[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      SYRIA AND THE UNITED STATES

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss Syria and 
the role it is playing in the Middle East peace process.
  A short time ago, some of my colleagues and I wrote to President 
Clinton explaining our views on Syria, and our fears that Syria's 
continued efforts at destabilization of the region will prevent a 
comprehensive peace settlement. We cautioned that there should be no 
effort by the United States to remove Syria from the list of countries 
that the State Department identifies as supporting terrorism. We also 
advised that Syria's role in narcotics production and distribution was 
also of very serious concern.
  These issues, along with the President's recent meeting with 
President Asad of Syria cause me great concern. This Senator, for one, 
has always been wary of Asad, whose contempt for freedom and the cause 
of peace has never been in question. I feel that he is an extremely 
dangerous and crafty tyrant, who remains a danger to be constantly 
monitored and not appeased--I repeat, not appeased--as other 
administrations have done.
  In response to our letter, the President responded that he has no 
intention of removing Syria from the terrorism list, and that Syria 
must make further progress on the narcotics issue. These are two 
important issues of concern in regard to Syria, and I hope that the 
administration does not forget this commitment.
  Hafiz al-Asad is not Saddam Hussein. He will not make the same 
errors. Because of that, he cannot simply be ignored or coddled. If 
either is done, the effect will be disastrous.
  Mr. President, I ask that the text of the President's letter to me be 
included in the Record following my remarks.
  The letter follows:


                                              The White House,

                                Washington, DC, February 18, 1994.
     Hon. Alfonse D'Amato,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator D'Amato: I appreciated receiving the letter 
     from you and your colleagues on policy toward Syria.
       I do not view relations with Syria solely through the prism 
     of the peace process. However, I am committed to doing 
     everything possible to achieve a comprehensive and lasting 
     peace in the Middle East. Such a peace can bolster Israel's 
     security, grant it normalized relations with all its 
     neighbors and offer a new future of hope and prosperity for 
     all the peoples of the region. Peace between Israel and Syria 
     will also assist our efforts to strike a blow at terrorist 
     organizations because a Syrian commitment to peace with 
     Israel will require an end to support for organizations 
     committed to Israel's destruction. My decision to meet with 
     President Asad was intended to help advance these goals. Our 
     private discussions in Geneva and President Asad's public 
     expression of Syria's ``strategic decision'' for ``normal 
     peaceful relations'' with Israel helped lay the groundwork 
     for substantive progress in direct Syrian-Israeli 
     negotiations now underway in Washington.
       I remain determined to bring about an end to state 
     supported terrorism. There is no intention of removing Syria 
     from the list of states which support terrorism until such 
     time as it ends its support for terrorist organizations. 
     Similarly, further progress must be made by Syria in 
     addressing our narcotics production and trafficking concerns 
     before any change in our present position can be made. I made 
     clear our concern regarding these and other issues, including 
     human rights and the Arab boycott, in my meeting with 
     President Asad. We have agreed to establish a bilateral 
     exchange under the direction of Foreign Minister Shara and 
     Secretary Christopher to ensure that there is a detailed and 
     sustained effort to have Syria address these issues.
       With respect to the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon, I 
     reaffirmed to President Asad our support for full 
     implementation of the Taif Accord and for a sovereign and 
     independent Lebanon free of all foreign forces. It is my 
     belief that progress in the peace process is also the best 
     means of achieving this goal.
       I appreciate receiving your views on this issue. With best 
     wishes,
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.

                          ____________________