[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 54 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S4161]]
SENATE RESOLUTION 470--PROMOTING A COMPREHENSIVE POLITICAL AGREEMENT IN 
                                  IRAQ

  Mr. KERRY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 470

       Whereas Iraq is destabilized by an ongoing insurgency and 
     increasing sectarian violence;
       Whereas General John P. Abizaid, the head of the United 
     States Central Command, said in March 2006 that ``sectarian 
     violence is a greater concern for us security-wise right now 
     than the insurgency'';
       Whereas General George Casey, the senior United States 
     military commander in Iraq, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the United 
     States Ambassador to Iraq, have stated that ``the principal 
     threat to stability is shifting from an insurgency grounded 
     in rejection of the new political order to sectarian violence 
     grounded in mutual fears and recriminations'';
       Whereas a national unity government and a comprehensive 
     political agreement among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are 
     essential to end sectarian violence, undermine the 
     insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq;
       Whereas, on April 22, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly 
     approved senior leaders of a national unity government, 
     including Jawad al-Mailiki as Prime Minister;
       Whereas, under the constitution of Iraq, the Prime Minister 
     has 30 days to form a government;
       Whereas a comprehensive political agreement must resolve 
     fundamental issues dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, 
     including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security 
     guarantees, reconstruction, and border security;
       Whereas reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help 
     bring stability to Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq's 
     neighbors, the region, and the international community;
       Whereas Iraq's neighbors, representatives of the Arab 
     League, and the international community as represented by 
     NATO, the European Union, and the permanent members of the 
     United Nations Security Council can assist in the process of 
     bringing about such a comprehensive agreement; and
       Whereas the President should expedite this process by 
     bringing together these parties and the leaders of the new 
     Government of Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     President, not later than 30 days after the date of the 
     formation of a new national unity government in Iraq, should 
     convene a summit that includes the leaders of that 
     government, leaders of the governments of each country 
     bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the 
     Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
     representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the 
     governments of each permanent member of the United Nations 
     Security Council, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive 
     political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental 
     issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, 
     security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and 
     border security.

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