[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 18 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SENATE RESOLUTION 63--CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
   ASSASSINATION OF PRIME MINISTER RAFIQ HARIRI AND URGING STEPS TO 
       PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA TO WITHDRAW FROM LEBANON

  Mr. REID (for Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Reid, Mr. Frist, 
Mr. Levin, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Chafee)) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 63

       Whereas on February 14, 2005, Rafiq Hariri, the former 
     Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated in a despicable 
     terrorist attack;
       Whereas the car bomb used in the assassination killed 16 
     others and injured more than 100 people;
       Whereas the intent of the terrorists who carried out the 
     assassination was to intimidate the Lebanese people and push 
     Lebanon backward toward chaos;
       Whereas Rafiq Hariri served as Prime Minister of Lebanon 
     for a total of 10 years since the end of the Lebanese war in 
     1991;
       Whereas Rafiq Hariri helped revitalize the economy of 
     Lebanon and rebuild its shattered infrastructure and 
     pioneered and directed the rebirth of Beirut's historic 
     downtown district;
       Whereas Rafiq Hariri stepped down as Prime Minister on 
     October 20, 2004;
       Whereas Syria maintains at least 14,000 troops and a large 
     number of intelligence personnel in Lebanon;
       Whereas there is widespread opposition in Lebanon to the 
     continuing Syrian presence in Lebanon;
       Whereas the United Nations Security Council issued a 
     Presidential Statement (February 15, 2005) condemning the 
     terrorist bombing that killed Rafiq Hariri and calling on 
     ``the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the 
     perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous 
     terrorist act'';
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 
     (September 2, 2004) calls for the political independence and 
     sovereignty of Lebanon, the withdrawal of foreign forces from 
     Lebanon, and the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon;
       Whereas Syria is the main supporter of the terrorist group 
     Hezbollah, the only significant remaining armed militia in 
     Lebanon;
       Whereas Hezbollah supports Palestinian terrorist groups and 
     poses a threat to the prospects for peace in the Middle East;
       Whereas the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
     Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) was enacted 
     into law on December 12, 2003; and
       Whereas the President has recalled the United States 
     Ambassador to Syria for urgent consultations: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the cowardly and despicable assassination of 
     Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon;
       (2) extends condolences to Prime Minister Hariri's family 
     and the people of Lebanon;
       (3) supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 
     1559 (September 2, 2004), which calls for the withdrawal of 
     all foreign forces from Lebanon;
       (4) urges the President to seek a United Nations Security 
     Council resolution that establishes an independent 
     investigation into the assassination;
       (5) urges the President to consider imposing sanctions 
     under the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
     Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note); and
       (6) supports the call of the Lebanese people for an end to 
     Syria's presence in Lebanon, and for free and fair elections 
     monitored by international observers.

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