    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [October 21, 2005]
    [Pages 1575-1576]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to Reporters in Simi Valley
    October 21, 2005

    Mehlis Report

        Today the United Nations issued what is called the Mehlis
    Report. It's a report into the death of Prime
    Minister Hariri of Lebanon, and the report is deeply disturbing. The
    report suggests that it is--strongly suggests that the politically
    motivated assassination could not have taken place without Syrian
    involvement.
        I called Secretary Rice this morning
    and instructed her to call upon the United Nations to convene a session
    as quickly as possible to deal with this very serious matter. We have
    made it clear that the position of the United States is that there be no
    foreign involvement in Lebanon. The United Nations made that clear
    through Resolution 1559. And today a serious report came out that
    requires the world to look at it very carefully and respond accordingly.
        Thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:50 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan
    Presidential Library. In his remarks, he referred to Detlev Mehlis,
    head, United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission
    into the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. A tape was not
    available for verification of the content of these remarks.

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