[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H3732-H3735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
URGING WITHDRAWAL OF SYRIAN FORCES FROM LEBANON
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 273) urging the withdrawal of all Syrian
forces from Lebanon, support for free and fair democratic elections in
Lebanon, and the development of democratic institutions and safeguards
to foster sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 273
Whereas the people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich,
proud, and honorable history dating from ancient times to the
present;
Whereas Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a
history of friendship and cooperation which has been marked
by the immigration of many Lebanese to the United States
where they and their descendants have contributed greatly to
the fabric of American life;
Whereas Syria has dominated the Lebanese political scene,
resulting in a deterioration of Lebanon's human rights
situation, the manipulation of Lebanese election results to
meet Syria's requirements, and the imposition of curbs on
Lebanon's media, once the freest in the Arab world;
Whereas Syria has publicly withdrawn its military forces
from Lebanon, leaving behind, however, an intelligence
structure;
Whereas Congress conditioned the lifting of sanctions on
Damascus in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175) upon the
Government of Syria ending its occupation of Lebanon
(including the complete withdrawal of intelligence and all
other security-related personnel in Lebanon) and upon other
factors;
Whereas the international community has, through the
passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
(2004), reaffirmed its call for the strict respect of
Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and
political independence under the sole and exclusive authority
of the Government of Lebanon;
Whereas there remains unresolved and as a matter of
national and world concern the assassination of Rafiq al-
Hariri, former Lebanese prime minister, which has justly been
condemned as a terrorist act;
Whereas the international community has begun
investigations into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri and
it is the policy of the United States to urge full
cooperation with the investigations;
Whereas the international community is considering further
action to promote Lebanese sovereignty;
Whereas the emancipation of political prisoners and
detainees held in Syrian and Lebanese prisons is a
precondition for national reconciliation and a rebuilding of
Lebanon's democratic institutions; and
Whereas general elections in Lebanon are scheduled to begin
on May 29, 2005: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that--
(1) Syria should complete its withdrawal of all remaining
intelligence and security forces from the Lebanese Republic
in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution
1559 (2004);
(2) Lebanon should allow unfettered access to international
monitors present for the purpose of verifying compliance with
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004);
(3) Lebanon should hold free, fair, and transparent
elections to begin on May 29, 2005, in accordance with all
international standards and agreements;
(4) the United States should aid the people of Lebanon in
their efforts to restore the separation of powers, the rule
of law, and a proper respect for fundamental freedoms of
every citizen; and
(5) it should be the policy of the United States Government
to--
(A) support free and fair elections in Lebanon by
encouraging international election assistance and observers;
[[Page H3733]]
(B) support a national dialogue that transcends sectarian
divisions and urge the development of democratic institutions
and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in
Lebanon; and
(C) call for the immediate release of all political
prisoners and detainees held in Lebanese and Syrian prisons.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Today I stand here filled with emotion and hope. When the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Engel) and I began working on legislation that
expressly called for Syria's full and unconditional withdrawal from
Lebanon toward the restoration of the Lebanese independence, we could
not have imagined that this day would come just a few years later. This
is a testament to the unwavering commitment, determination, and courage
of the Lebanese people and to the tireless efforts of the Lebanese-
American community in the United States.
The elections scheduled to begin on May 29 mark a very important
moment; but it is only the beginning of a journey toward full
sovereignty and free, democratic governance. Electoral reform is
necessary to ensure that future parliamentary and municipal elections
are to be considered fair. We must help the Lebanese people in their
quest for a free and fair electoral law as opposed to the current
Syrian-orchestrated 2000 law that discriminates against certain sectors
of Lebanese society and would actually help perpetuate Syrian influence
in Lebanese politics.
The resolution reflects our commitment to supporting the people of
Lebanon in their quest to strengthen civil society, develop democratic
institutions and safeguards, and transcend sectarian divisions. A free
and democratic Lebanon would have the potential to become a model for
the region and a source for stability and peace.
Within this context, we must work to ensure full and immediate
implementation of all aspects of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559,
beginning with international verification that Syria has withdrawn all
security and intelligence forces from Lebanon. That must include the
removal of pro-Syrian security officers such as the military
intelligence chief, the police chief, the directors of general security
and state security. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
clearly calls for free and fair elections devised without foreign
interference and influence. We must safeguard against manipulation of
the election registration process to allow Syria to keep its tentacles
in Lebanese politics.
