[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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