,,iv #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #djb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ab1 #bjac,mr4 ,engel 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,royce1 ,mr4 ,keating1 and ,mr4 ,poe of ,texas7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,supporting the ,european aspirations of the peoples of the ,european ,union's ,eastern ,partnership countries1 and for other purposes4 ,whereas a democratic1 prosperous1 and stable ,eastern ,europe and ,caucasus region is in the national interest of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the stability and economic vitality of this region also is important to our allies in ,,nato and the ,european ,union 7,,eu72 ,whereas ,ukraine1 ,moldova1 ,georgia1 ,armenia1 ,azerbaijan1 and ,belarus have to varying extents sought to strengthen their economic and political ties with the ,,eu through participation in the ,,eu's ,eastern ,partnership program2 ,whereas closer relations with the ,,eu through the ,eastern ,partnership program will promote democratic values1 good governance1 and economic opportunity in the region2 ,whereas ,ukraine may sign an ,,eu ,association ,agreement1 provided that it meets clear and essential ,,eu conditions1 and ,moldova and ,georgia may initial ,,eu ,association ,agreements at the ,eastern ,partnership summit to be held in ,vilnius1 ,lithuania1 on ,november #bh and #bi1 #bjac2 ,whereas these ,,eu ,association ,agreements contain free trade and other provisions that will create the conditions for greater economic growth and will strengthen democratic institutions and norms1 bolster the rule of law1 and reduce corruption in signatory states2 ,whereas the ,,eu's ,eastern ,partnership program and ,association ,agreements are voluntary associations2 ,whereas all sovereign states have the right to enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing1 in keeping with their interests and values2 ,whereas majorities of the populations of ,ukraine1 ,moldova1 ,georgia1 and other states in the region desire closer relations with the ,,eu2 ,whereas the ,,eu ,association ,agreements do not pose a threat to any nation1 and all states in the region1 including ,russia1 will benefit from the economic growth and increased rule of law and stability resulting from closer relations with the ,,eu2 ,whereas ,russia has sought to dissuade ,ukraine1 ,moldova1 ,georgia1 and ,armenia from initialing or signing ,association ,agreements with the ,,eu2 ,whereas ,russia has impeded some ,ukrainian imports and banned the import of ,moldovan wine2 ,whereas ,russia has pressured ,georgia1 notably by erecting physical barriers along the ,administrative ,boundary ,lines of the occupied ,georgian regions of ,abkhazia and ,south ,ossetia1 where ,russian troops continue to be stationed despite a commitment in the #bjjh ceasefire agreement to withdraw to pre-conflict positions2 ,whereas these actions contravene ,russia's commitments under the ,helsinki principles of the ,organization for ,security and ,cooperation in ,europe 7,,osce7 and the ,charter of ,paris1 and also call into question ,russia's ,world ,trade ,organization 7,,wto7 commitments2 ,whereas the ,european ,parliament on ,september #ab1 #bjac1 passed a resolution expressing support for the ,eastern ,partnership countries2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has long supported the ,european aspirations of the peoples of ,ukraine1 ,moldova1 and ,georgia1 as well as the other ,eastern ,partnership countries2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states believes that deepening ties with the ,,eu will benefit these states1 the wider region1 and ,russia1 and will represent a step forward toward the realization of the vision of a democratic ,europe1 whole1 free1 and at peace3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 supports the ,european aspirations of the peoples of the ,eastern ,partnership countries2 7#b7 recognizes the significant benefits to these and other countries in the ,eastern ,europe and ,caucasus region of closer economic and political ties with the ,,eu1 which will spur economic growth1 strengthen democratic institutions and norms1 and bolster the rule of law in the region2 7#c7 supports the right of all sovereign states to enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing1 in keeping with their interests and values1 and as enshrined in the ,,osce's ,helsinki principles2 7#d7 rejects the concept of spheres of influence which would divide the ,european continent2 7#e7 calls on the ,government of ,russia to respect the rights of states to make their own sovereign choices with regard to international partnerships1 including to sign ,association ,agreements with the ,,eu2 7#f7 applauds the significant progress ,ukraine1 ,moldova1 and ,georgia have made in adopting democratic norms and standards1 calls on these states to continue to implement necessary reforms1 and urges ,ukraine to address the remaining essential requirements for signing its ,association ,agreement with the ,,eu3 electoral and rule of law reforms and those related to selective justice1 including the release of ex-,prime ,minister ,yulia ,tymoshenko2 7#g7 urges the ,department of ,state to continue to work closely with our ,european partners and allies to support the right of ,ukraine1 ,moldova1 and ,georgia to enter into voluntary partnerships of their choosing1 provided that any conditions are met2 and 7#h7 calls on the ,department of ,state to continue to support reforms in all ,eastern ,partnership countries which will both help them meet the conditions necessary for closer relations with the ,,eu and which also make these states more democratic1 prosperous1 and secure4