Simultaneously, steps must be undertaken, both bilaterally and in
consultation with European allies and the United Nations, to ensure the
immediate and unconditional disarming of all militias and terrorist
organizations prior to the next round of elections.
The people of Lebanon should not have to live under repressive
terrorist organizations any more than being forced to live under an
oppressive Syrian-sponsored regime. For freedom and justice to fully
blossom in Lebanon, all Lebanese prisoners of conscience held in Syrian
and Lebanese jails must be released and the disappeared must be fully
accounted for.
{time} 1645
The policy of apathy must end.
Lebanon was once a land of promise, a vibrant democratic society
known as the ``Paris of the Middle East.'' Ending the occupation and
conducting free, fair, and transparent elections would take a quickly
recovering Lebanon one step closer to realizing its full promise.
To the people of Lebanon, I would like to say that they are an
inspiration to us all. They remind us of how precious liberty is; and
we assure them, as they stand for their freedom, the United States will
stand with them.
I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
McCotter) for introducing this important resolution. It was a pleasure
working on this text with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter)
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), my partner on all of these
issues. My utmost appreciation goes to the gentleman from Illinois
(Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), ranking
member of the Committee on International Relations, as well as to our
leadership for moving this resolution expeditiously and bringing it to
the floor.
I urge my colleagues to support this measure and, in turn, to support
the Lebanese people in their efforts to cast off the shackles of
tyranny and occupation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of this resolution. I would first like to
commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) and the gentlewoman
from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for their work on this important
resolution.
And let me say that I quite agree with the gentlewoman from Florida
(Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), my dear friend; when we worked together on the
Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, we knew
that we were doing the right thing. We absolutely made the Syrian
withdrawal of Lebanon one of the four pillars of that act. But even in
our wildest expectations and dreams, we could never have imagined the
series of events since the passage of that act, which leads today to
freedom for the Lebanese people. And I want to thank my colleagues for
standing with us and passing the Act, giving it bipartisan support and
enabling us to bring forward this resolution today.
It is an honor to stand on the floor of the House today,
approximately 1 month after the Syrian armed forces ended their
military occupation of Lebanon. Lebanon is at a crossroads, a place
from which it can move forward towards democracy and freedom or take
steps back toward the violence which tore it apart so many years ago.
The people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, proud, and honorable
history dating from ancient times to the present, and Lebanon has been
a free and democratic nation for most of its modern history. Lebanon
and the United States have enjoyed a history of friendship and
cooperation which has been witnessed by the immigration of millions of
Lebanese to the United States where they and their descendants have
contributed greatly to the fabric of American life.
Let me say, Mr. Speaker, that in my years in Congress, I have had the
honor and the pleasure to make many friends in the Lebanese American
community, and I am proud of the contributions they have made to our
country and American policy toward Lebanon. The Lebanese American
community was a very important part of the Syria Accountability Act,
and the Lebanese American community has played and is continuing to
play a very important part in the freedom and democracy of Lebanon.
However, tragically, Syria dominated Lebanese politics and political
leaders during its occupation, resulting in a deterioration of
Lebanon's human rights situation, the engineering of Lebanese election
results to Syria's liking and the imposition of curbs on Lebanon's
media, once the freest in the Arab world.
Lebanon, in effect, became a Syrian satellite state where none of its
leaders would dare defy the Syrian regime in Damascus. Yet a series of
events caused pressure on the Syrian regime to grow. Beginning with the
passage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act,
Congress showed very strongly that we would not tolerate this continued
Syrian occupation of Lebanon.
While Syria could have made smart choices at any point, it never did,
and pressure continued to grow for its full withdrawal from Lebanon,
again with the President's signing the Syria Accountability Act 1 year
ago. Our law
[[Page H3734]]
ultimately led to the Security Council's adoption of Resolution 1559,
which demanded Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarmament of
Hezbollah and other armed groups.
