[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4--CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT AND THE ALLIES 
    OF THE UNITED STATES TO RAISE THE CASE OF ROBERT LEVINSON WITH 
OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AT EVERY LEVEL AND OPPORTUNITY, AND 
URGING OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN TO FULFILL THEIR PROMISES OF 
ASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILY OF ROBERT LEVINSON AND TO SHARE INFORMATION ON 
 THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ROBERT LEVINSON WITH THE 
                    FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

  Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Bayh, Mr. 
Martinez, Mr. Kyl, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                             S. Con. Res. 4

       Whereas United States citizen Robert Levinson is a retired 
     agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a resident of 
     Florida, the husband of Christine Levinson, and father of 
     their 7 children;
       Whereas Robert Levinson traveled from Dubai to Kish Island, 
     Iran, on March 8, 2007;
       Whereas, after traveling to Kish Island and checking into 
     the Hotel Maryam, he disappeared on March 9, 2007;
       Whereas neither his family nor the United States Government 
     has received further information on his fate or whereabouts;
       Whereas March 9, 2009, marks the second anniversary of the 
     disappearance of Robert Levinson;
       Whereas the Government of Switzerland, which has served as 
     Protecting Power for the United States in the Islamic 
     Republic of Iran in the absence of diplomatic relations 
     between the United States Government and the Government of 
     Iran since 1980, has continuously pressed the Government of 
     Iran on the case of Robert Levinson and lent vital assistance 
     and support to the Levinson family during their December 2007 
     visit to Iran;
       Whereas officials of the Government of Iran promised their 
     continued assistance to the relatives of Robert Levinson 
     during the visit of the family to the Islamic Republic of 
     Iran in December 2007; and
       Whereas the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 
     Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated during an interview with NBC News 
     broadcast on July 28, 2008, that officials of the Government 
     of Iran were willing to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation in the search for Robert Levinson: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commends the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran and the 
     Government of Switzerland for the ongoing assistance to the 
     United States Government and to the family of Robert 
     Levinson, particularly during the visit by Christine Levinson 
     and other relatives to Iran in December 2007;
       (2) expresses appreciation for efforts by Iranian officials 
     to ensure the safety of the family of Robert Levinson during 
     their December 2007 visit to Iran, as well as for the promise 
     of continued assistance;
       (3) urges the Government of Iran, as a humanitarian 
     gesture, to intensify its cooperation on the case of Robert 
     Levinson with the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran and to 
     share the results of its investigation into the disappearance 
     of Robert Levinson with the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
       (4) urges the President and the allies of the United States 
     to engage with officials of the Government of Iran to raise 
     the case of Robert Levinson at every opportunity, 
     notwithstanding other serious disagreements the United States 
     Government has had with the Government of Iran on a broad 
     array of issues, including human rights, the nuclear program 
     of Iran, the Middle East peace process, regional stability, 
     and international terrorism; and
       (5) expresses sympathy to the family of Robert Levinson 
     during this trying period.

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, since we have a moment, I will 
tell you about S. Con. Res. 4. Two years ago, an American went to Kish 
Island, which is part of Iran. The Iranian island is in the Persian 
Gulf and a visa is not required to get there. We have the records that 
Bob Levinson, a retired FBI agent, checked out of his hotel, which 
subsequently has been confirmed by the taxi driver who drove him to the 
airport and deposited him. At that point, Bob Levinson disappeared and 
has left a wife and seven children. They happen to reside in the State 
of Florida. But it doesn't make any difference where the State is. We 
have a number of Senators who have joined with me on this resolution to 
keep up the pressure.
  I want you to know that under the reasonable man test, all of the 
evidence we have suggests that Bob Levinson is in Iran and is being 
held against his will. First, there was an Iranian press story about 6 
weeks after Levinson's disappearance that indicated he would be 
released, that he was in custody. This report comes from PRESS TV, 
which is an Iranian Government press operation.
  In addition, there was a fellow he met with on Kish Island named 
Belfield, who is a fugitive from American justice. Belfield now resides 
in Iran and has stated publicly that he met with Bob Levinson. The 
meeting was suddenly interrupted by people who arrested Belfield. This 
fellow, Belfield, has said that Levinson is being held in Iran. We have 
also had the statement by the President of Iran, Ahmadinejad, who says 
he doesn't know anything about Levinson's location in Iran, but that 
the Government of Iran would do everything to cooperate.
  Thus far, in innumerable contacts from this Senator and Mrs. Levinson 
including during her visit a year ago to Tehran and to Kish Island, the 
Government of Iran has not been forthcoming or willing to cooperate.
  The reasonable man test says he is held in Iran. I can tell you that 
this Senator believes he is being held and he is being held in a secret 
prison. We do know that, from time to time, in several diplomatic 
sessions, whenever this has been brought up to an Iranian official, 
first, he says, ``We don't know anything about Levinson,'' and then 
they immediately change the subject to talk about the Iranians who were 
picked up by the U.S. Government in Erbil, Iraq. Whether they are 
suggesting an exchange, we simply don't know. But I can tell you that 
the Government of the United States, now under the new administration, 
specifically with the Secretary of State, who has been briefed on 
details in the Bob Levinson case, is pressing forward.
  In conclusion, if there is a new chapter in the relationship between 
the United States and Iran, what better way for that new chapter to 
open than for Iran to make a humanitarian gesture by returning this 
father, this husband, to his family, his wife and seven children.

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