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CONGRESS OBLIGES OBAMA TO ESTABLISH CLOSER U.S.-GEORGIA MILITARY COOPERATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
December 17, 2011 - 13:22 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Congress has voted for the establishment
of closer military relations with Georgia, involving the sale of U.S.
arms to Tbilisi. The relevant provision is included in the Pentagon
budget bill for the 2012 fiscal year, approved by the Senate on
Thursday, December 15. Previously it had been approved by the House of
Representatives. The document has been sent for signature to President
Barack Obama.
As it is stated in Article 1244 of the bill, no later than 90 days
after the signing the president should develop and submit to Congress
a plan for the normalization of military cooperation between the U.S.
and Georgia, including the sale of defensive weapons.
According to the lawmakers, among the tasks the implementation of
that plan should aim at is support for the Georgian government in
protecting its people and the sovereign territory with regard to the
obligations not to use force, made by the government of Georgia,
and in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter; arrangements
for the United States' sales of military equipment and property,
as well as provision of military services to support the efforts of
the government of Georgia for ensuring self-defense.
In addition, the members of the US Congress would like the Obama
Administration to persuade other NATO members and countries seeking
accession to the alliance to restore and increase the sales of military
equipment and property and the provision of military services to
Georgia as part of broader efforts to deepen NATO military relations
and cooperation with Georgia.
The required plan must contain an assessment of Georgia's defense
requirements, which the Pentagon will be required to prepare, as
well as the a list of all requests from the Georgian government for
purchases of military equipment and property and the provision of
military services over the past two years.
In the Senate this provision was included in the bill by Republican
Senator John McCain, who has repeatedly stated publicly that Georgia
needs U.S. weapons to defend itself. In the lower house of Congress
he was actively supported, in particular, by Republican Michael
Turner, who kept wondering why shouldn't defensive weapons be sold
to a country whose soldiers are fighting shoulder to shoulder with
the Americans in Afghanistan, Itar-Tass reported.
PanARMENIAN.Net
December 17, 2011 - 13:22 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Congress has voted for the establishment
of closer military relations with Georgia, involving the sale of U.S.
arms to Tbilisi. The relevant provision is included in the Pentagon
budget bill for the 2012 fiscal year, approved by the Senate on
Thursday, December 15. Previously it had been approved by the House of
Representatives. The document has been sent for signature to President
Barack Obama.
As it is stated in Article 1244 of the bill, no later than 90 days
after the signing the president should develop and submit to Congress
a plan for the normalization of military cooperation between the U.S.
and Georgia, including the sale of defensive weapons.
According to the lawmakers, among the tasks the implementation of
that plan should aim at is support for the Georgian government in
protecting its people and the sovereign territory with regard to the
obligations not to use force, made by the government of Georgia,
and in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter; arrangements
for the United States' sales of military equipment and property,
as well as provision of military services to support the efforts of
the government of Georgia for ensuring self-defense.
In addition, the members of the US Congress would like the Obama
Administration to persuade other NATO members and countries seeking
accession to the alliance to restore and increase the sales of military
equipment and property and the provision of military services to
Georgia as part of broader efforts to deepen NATO military relations
and cooperation with Georgia.
The required plan must contain an assessment of Georgia's defense
requirements, which the Pentagon will be required to prepare, as
well as the a list of all requests from the Georgian government for
purchases of military equipment and property and the provision of
military services over the past two years.
In the Senate this provision was included in the bill by Republican
Senator John McCain, who has repeatedly stated publicly that Georgia
needs U.S. weapons to defend itself. In the lower house of Congress
he was actively supported, in particular, by Republican Michael
Turner, who kept wondering why shouldn't defensive weapons be sold
to a country whose soldiers are fighting shoulder to shoulder with
the Americans in Afghanistan, Itar-Tass reported.