[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 108 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 5, 2005.
Whereas on the night of February 3, 2005, the Prime Minister of the Republic of
Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, died, apparently due to carbon monoxide
poisoning caused by a malfunctioning heater;
Whereas the death of Prime Minister Zhvania at the age of 41 is a tragic loss
for the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania was a dedicated reformer whose visionary leadership
inspired a new generation of political leaders in the Republic of
Georgia;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania founded the Citizen's Union Party, which won elections in
1995, making him the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament;
Whereas under the leadership of Speaker Zhvania, the Georgian Parliament was
transformed into an effective and transparent legislative institution;
Whereas in November 2001, Speaker Zhvania resigned his position in protest when
government authorities attempted to suppress the leading independent
television station in the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania formed the United Democrats, a party that blossomed into
one of the major forces that brought about the Rose Revolution in the
Republic of Georgia in November 2003;
Whereas in the most dangerous hours of the Rose Revolution, when it appeared
that armed force could be used against the peaceful protestors, Zurab
Zhvania dismissed his bodyguards and led a march to Parliament
accompanied only by his young children;
Whereas Zurab Zhvania was named Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia in
November 2003, and led governmental efforts to develop and implement
far-reaching economic, judicial, military, and social reforms thereby
turning the promise of the Rose Revolution into real results that have
dramatically improved life in the Republic of Georgia;
Whereas the strong commitment of Zurab Zhvania to the peaceful restoration of
the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia was most recently
displayed in the central role he played in the development of the
unprecedented and generous proposal of the Republic of Georgia for
resolving the status of South Ossetia peacefully and justly; and
Whereas Zurab Zhvania's vision of the historical destiny of the Republic of
Georgia was eloquently expressed before the Council of Europe on April
27, 1999, when he said, ``I am Georgian and therefore, I am European'':
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its sympathy and deepest condolences to the family of
Zurab Zhvania for their tragic loss of a son, husband, and father, and
to the people of the Republic of Georgia for the death of their Prime
Minister;
(2) commends the courage, energy, political imagination, and
leadership of Zurab Zhvania that were so critical to the development of
a democratic Republic of Georgia;
(3) recognizes that the integration of the Republic of Georgia into
Euro-Atlantic institutions will be the completion of the vision of Zurab
Zhvania and his most lasting legacy; and
(4) expresses its solidarity with the people and Government of the
Republic of Georgia at this difficult time.
Attest:
Clerk.