[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8511-S8512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LIFTING OF TRAVEL BAN TO LEBANON

  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to speak today with respect to a 
development which has occurred by an act of omission rather than 
commission on the part of the Secretary of State.
  As the President I am sure is aware, for approximately 10 years 
American citizens have had passport restrictions which have prevented 
them from being able to travel to the country of Lebanon. The way the 
process works is, at various intervals--most recently at 6-month 
intervals--this ``travel ban,'' as it is referred to, was back before 
the Secretary of State for renewal, and it has continued to be renewed 
for additional 6-month periods for quite some time. The 6-month period 
expired as of the 1st of August. This Secretary of State decided, after 
much consideration of the merits of these issues, not to extend the 
travel ban further.
  I want to rise today--I have had a chance to be on the floor in 
morning business prior to this--to both commend the Secretary of State 
for her difficult situation and to applaud her courage in making this 
decision. This was a very controversial issue. It is one that both this 
Secretary of State and her predecessors have had to look at hard and 
long because, obviously, there is a need to balance, on the one hand, 
the security interests of United States citizens who might travel to 
Lebanon and, on the other hand, both humanitarian as well as economic 
considerations of those who had a desire to make such trips.
  I believe the Secretary of State made the right decision. For a 
variety of reasons, Americans need to be able to travel to Lebanon. 
They need to be able to travel there freely. First and foremost is the 
need for families to be able to reunify. Many American citizens of 
Lebanese ancestry have close relatives who are in Lebanon and are not 
able to visit them because of this travel ban.
  For economic reasons it makes sense for the travel ban to have been 
lifted. The fact is that Lebanon is in a very successful rebuilding 
period, and that rebuilding process has included many foreign nations 
who have come to Lebanon's aid and many foreign companies who have 
taken advantage of the opportunities to rebuild the phone and utilities 
and other systems of the country. American companies have not been able 
to do that. Mr. President, they have missed an opportunity to create 
jobs and to create opportunities here at home as well as in Lebanon. By 
lifting the ban that opportunity is now available again.
  Another argument for lifting the ban which I found very compelling 
was the argument that it is important from the standpoint of the Middle 
East stability for the United States to be engaged in Lebanon. In 
recent years, Lebanon has found itself occupied by numerous foreign 
forces. During that timeframe, it has not been able to look to the 
West, and particularly to the United States, for help and assistance in 
the process of moving the direction of economic growth and democratic 
principles.
  Having a greater United States role in Lebanon, I think, will make it 
easier for Lebanon to be become once again a fully independent and 
fully sovereign nation and to see all foreign forces leave that 
country. So for all of these reasons, the lifting of this ban comes at 
the right time. It is the right choice.
  Arrayed against these, as I said, are units with security concerns. 
The fact is that there are many countries in the world today that are 
no safer to travel to than Lebanon but in which case there is no travel 
ban. There are travel advisories. The Secretary of State will be 
issuing that type of travel advisory to make sure that Americans 
understand the risks involved. Indeed, I would like to put on the 
record my own strong observation that there are risks to Americans to 
travel there. It is not yet the case that one can go to Lebanon without 
being aware of the mind flow, of the potential problems that might 
exist there, particularly in certain parts of the country, for American 
travelers.
  At the same time we have numerous countries in the world where such 
risks exist. I believe a travel advisory is the proper way in which to 
address it rather than an outright travel ban.
  For all of these reasons, Mr. President, as I say, I think the 
Secretary of State has done the right thing. I hope that Americans will 
once again get to know Lebanon and that the relationship that once 
existed between our countries, which was a very close and warm 
relationship, can be built once more.
  I would also like to conclude by congratulating the Lebanese people. 
This travel ban being lifted is in no small measure a result of the 
efforts on the part of the Lebanese Government and the Lebanese people 
to address the security concerns which we have had. A variety of 
actions have already taken place. A number of further commitments were 
made in the process of discussing the renewal of this ban. I believe 
that Prime Minister Hariri and the Government of Lebanon are prepared 
to live up to those commitments

[[Page S8512]]

fully and completely. As they do, I believe they will ensure that the 
decision made by the Secretary of State was the right one.
  So for these reasons, I would like to commend once again the 
Secretary of State. I would like to commend the Lebanese Government and 
the people of Lebanon. I would like to urge our colleagues to keep 
their eye on Lebanon and to look for other ways by which we can build a 
strong relationship.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. WYDEN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

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