[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 158 (Thursday, October 18, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S13132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING IMPORTANCE OF A SOVEREIGN, DEMOCRATIC, AND PROSPEROUS 
                                LEBANON

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 353, submitted earlier 
today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 353) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the importance of a sovereign, democratic, 
     and prosperous Lebanon and the need for free and fair 
     presidential elections in Lebanon without intimidation or 
     foreign interference.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 353) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 353

       Whereas, in 2004, the term of the current President of 
     Lebanon, Emile Lahoud, was extended through the interference 
     of the Government of Syria in the internal affairs of the 
     Government of Lebanon;
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, 
     adopted on September 2, 2004, called for free and fair 
     presidential elections in Lebanon conducted in accordance 
     with the constitution of Lebanon and without foreign 
     interference and influence;
       Whereas such a presidential election has not yet occurred;
       Whereas the Parliament of Lebanon is preparing to elect a 
     new president of Lebanon before the November 24, 2007, 
     conclusion of the mandate of the current President;
       Whereas the Governments of Syria and Iran, through their 
     proxies in Lebanon, have sought undue influence over the 
     election of the next president of Lebanon;
       Whereas the preparation for these elections has thus far 
     been characterized by violence and intimidation tactics, and 
     on September 19, 2007, Member of the Parliament of Lebanon 
     Antoine Ghanem became the 8th Lebanese leader to be 
     assassinated since 2005;
       Whereas the democratically-elected Government of Lebanon 
     has been under steady attack by domestic and foreign elements 
     and forces that have been instigating civil unrest, 
     disrupting the operation of the cabinet and Parliament, and 
     perpetrating acts of terror against the people of Lebanon;
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, 
     adopted on August 11, 2006, reiterated ``strong support for 
     the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political 
     independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized 
     borders'', and called on states to ``take the necessary 
     measures to prevent . . . the sale or supply to any entity or 
     individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all 
     types'';
       Whereas President Lahoud has threatened to create an 
     unconstitutional rival cabinet and hand over power to it if 
     the opposition is not satisfied with the results of the 
     constitutional electoral process;
       Whereas the Governments of Syria and Iran, in clear 
     contravention of numerous United Nations Security Council 
     resolutions, have violated Lebanon's sovereignty by providing 
     arms to illegitimate militias in Lebanon and to other 
     terrorist organizations;
       Whereas the armed forces of Lebanon are protecting Lebanon 
     and its people from terrorist organizations like Fatah al 
     Islam;
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1757 
     established a Special Tribunal for Lebanon, to be convened 
     outside of Lebanon, to try those accused of the assassination 
     of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafiq Hariri and others; 
     and
       Whereas a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon is 
     in the national security interest of the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) calls for free and fair presidential elections in 
     Lebanon, conducted according to the constitution of Lebanon 
     and free from foreign interference and influence or the use 
     of intimidation tactics;
       (2) supports ongoing efforts by leaders in Lebanon to reach 
     agreement on a presidential candidate committed to upholding 
     Lebanon's sovereignty and independence;
       (3) condemns the Governments of Syria and Iran for their 
     undue material interference in the internal political affairs 
     of Lebanon, including in the election of a new president, and 
     for their repeated violations of the sovereignty and 
     independence of Lebanon, and calls on the Governments of 
     Syria and Iran to comply with United Nations Security Council 
     Resolution 1701, particularly with respect to preventing 
     unauthorized shipment of arms into Lebanon;
       (4) affirms its strong support for the armed forces of 
     Lebanon as they work to secure Lebanon against terrorists and 
     illegal armed militias, and conveys its readiness to provide 
     support to assist in these ends;
       (5) urges the Secretary of State to continue efforts in 
     support of a Special Tribunal for Lebanon to end impunity for 
     political assassinations, including assisting in efforts to 
     convene the Special Tribunal as soon as possible, affirms its 
     readiness to continue to provide material support to this 
     cause, and calls on all countries to make timely and generous 
     contributions to this end; and
       (6) urges the President to use all peaceful means at the 
     disposal of the United States to help promote an independent, 
     democratic, and prosperous Lebanon, including increased 
     diplomatic coordination with key partners in Europe and the 
     Middle East, and supports efforts by the United States to 
     provide ongoing and substantial assistance for reconstruction 
     efforts in Lebanon.

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