[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 353 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 353

   Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of a 
sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon and the need for free and 
fair presidential elections in Lebanon without intimidation or foreign 
                             interference.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 18, 2007

Mr. Sununu (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Biden, Mr. Coleman, 
 Mr. Dodd, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Martinez, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Smith, 
  Mr. Bond, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Levin, Mr. Voinovich, Mrs. 
Feinstein, and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of a 
sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon and the need for free and 
fair presidential elections in Lebanon without intimidation or foreign 
                             interference.

Whereas, in 2004, the term of the current President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud, 
        was extended through the interference of the Government of Syria in the 
        internal affairs of the Government of Lebanon;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, adopted on September 2, 
        2004, called for free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon 
        conducted in accordance with the constitution of Lebanon and without 
        foreign interference and influence;
Whereas such a presidential election has not yet occurred;
Whereas the Parliament of Lebanon is preparing to elect a new president of 
        Lebanon before the November 24, 2007, conclusion of the mandate of the 
        current President;
Whereas the Governments of Syria and Iran, through their proxies in Lebanon, 
        have sought undue influence over the election of the next president of 
        Lebanon;
Whereas the preparation for these elections has thus far been characterized by 
        violence and intimidation tactics, and on September 19, 2007, Member of 
        the Parliament of Lebanon Antoine Ghanem became the 8th Lebanese leader 
        to be assassinated since 2005;
Whereas the democratically-elected Government of Lebanon has been under steady 
        attack by domestic and foreign elements and forces that have been 
        instigating civil unrest, disrupting the operation of the cabinet and 
        Parliament, and perpetrating acts of terror against the people of 
        Lebanon;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted on August 11, 
        2006, reiterated ``strong support for the territorial integrity, 
        sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon within its 
        internationally recognized borders'', and called on states to ``take the 
        necessary measures to prevent . . . the sale or supply to any entity or 
        individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types'';
Whereas President Lahoud has threatened to create an unconstitutional rival 
        cabinet and hand over power to it if the opposition is not satisfied 
        with the results of the constitutional electoral process;
Whereas the Governments of Syria and Iran, in clear contravention of numerous 
        United Nations Security Council resolutions, have violated Lebanon's 
        sovereignty by providing arms to illegitimate militias in Lebanon and to 
        other terrorist organizations;
Whereas the armed forces of Lebanon are protecting Lebanon and its people from 
        terrorist organizations like Fatah al Islam;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1757 established a Special 
        Tribunal for Lebanon, to be convened outside of Lebanon, to try those 
        accused of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafiq 
        Hariri and others; and
Whereas a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon is in the national 
        security interest of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) calls for free and fair presidential elections in 
        Lebanon, conducted according to the constitution of Lebanon and 
        free from foreign interference and influence or the use of 
        intimidation tactics;
            (2) supports ongoing efforts by leaders in Lebanon to reach 
        agreement on a presidential candidate committed to upholding 
        Lebanon's sovereignty and independence;
            (3) condemns the Governments of Syria and Iran for their 
        undue material interference in the internal political affairs 
        of Lebanon, including in the election of a new president, and 
        for their repeated violations of the sovereignty and 
        independence of Lebanon, and calls on the Governments of Syria 
        and Iran to comply with United Nations Security Council 
        Resolution 1701, particularly with respect to preventing 
        unauthorized shipment of arms into Lebanon;
            (4) affirms its strong support for the armed forces of 
        Lebanon as they work to secure Lebanon against terrorists and 
        illegal armed militias, and conveys its readiness to provide 
        support to assist in these ends;
            (5) urges the Secretary of State to continue efforts in 
        support of a Special Tribunal for Lebanon to end impunity for 
        political assassinations, including assisting in efforts to 
        convene the Special Tribunal as soon as possible, affirms its 
        readiness to continue to provide material support to this 
        cause, and calls on all countries to make timely and generous 
        contributions to this end; and
            (6) urges the President to use all peaceful means at the 
        disposal of the United States to help promote an independent, 
        democratic, and prosperous Lebanon, including increased 
        diplomatic coordination with key partners in Europe and the 
        Middle East, and supports efforts by the United States to 
        provide ongoing and substantial assistance for reconstruction 
        efforts in Lebanon.
                                 <all>