[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 470 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 470

         Promoting a comprehensive political agreement in Iraq.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 8, 2006

Mr. Kerry submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
         Promoting a comprehensive political agreement in Iraq.

Whereas Iraq is destabilized by an ongoing insurgency and increasing sectarian 
        violence;
Whereas General John P. Abizaid, the head of the United States Central Command, 
        said in March 2006 that ``sectarian violence is a greater concern for us 
        security-wise right now than the insurgency'';
Whereas General George Casey, the senior United States military commander in 
        Iraq, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States Ambassador to Iraq, have 
        stated that ``the principal threat to stability is shifting from an 
        insurgency grounded in rejection of the new political order to sectarian 
        violence grounded in mutual fears and recriminations'';
Whereas a national unity government and a comprehensive political agreement 
        among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are essential to end sectarian violence, 
        undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq;
Whereas, on April 22, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly approved senior leaders 
        of a national unity government, including Jawad al-Mailiki as Prime 
        Minister;
Whereas, under the constitution of Iraq, the Prime Minister has 30 days to form 
        a government;
Whereas a comprehensive political agreement must resolve fundamental issues 
        dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil 
        revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border 
        security;
Whereas reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help bring stability to 
        Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq's neighbors, the region, and the 
        international community;
Whereas Iraq's neighbors, representatives of the Arab League, and the 
        international community as represented by NATO, the European Union, and 
        the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council can assist 
        in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement; and
Whereas the President should expedite this process by bringing together these 
        parties and the leaders of the new Government of Iraq: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the President, 
not later than 30 days after the date of the formation of a new 
national unity government in Iraq, should convene a summit that 
includes the leaders of that government, leaders of the governments of 
each country bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the 
Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the governments 
of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for 
the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq 
that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, 
the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, 
and border security.
                                 <all>