III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 470 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

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.