Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 660, expressing support for the territorial integrity of Georgia. I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for shepherding this measure through the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I introduced this resolution with my colleague and fellow co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Georgia, Judge Ted Poe. It serves as a clear and unequivocal statement in support of the sovereign territory of Georgia and it reiterates the longstanding policy of the United States to not recognize territorial changes effected by force, as dictated by the Stimson Doctrine--established in 1932 by then Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson. In Georgia and elsewhere in the region, Russia has committed gross violations of these principles by fomenting unrest and aiding separatist movements in the countries along its periphery. Foundational multilateral agreements reached for the purpose of maintaining a peaceful and stable international order, such as the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Charter of the United Nations, have been willfully disregarded by Russia at Putin's behest. This resolution condemns strongly the forcible and illegal occupation of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions in Georgia, and calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from the territories. Russian forces continue to harass civilian communities along the administrative boundary line and impede the right of return of internally displaced persons.…”