[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 63 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 63

 Calling for an investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister 
 Rafiq Hariri and urging steps to pressure the Government of Syria to 
                         withdraw from Lebanon.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 17, 2005

 Mr. Reid (for Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Reid, Mr. Frist, 
Mr. Levin, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Chafee)) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Calling for an investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister 
 Rafiq Hariri and urging steps to pressure the Government of Syria to 
                         withdraw from Lebanon.

Whereas on February 14, 2005, Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of 
        Lebanon, was assassinated in a despicable terrorist attack;
Whereas the car bomb used in the assassination killed 16 others and injured more 
        than 100 people;
Whereas the intent of the terrorists who carried out the assassination was to 
        intimidate the Lebanese people and push Lebanon backward toward chaos;
Whereas Rafiq Hariri served as Prime Minister of Lebanon for a total of 10 years 
        since the end of the Lebanese war in 1991;
Whereas Rafiq Hariri helped revitalize the economy of Lebanon and rebuild its 
        shattered infrastructure and pioneered and directed the rebirth of 
        Beirut's historic downtown district;
Whereas Rafiq Hariri stepped down as Prime Minister on October 20, 2004;
Whereas Syria maintains at least 14,000 troops and a large number of 
        intelligence personnel in Lebanon;
Whereas there is widespread opposition in Lebanon to the continuing Syrian 
        presence in Lebanon;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement 
        (February 15, 2005) condemning the terrorist bombing that killed Rafiq 
        Hariri and calling on ``the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the 
        perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act'';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (September 2, 2004) 
        calls for the political independence and sovereignty of Lebanon, the 
        withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, and the disarmament of all 
        militias in Lebanon;
Whereas Syria is the main supporter of the terrorist group Hezbollah, the only 
        significant remaining armed militia in Lebanon;
Whereas Hezbollah supports Palestinian terrorist groups and poses a threat to 
        the prospects for peace in the Middle East;
Whereas the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 
        2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) was enacted into law on December 12, 2003; 
        and
Whereas the President has recalled the United States Ambassador to Syria for 
        urgent consultations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the cowardly and despicable assassination of 
        Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon;
            (2) extends condolences to Prime Minister Hariri's family 
        and the people of Lebanon;
            (3) supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 
        1559 (September 2, 2004), which calls for the withdrawal of all 
        foreign forces from Lebanon;
            (4) urges the President to seek a United Nations Security 
        Council resolution that establishes an independent 
        investigation into the assassination;
            (5) urges the President to consider imposing sanctions 
        under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
        Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note); and
            (6) supports the call of the Lebanese people for an end to 
        Syria's presence in Lebanon, and for free and fair elections 
        monitored by international observers.
                                 <all>