Foreign Affairs Committee of US House of Reps Condemns Russian Aggression Against Georgia
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Friday, May 3
The US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the topic “Countering a Resurgent Russia”, where diplomats and congresspeople condemned the occupation of Georgian lands by Russia, urging stronger support for Georgia.
Former assistant of the US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and former US Permanent Representative to NATO, Senior Researcher at Brookings Institute, Victoria Nuland; Former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, former US Ambassador to Poland, leading researcher of the Atlantic Council Daniel Fred and Chairman of the Institute for War Studies, General Jack Cain were invited to the session.
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, guests and congressmen invited to the hearing condemned Russian aggressive actions, including its neighbors - occupation of territories of Georgia and Ukraine. They underlined the importance of making more effective steps in response to Russian aggressive actions and discussed the ways of their implementation.
As Eliot Engel, (Democrat-New York), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives, said that:” On its own borders, Russia’s illegal occupation of Georgia and Ukraine has shattered decades of work to build peace and stability in Europe. Propaganda efforts and cyber warfare across the continent have spread lies and confusion, with the clear aim of undermining western unity and the transatlantic alliance.” With his advice, it is necessary to help the reformers of these countries, and use US’s good experience of successful assistance as for Germans, Poles, Baltic States, and Romanians after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Daniel Fried, who served as the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said that the occupation of Georgia and Ukraine “undermined peace and stability, which have been built for decades.” He delivered a remark the occupation of Georgian lands in 2008 by Russia was a “signal” which was not perceived appropriately by the US and NATO. ”The US and NATO reviewed their policies only after the occupation of the Ukrainian territories by Russia in 2014,” he said. With his advice, it is necessary to help the reformers of these countries, as well as the USA's good experience as examples of the successful assistance of German, later Poles, Baltic States, and Romanians after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
According to Republican Congresswoman from the state of Missouri, Anne Wagner, Russia has “undermined peace and freedom,” and this was obvious in its actions in Georgia, Ukraine, Syria and now in Venezuela. “Russia uses strategy in Georgia, which I call" creeping annexation "to seize Georgia more and more sovereign territory. Today Russia has been able to turn Georgia into a disputed territory of around 20% of the internationally recognized territory,” -Wagner said. Congresswoman emphasized the need for the implementation of NATO, the EU, and the US in collective actions in response to Russia's aggressive actions.
Democrat Congressman from Maryland, David Trone says that Russia stirs conflicts along its borders to block NATO membership in these countries.
General Kayin explained that the US has taken several steps to help Georgia. "Last year, the US handed over to the Georgian armed forces an anti-tank weapon. The United States has held crucial military exercises on the 10th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Georgia with Georgians,” – General remarked.
