The President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, has signed a legislative act which says that Georgia’s breakaway regions – Abkhazia and South Ossetia - have been occupied by Russia.

The legislative act also imposes restrictions on US funding for any state that does not recognize Gerogia's territorial integrity and prohibits US representatives in international financial institutions from supporting programs that violate Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

President Trump signed the legislative act on May 6. Before to that, the document was supported by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Furthermore, the act commissions the US Secretary of State to report on the occupational actions of Russia to the Congress within 90 days.

The document also provides additional assistance to the Eastern Partnership countries to tackle Russian aggression and to support the implementation of the Association Agreement and Free Trade Agreement.

Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze stated that this act represents an unprecedented support for Georgia's territorial integrity, sovereignty and non-recognition policy.

"The supporting text and additional funding for Georgia once again confirm the unwavering support of the United States for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as our close bilateral cooperation. This is an important tool in the peaceful settlement process,” he said.

The President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili welcomed the signing of the act. Through this law, both houses of the US Congress, the executive government and President Trump have directly strengthened the strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States, he said.

"Through this law the United States protects Georgia's sovereignty and adds special strength to the non-recognition policy… I would like to thank our strategic partner for such support. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Embassy of Georgia to the United States for their active and fruitful efforts," read the statement of the President of Georgia.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said that the bill signed by Trump featured a passage on Georgia's occupation for the first time.

“This reiterates the support of our strategic partner, the United States of America, for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Georgian state, and reaffirms unconditional trust in the country's ongoing democratic and economic development,” the PM stated.

By Thea Morrison

08 May 2017 10:38