[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 173 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 273--CONDEMNING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL, 
  TURKEY, ON NOVEMBER 15 AND 20, 2003, EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE 
    FAMILIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS MURDERED IN THE ATTACKS, EXPRESSING 
 SYMPATHIES TO THE INDIVIDUALS INJURED IN THE ATTACKS, AND EXPRESSING 
 SOLIDARITY WITH THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE 
                        FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

  Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 273

       Whereas, in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, two 
     explosions set off minutes apart during Sabbath morning 
     services devastated Neve Shalom, the largest synagogue in the 
     city, and the Beth Israel synagogue, about 3 miles away from 
     Neve Shalom;
       Whereas the casualties of more than 20 people killed and 
     more than 300 people wounded in the bombing attacks on the 
     synagogues included both Muslims and Jews;
       Whereas, on November 20, 2003, two bombs exploded in 
     Istanbul at the Consulate of the United Kingdom and the HSBC 
     Bank;
       Whereas the casualties of more than 25 people killed and 
     450 people wounded in the November 20, 2003, bombing attacks 
     included Muslims and Christians, and Turks, British 
     diplomats, and visitors to the Republic of Turkey;
       Whereas troops of the United Kingdom are part of the United 
     States-led coalition that liberated Iraq from the regime of 
     Saddam Hussein and are now present in Iraq under the auspices 
     of the United Nations Security Council;
       Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and 20, 
     2003, in Istanbul, Turkey, were cowardly and brutal 
     manifestations of international terrorism;
       Whereas the Government of Turkey immediately condemned the 
     terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms and has 
     vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice at all costs;
       Whereas the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey 
     equally abhor and denounce these hateful, repugnant, and 
     loathsome acts of terrorism;
       Whereas, in light of the escalation of anti-Semitic 
     activities, the safety and security of Jewish people 
     throughout the world is a matter of serious concern;
       Whereas, since Turkey cherishes its traditions of 
     hospitality and religious tolerance, and in particular its 
     history of more than 500 years of good relations between Jews 
     and Muslims, the attacks on synagogues, consular premises, 
     and commercial buildings came as a special shock to the 
     people of Turkey and to their friends throughout the world;
       Whereas the United States and Turkey are allied by shared 
     values and a common interest in building a stable, peaceful, 
     and prosperous world;
       Whereas Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation with a 
     secular government, has close relations with Israel and is 
     also the only predominantly Muslim member of the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
       Whereas the acts of murder committed on November 15 and 20, 
     2003, demonstrate again that terrorism respects neither 
     boundaries nor borders: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist 
     attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003;
       (2) expresses its condolences to the families of the 
     individuals murdered in the terrorist attacks, expresses its 
     sympathies to the individuals injured in the attacks, and 
     conveys its hope for the rapid and complete recovery of all 
     such injured individuals;
       (3) expresses its condolences to the people and the 
     governments of the Republic of Turkey and the United Kingdom 
     over the losses they suffered in these attacks; and
       (4) expresses its solidarity with the United Kingdom, 
     Turkey, and all other countries that stand united against 
     terrorism and work together to bring to justice the 
     perpetrators of these and other terrorist attacks.

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