[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONDEMNING ACTIONS BY SYRIA REGARDING THE ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRIME 
                          MINISTER OF LEBANAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Issa and Mr. Lantos for 
joining me in introducing this critical resolution, which condemns 
Syrian efforts to hinder the investigation into the assassination of 
former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri, expresses support for extending 
the mandate of the investigative commission, and supports punitive 
sanctions against Syria if it continues to fail to comply with the 
ongoing investigation.
  On February 14, 2005, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was 
assassinated in a vicious terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon that 
killed 22 and injured more than 100. In response, the U.N. Security 
Council passed Resolution 1595, establishing an international 
commission to investigate this attack and demanding the full compliance 
of all U.N. member states with the investigation.
  This commission--led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis--released its 
initial findings in a report that implicated senior Syrian officials in 
the Hariri assassination. This past week, a second report was released 
that exposed Syrian efforts to impede and obstruct the investigation, 
including misleading the commission, providing falsified accounts and 
threatening those involved in the investigation. At this juncture, we 
must hold the Syrian regime accountable for their actions and demand 
Syrian compliance with the ongoing investigation.
  Since the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri, targeted 
assassinations aimed at intimidating Lebanese opponents of Syria have 
continued unabated. Just this past week, a prominent and well-respected 
journalist was killed in a car-bombing in Beirut. Make no mistake; this 
was a clear attempt to limit freedom of the press in Lebanon on the 
part of the Syrian regime.
  This resolution does just that. It supports the findings of the 
Mehlis report, condemns the Syrian Government for its apparent 
involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri and 
others, and demands Syrian compliance. It also supports U.S.-led 
efforts to hold Syria accountable for its role in the Hariri 
assassination under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which leaves the 
door open for sanctions.
  As the U.N. considers the grave and far-reaching implications of the 
Mehlis report, I strongly support critical and timely resolution.

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