[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 18 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 302--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
 UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT SUPPORT THE FEBRUARY 20, 2004, ELECTIONS IN 
   IRAN AND THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SEEK A GENUINE DEMOCRATIC 
GOVERNMENT IN IRAN THAT WILL RESTORE FREEDOM TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE AND 
                         WILL ABANDON TERRORISM

  Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. DeWine, Mr. McCain, Mr. 
Wyden, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Landrieu, and 
Mr. Chambliss) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 302

       Whereas there is a long history of mutual affection, 
     appreciation, and respect between the people of the United 
     States and the people of Iran, including the incalculable 
     efforts by the United States in providing humanitarian, 
     financial, and technological assistance to help the people of 
     Iran;
       Whereas the people of Iran have shown support for decency 
     and freedom, and solidarity with the United States, including 
     the demonstration of such support through candlelight vigils 
     attended by the youth of Iran in the wake of the September 
     11, 2001, attacks upon the United States;
       Whereas the Council of Guardians is a 12-member unelected 
     body, composed of the most extreme anti-American, anti-
     democratic clerics, that has arbitrarily disqualified 
     thousands of candidates, including sitting Members of the 
     Parliament of Iran and members of the reformist movement;
       Whereas the elections scheduled to be held on February 20, 
     2004, in Iran are fatally flawed;
        Whereas the Council of Guardians has barred candidates 
     solely for failing to demonstrate blind loyalty to Supreme 
     Leader Ayatollah Khamenei;
       Whereas the brave efforts of the people of Iran to promote 
     greater democracy and respect for human rights are being 
     thwarted by the actions of the Council of Guardians;
       Whereas the blatant interference of the Council of 
     Guardians in the electoral process ensures that the elections 
     scheduled for February 20, 2004, will be neither free nor 
     fair; and
       Whereas the circumstances in Iran clearly demonstrate that 
     authentic pro-democratic reform within the regime of Iran is 
     not possible: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States should not legitimize or support the 
     elections in Iran scheduled to take place on February 20, 
     2004, as such elections stifle the growth of the genuine 
     democratic forces in Iran and do not serve the national 
     security interest of the United States;
       (2) the support provided by the United States to Iran 
     should be provided to the people of Iran, and not to any 
     political figure who supports the preservation of the current 
     regime; and
       (3) the policy of the United States should be to seek a 
     genuine democratic government in Iran that will restore 
     freedom to the people of Iran, will abandon terrorism, will 
     protect human rights, and will live in peace and security 
     with the international community.

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