Yet the most recent developments in the effort to press Syria to
leave Lebanon were sparked by the terrorist murder of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut. His assassination, which must still be
thoroughly investigated by Lebanon and the international community,
triggered a series of popular protests with hundreds of thousands of
Lebanese taking to the streets. At one point in one of the
demonstrations, literally one-quarter of the entire population of
Lebanon took to the streets of Beirut to demand that the Syrian
occupation end.
Yet, while Syria has today withdrawn its military forces from
Lebanon, reports indicate that it has left behind a pro-Syrian
intelligence structure within the Lebanese intelligence agencies. There
are lots of spies, Syrian spies, still in Lebanon and lots of Syrian
nationals still in Lebanon trying to control things. These people must
leave, as well, and the sooner the better.
And it must be pointed out, Mr. Speaker, that not all parts of
Security Resolution 1559 have been implemented. Hezbollah, the
terrorist organization which receives support from Iran and Syria,
remains armed to the teeth and occupies much of southern Lebanon. As
Hezbollah has not given up its weaponry and its intent to maintain a
military answer to the political questions of the Middle East,
Hezbollah must remain completely isolated by the international
community.
Earlier this year, the House passed a resolution urging the European
Union to put Hezbollah on its terrorist list. As we consider this
resolution today, let us renew that call. Hezbollah is a terrorist
organization.
Finally, all political prisoners and the ``disappeared'' must be
released and returned to their families. They are still existing in
Lebanon, and we must get to the bottom of the disappeared people as
well.
Today, the United States must stand for the same basic values in
Lebanon to which we adhere at home and around the world.
Mr. Speaker, Lebanon is scheduled to hold elections on May 29, this
Saturday. As such, Congress stands with the Lebanese people as they
proceed to restore democracy in their once again sovereign nation. It
is our hope that the upcoming elections will be free, fair,
transparent, and in accordance with all relevant international
standards on elections.
However, I must express one note of concern about the elections. The
electoral districts in which Lebanese candidates for parliament run
later this week were drawn in accordance with the 2000 electoral law,
which was written by the Syrian-dominated regime during the occupation.
I am concerned that this has deprived many Lebanese from true
representation as the districts were apparently drawn unfairly, packing
certain groups of people into some districts while underrepresenting
others. However, once these elections are completed, the United States
should help the people of Lebanon in their efforts to restore the
separation of powers, the rule of law, the changing of these districts,
and the proper respect for fundamental freedoms of every citizen. As
goes the rule of law in Lebanon and the respect for individuals, so
goes the nation.
Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor, with the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Ros-Lehtinen), of the Syria Accountability Act, it is an honor to be on
the floor today in support of this important resolution, and I strongly
urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, next Sunday the people of Lebanon will go to
the polls to start a series of parliamentary elections that will play
out over the next four weeks. This resolution expresses Congress's
ongoing concern that the Lebanese people be allowed to choose their own
leaders freely and fairly, in light of the recent withdrawal from
Lebanon of all Syrian security forces and intelligence officials, which
is not yet verifiably complete. I commend our colleague Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen for bringing these important issues before us.
Mr. Speaker, freedom-loving people everywhere cheered earlier this
year as the Lebanese people defied the odds, spurred on by the
assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, and peacefully
rose up and forced the caretaker government to step down, letting key
exile leaders return, and leading to the expelling of nearly all of
Syria's uninformed forces from long-occupied Lebanese soil. We all hope
that there will continue to be a peaceful transition to sovereign,
democratic rule in Lebanon.
Sadly, the upcoming elections saw their first casualty this weekend,
when adherents of rival parties clashed in the region of Metn.
Government soldiers were summoned to disperse the crowds, and as they
did so, one man was shot and killed. It was a somber reminder of how
volatile the situation surrounding the elections can be.
Political rivalries, particularly between pro-Syrian factions and
those who seek to continue reforms, threaten to further destabilize the
electoral process in Lebanon; some have already threatened to boycott,
which could undermine the legitimacy of the process. And the elections
will be conducted according to a law passed under full Syrian
occupation five years ago, which could stack the deck in favor of the
Syrian elements, particularly Hezbollah. Let us hope that the wisdom of
the Lebanese people, displayed in vast numbers, will over-ride the
structural deficiencies of the law.
