and working with the United States to help train border guards;

Whereas Georgia has recently increased its commitment of troops in Iraq and its contributions to help build peace and democracy in Afghanistan and Kosovo;

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

Whereas the United States congratulates the Government of Georgia on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Adjara and welcomes the restoration of democracy and political stability in that region; and

Whereas the United States supports representative democracy, political stability, economic growth, and peace in Georgia and throughout the Caucasus region: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Senate-

(1) congratulates the people of Georgia on the first anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the peaceful and bloodless protests that followed parliamentary elections deemed to be fraudulent, and for their commitment to democracy, peace, stability, and economic opportunity;

(2) commends President Mikheil Saakashvili for his vision of, and commitment to, a peaceful and democratic Georgia, the rule of law, an open market economy, regional cooperation, and closer integration into western institutions;

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

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