[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 43 (Monday, October 31, 2005)]
[Pages 1573-1574]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to Reporters in Simi Valley

October 21, 2005

Mehlis Report on Lebanese Assassination

    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

[[Page 1574]]

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. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks. This item was not received in time for 
inclusion in the appropriate issue.