Mr. Speaker, I fully endorse this resolution's advocacy of U.S.
assistance to help Lebanon restore democratic rule, including the
separation of powers, the rule of law, and respect for fundamental
freedoms. It is undeniably in our interest to support this process, as
the flourishing of democracy in Lebanon will no doubt have a multiplier
effect throughout the region.
Jordan's King Abdullah, speaking this weekend at the World Economic
Forum meeting, said that this is a time for positive political reform
in the Middle East, but it is Arabs themselves who need to develop it.
``Never has there been a greater sense of agreement that the future
is in our hands,'' King Abdullah said. ``Today, positive change is in
the air across the region. It is an effort for the whole Middle East to
create its own positive change. That demands a real-world process,
specific steps that can be implemented by regional governments and
civil society.''
Mr. Speaker, one such specific step for Lebanon will be to fulfill
its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, especially
the requirement that all militias, including Hezbollah, be disarmed and
disbanded. We will expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to put an immediate
halt to the flow of arms across the Syrian border to Hezbollah as a
first step.
Four years ago I sponsored legislation passed by the Congress that
made a portion of U.S. aid to Lebanon contingent upon Lebanon's taking
control of all of its borders. I do not intend to introduce a similar
resolution at this moment, as I am hopeful that the new Lebanese
government, once it gains its footing, will take the necessary actions
to demonstrate its adherence to all aspects of U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1559--the resolution that made possible Lebanon's rebirth as
a nation.
But I will remain seized with these issues regarding Lebanon's
borders and Hezbollah--and, in the near future, I will introduce a
resolution that I hope will demonstrate that Congress shares these
concerns. The stability of the entire region depends on an end to
militia rule in Lebanon and full implementation of Lebanese sovereignty
throughout that country and along all of its borders.
The resolution before us, Mr. Speaker, focuses on certain crucial
ingredients of Lebanese sovereignty--the withdrawal of Syrian troops
and the holding of free and fair elections. This is an important
resolution. I support it, and I urge all of my colleagues to do
likewise.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a long time
supporter of free and fair democratic elections in the Middle East and
throughout the world. Clearly, I am in support of free and fair
democratic elections in Lebanon, every human being deserves the right
to choose their leaders without the fear of persecution and
retribution. I stand firmly in favor of honoring the voice of the
Lebanese people, who have clearly called for democratic reform. I can
not deny that Syria has had a long mixed history in Lebanon, clearly
the will of the Lebanese people dictated it was time for the Syrian
forces to leave. However, I do not believe complete condemnation of the
nation of Syria will yield the results we seek. We must continue to
push for completely free and fair elections in Lebanon, but I feel that
we must engage Syria in a dialogue instead of turning a cold shoulder
to them.
I fully support the idea that Syria should complete its withdrawal of
all remaining intelligence and security forces from the Lebanese
Republic in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution
1559. However, I do not believe we should condemn Syria for their
relationship with Lebanon, but we must now engage in an examination to
determine if the current relationship between Syria and Lebanon can now
be improved. We must seek
[[Page H3735]]
to build relationships in the Middle East as opposed to tearing them
down. Our goal is to establish greater stability and a more free
society in the Middle East; to accomplish these lofty goals we must
press forward with new initiatives as opposed to complete
condemnations. Therefore, we must push for international election
monitors in Lebanon so that free, fair, and transparent elections can
be held on May 29, 2005, in accordance with all international standards
and agreements. We must ensure that no outside nation or entity has
undue influence on these elections, which should be determined only by
the will of the Lebanese people.
I am in support of H. Res. 273 because the ideal of free and fair
elections can not be questioned, especially when sanctioned by
international law. However, I do hope the sponsors and supporters of
this resolution will try to use this as an opportunity to open
relations with Syria instead of further closing them. If we are to have
true success in the Middle East we must ensure that we reach out to
every nation in the region and its people, otherwise we are only
cheating ourselves of a historic prospect for peace.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California). The
question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution, H. Res. 273, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Resolution
recognizing the courageous efforts of the people of Lebanon to restore
their independence and urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from
Lebanon, the support for free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon,
and the development of democratic institutions and safeguards to foster
sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________