[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 272 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 272

 Expressing concern for the status of the Assyrian people in post-war 
                                 Iraq.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 12, 2003

  Mr. Cardoza (for himself, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. 
 Payne, Ms. Watson, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Radanovich, Ms. Lofgren, and Mr. 
 Honda) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing concern for the status of the Assyrian people in post-war 
                                 Iraq.

Whereas the Assyrian Empire was a kingdom in northern Mesopotamia, located in 
        what is now northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey;
Whereas the Assyrian people are a distinct cultural and ethnic group, tracing 
        their heritage back over 6,700 years;
Whereas the Assyrians have made significant and invaluable contributions to the 
        progress of human civilization;
Whereas the Assyrian language is a unique and living language, with its roots in 
        ancient Akkadian;
Whereas the Assyrian people have suffered profound religious and ethnic 
        discrimination by the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein;
Whereas the Assyrian people have made great sacrifices in the effort to oppose 
        the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and have suffered 
        greatly as a result of their efforts;
Whereas the rapid disintegration of Iraq's armed forces at the conclusion of 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom created a vacuum in authority and security for 
        the people of Iraq;
Whereas the Assyrian people have been repeatedly denied their right as a nation 
        to determine their own destiny; and
Whereas the Assyrian people have expressed their desire to coexist peacefully 
        with other peoples in a democratic Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the Sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) Assyrians should be entitled to freely practice their 
        religion and customs, speak their language, and celebrate their 
        culture in Iraq;
            (2) Assyrian leaders in Iraq should be consulted and 
        included in discussions regarding the composition of the future 
        government of Iraq;
            (3) the President should call for the future government of 
        Iraq to uphold the rights of Assyrians;
            (4) the President should instruct the Secretary of State to 
        consider the concerns and rights of Assyrians through the 
        appropriate bilateral and mulilateral forums as debate over 
        post-war Iraq continues; and
            (5) the President should instruct the United States 
        Ambassador to the United Nations to work in that international 
        organization to ensure that the rights and concerns of 
        Assyrians in Iraq are considered as debate over post-war Iraq 
        continues.
                                 <all>