[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, this act recognizes the role that Syria 
continues to play in promoting instability and terrorism in the Middle 
East. Syria's support for terrorism, its occupation of Lebanon and 
efforts toward the development of weapons of mass destruction threaten 
to hinder efforts to encourage democracy, the rule of law and a lasting 
peace in the region. As such, this bill represents an effort by 
Congress to express its outrage with these actions and urge President 
Bush to take the needed steps that will prod Syria to halt these 
actions.
  Syria has long been on the State Department's list of terrorist 
nations, and is known to support numerous terrorist organizations 
including Hizballah, Hamas and the General Command of the Popular Front 
for the Liberation of Palestine. Just as importantly, the presence of 
Syrian troops thwarts the democratic aspirations of the Lebanese 
people. The Taif accords which mapped out a security program for 
Lebanon included Syria's commitment to the ``security independence and 
unity of Lebanon'' and its opposition to any action that ``threatens 
security independence or [the] sovereignty'' of Lebanon. The current 
Syrian military presence in Lebanon and its influence in domestic 
Lebanese politics runs counter to these commitments.
  This legislation seeks to address the more pernicious elements of 
Syria's foreign policy, and I support that goal. That being said, this 
legislation is not perfect. I am concerned that this legislation does 
not grant the President a waiver that he might need ``in the interest 
of national security.'' In addition, some of the certification 
requirements contained in the bill may need to be revised. When this 
legislation comes to the floor, I will offer an amendment that 
addresses these concerns.
  While Syria is a nation whose actions are of grave concern to me, 
Syria supported the Saudi Peace Initiative which recognized the right 
of the State of Israel to exist, and recently Syria's representative to 
the United Nation's Security Council voted in favor of smart sanctions 
which will alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people while hindering 
Saddam Hussein's ability to obtain the materiel needed to support this 
efforts to obtain, develop and use weapons of mass destruction.
  These are useful steps but pale in significance to the negative 
actions of Syria that have earned it the dubious distinction of being 
one of the world's rogue states.

                          ____________________