Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution (H. Res. 660) to support the territorial integrity of Georgia. I want to thank my good friends and colleagues Mr. Poe and Mr. Connolly for introducing this excellent resolution, which condemns Russia's ongoing illegal activities along the occupation line in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mr. Speaker, Russia's invasion and occupation of Georgian territory violates the Helsinki Final Act, as well as the core principles of several multilateral agreements, the Budapest Memorandum, and the United Nations Charter. The United States has not recognized Russia's illegal attempt to separate Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia as legitimate in any way--and this resolution sends a powerful message that in this policy the administration has the full support of Congress. I was in Georgia in August, 2008, arriving about two weeks after the Russian invasion. The human suffering generated by the invasion was immense, with over 192,000 people displaced and several hundred killed. Several of my constituents found themselves trapped behind Russian lines in South Ossetia—we were able to get them out with help from our very capable ambassador, John Tefft, now serving as our ambassador to Russia, and the assistance of another country's diplomatic mission. The Russian occupation of Georgian territory is a festering sore that has not healed in the eight years that have elapsed since the invasion. Mr.…”