[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 257 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 257

 Expressing concern regarding arms transfers to Iran and Syria by the 
 Russian Federation and entities in the Russian Federation and urging 
the President of the United States to implement sanctions against such 
entities found to be in violation of United States law prohibiting arms 
                      transfers to Iran and Syria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 13, 2007

 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Pence, Mr. Wexler, and 
Mr. Gallegly) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing concern regarding arms transfers to Iran and Syria by the 
 Russian Federation and entities in the Russian Federation and urging 
the President of the United States to implement sanctions against such 
entities found to be in violation of United States law prohibiting arms 
                      transfers to Iran and Syria.

Whereas arms transfer agreements between the Russian Federation and Iran from 
        2002 through 2005 have been valued in total at $1,700,000,000 and arms 
        transfer agreements between the Russian Federation and Syria over the 
        same period have been estimated at over $800,000,000;
Whereas the Russian state-owned arms selling agency, Rosoboronexport, has sold 
        and delivered to Iran 30 anti-aircraft missile systems (known as the 
        ``Tor M1'' missile), worth over $1,000,000,000;
Whereas Russia has agreed to upgrade Iran's MiG-29 fighter aircraft and Su-24 
        jets, the latter aircraft having the capability to carry nuclear 
        weapons;
Whereas reports indicate that Syria has test-fired a Russian-built ``Scud D'' 
        short-range ballistic missile with a range of 440 miles;
Whereas in January 2007, Valery Kashin, chief of the Engineering Design Bureau 
        (KBM), a leading defense enterprise in Russia, stated that Russia had 
        met all of its commitments under a 2005 contract to supply Syria with 
        Strelets antiaircraft missile systems;
Whereas it has been reported that Russia plans to sell S-300 missiles to Iran 
        and Su-30 fighter jets to Syria via Belarus and that Russia is planning 
        to provide Syria with Iskander missiles and MiG-29 fighter jets;
Whereas reports indicate that Syria recently entered into an agreement with 
        Russia worth $730,000,000 for over 50 ``Pantsyr-S1E'' self-propelled 
        short-range gun and missile systems and that Syria has agreed to supply 
        Iran with at least 10 of the purchased systems;
Whereas in June 2007 it was reported that Rosoboronexport may start delivery of 
        5 MiG-31E fighter jets to Syria, under a deal estimated to be worth 
        $1,000,000,000;
Whereas according to a 2003 unclassified report of the Central Intelligence 
        Agency to Congress, ``Russian entities during the reporting period 
        continued to supply a variety of ballistic missile-related goods and 
        technical know-how to countries such as Iran ... . Iran's earlier 
        success in gaining technology and materials from Russian entities helped 
        to accelerate Iranian development of the Shahab-3 MRBM, and continuing 
        Russian entity assistance has supported Iranian efforts to develop new 
        missiles and increase Tehran's self-sufficiency in missile 
        production.'';
Whereas Iran and Syria are the most active state sponsors of terrorism in the 
        world and reports indicate that they have provided the organizations 
        known as Hezbollah and Hamas with weapons, as well as financing, 
        training, and political support;
Whereas Hezbollah and Hamas have been designated as foreign terrorist 
        organizations by the United States Department of State since 2001, and 
        as specially designated global terrorist organizations since 2002, with 
        Hezbollah and Hamas bearing responsibility for the murder of dozens of 
        United States citizens;
Whereas reports indicate that, during the conflict between Israel and Lebanon in 
        the summer of 2006, Iran and Syria provided Hezbollah with weapons that 
        included Russian-built anti-tank rocket-propelled grenades and Russian-
        made missiles such as the Kornet AT-14 that were used by Hezbollah to 
        attack Israel;
Whereas military experts claim that Hezbollah extremists have accumulated 10,000 
        to 15,000 rockets, mostly Soviet 122mm BM-21 artillery projectiles, 
        known by the term ``Katyusha'';
Whereas reports indicate that arms continue to be smuggled out of Syria to 
        Hezbollah in Lebanon; and
Whereas transfers of arms to Iran and Syria by the Russian Federation and 
        Russian entities therefore pose a threat to peace and stability in the 
        Middle East: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) expresses strong concern over Russia's continued arms 
        sales to Iran and Syria, which are state-sponsors of terrorism;
            (2) urges the Government of Russia to immediately cease the 
        sale and transfer of arms to Iran and Syria;
            (3) urges the President of the United States to use the 
        authority available to the President to implement sanctions on 
        Russian entities engaged in arms sales to Iran or Syria under 
        the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act, the 
        Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992, and Executive 
        Orders 13094 and 13882; and
            (4) urges the Government of Russia to play a constructive 
        role in establishing peace and security in the Middle East.
                                 <all>