Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

US lawmakers to call hearing on Georgia conflict
27 Aug 2008 22:05:29 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds comment from Rep. Schwartz)

WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers next month will examine the U.S.-Russia relationship in light of Moscow's military moves into neighboring Georgia, but no decisions have been made on whether legislation will be advanced, aides said.

The House of Representatives committee on foreign affairs plans to hold an oversight hearing in September that will attempt to probe whether Russia is embarking on a more muscular military stance in the world, or whether the new administration of President Dmitry Medvedev is getting off to a rocky start that could stabilize, according to a Democratic aide who asked not to be identified.

The hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, would solicit testimony from Bush administration officials and private sector experts, according to the aide.

Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a Pennsylvania Democrat and congressional point person on Georgia, said it was hard to assess how much support there was for the $1 billion in aid to Georgia suggested by Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat who since tapped as Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.

"We're not in session at the moment," she said in a telephone interview from Denver. "Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi is very supportive."

"It's for humanitarian aid and economic aid, it's emergency assistance. Georgia has experienced a serious loss of infrastructure, road and bridges," she said.

Earlier this month, Moscow sent tanks and troops into Georgia and on Tuesday declared the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were now independent states. The moves have drawn sharp rebukes from the Bush administration and European leaders.

The Russian military engagement led two House members to propose nonbinding legislation calling on the International Olympic Committee to revoke Russia's designation as host of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. It was not clear if a House floor vote on the measure will be scheduled.

The House aide would not detail other legislative steps that might be considered next month.

Congress has been on a five-week recess, which ends on Sept. 8, so many lawmakers have not been able to consult with each other on developments in Russia. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; editing by Cynthia Osterman and Todd Eastham)


AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article       Send comments

Emergencies

•  Georgia, Abkhazia, S. Ossetia

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  Merlin aid worker reports direct from outskirts of South Ossetia
Merlin - UK

•  UMCOR Hotline for August 26, 2008
UMCOR - USA

•  UMCOR Hotline for August 26, 2008
UMCOR - USA

•  CWS appeal: 2008 Tropical storm Fay
CWS

•  As Ranks of Uninsured Remain High, Direct Relief International Continues to Expand Unique Program to Help Nation's Safety-Net Clinics
DRI - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

•  US lawmakers to call hearing on Georgia conflict

•  Germany's Merkel most powerful woman again - Forbes

•  Argentina tightens control on drug-making chemicals

•  HIV spreads in NY at three times the U.S. average

•  Top US Marine sees shift from Iraq to Afghanistan

MORE >>
AlertNet news is provided by

Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-27T145943Z_01_TBL01_RTRIDSP_2_GEORGIA-OSSETIA-FRANCE-NEIGHBOURS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/TBL01.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-27T145836Z_01_TBL04_RTRIDSP_2_GEORGIA-OSSETIA-FRANCE-NEIGHBOURS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/TBL04.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-27T145626Z_01_TBL03_RTRIDSP_2_GEORGIA-OSSETIA-FRANCE-NEIGHBOURS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/TBL03.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-27T123024Z_01_ANK08_RTRIDSP_2_GEORGIA-OSSETIA-SHIPS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/ANK08.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-27T122729Z_01_ANK11_RTRIDSP_2_GEORGIA-OSSETIA-SHIPS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/ANK11.htm

A demonstrator burns the Russian flag during a protest outside the Russian embassy in Tbilisi August 27, 2008. Russia's armed forces overpowered Georgia's troops earlier this month after Tbilisi tried to ...



Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Wed Aug 27 22:06:49 2008