[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 273 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 273

 Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for 
 free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of 
 democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic 
                            rule in Lebanon.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 11, 2005

 Mr. McCotter (for himself, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Engel, Mr. Cox, Mr. 
Burton of Indiana, and Mr. Schwarz of Michigan) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for 
 free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of 
 democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic 
                            rule in Lebanon.

Whereas the people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, proud, and honorable 
        history dating from ancient times to the present, and Lebanon has been a 
        free and democratic nation for much of its modern history;
Whereas Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a history of friendship and 
        cooperation which has been witnessed by the immigration of millions of 
        Lebanese to the United States where they and their descendants have 
        contributed greatly to the fabric of American life;
Whereas Syria has dominated Lebanese politics and political leaders, resulting 
        in a deterioration of Lebanon's human rights situation, the engineering 
        of Lebanese election results to Syria's liking, and the imposition of 
        curbs on Lebanon's media, once the freest in the Arab world;
Whereas Syria has publicly withdrawn its military forces from Lebanon, leaving 
        behind a pro-Syrian intelligence structure within the Lebanese 
        intelligence agencies;
Whereas Congress conditioned the lifting of sanctions on Damascus in the Syria 
        Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public 
        Law 108-175) upon the Government of Syria ending its occupation of 
        Lebanon, including the complete withdrawal of intelligence and all other 
        security-related personnel in Lebanon, and upon other factors;
Whereas the international community has reaffirmed its call for the strict 
        respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and 
        political independence under the sole and exclusive authority of the 
        Government of Lebanon through the passage of United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 1559 (2004);
Whereas there remains unresolved and as a matter of national and world concern 
        the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, former Lebanese prime minister, 
        which has justly been condemned as a terrorist act;
Whereas the international community has begun investigations into the 
        assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri and it is the policy of the United 
        States to urge full compliance with the investigations;
Whereas the international community is considering further action to promote 
        Lebanese sovereignty;
Whereas the emancipation of political prisoners and detainees held in Syrian and 
        Lebanese prisons is a requirement to a national reconciliation and 
        rebuilding of Lebanon's democratic institutions; and
Whereas general elections in Lebanon are scheduled to begin on May 29, 2005: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) Syria should complete its withdrawal of all remaining 
        intelligence and security forces from the Lebanese Republic in 
        accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 
        (2004);
            (2) Lebanon should allow unfettered access to international 
        monitors verifying compliance with United Nations Security 
        Council Resolution 1559 (2004);
            (3) Lebanon should hold free, fair, and transparent 
        elections to begin on May 29, 2005, in accordance with all 
        international standards and agreements;
            (4) the United States should aid the people of Lebanon in 
        their efforts to restore the separation of powers, the rule of 
        law, and the proper respect for fundamental freedoms of every 
        citizen; and
            (5) it should be the policy of the United States Government 
        to--
                    (A) support free and fair elections in Lebanon by 
                encouraging international election assistance and 
                observers;
                    (B) urge the development of democratic institutions 
                and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in 
                Lebanon; and
                    (C) call for the immediate release of all political 
                prisoners and detainees held in Lebanese and Syrian 
                prisons.
                                 <all>