IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 273 

Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for free 

and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule 

in Lebanon. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 11, 2005 

Mr. MCCOTTER (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. COX, Mr. 

BURTON of Indiana, and Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 

Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, 

support for free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of democratic institutions and 

safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon. 

Whereas the people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, 

proud, and honorable history dating from ancient times 

to the present, and Lebanon has been a free and democratic nation for much of its modern history; 

Whereas Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a history of friendship and cooperation which has been witnessed by the immigration of millions of Lebanese to the 
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•HRES 273 IH 

United States where they and their descendants have 

contributed greatly to the fabric of American life; 

Whereas Syria has dominated Lebanese politics and political 

leaders, resulting in a deterioration of Lebanon’s human 

rights situation, the engineering of Lebanese election results to Syria’s liking, and the imposition of curbs on 

Lebanon’s media, once the freest in the Arab world; 

Whereas Syria has publicly withdrawn its military forces 

from Lebanon, leaving behind a pro-Syrian intelligence 

structure within the Lebanese intelligence agencies; 

Whereas Congress conditioned the lifting of sanctions on Damascus in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–175) 

upon the Government of Syria ending its occupation of 

Lebanon, including the complete withdrawal of intelligence and all other security-related personnel in Lebanon, and upon other factors; 

Whereas the international community has reaffirmed its call 

for the strict respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial 

integrity, unity, and political independence under the sole 

and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon 

through the passage of United Nations Security Council 

Resolution 1559 (2004); 

Whereas there remains unresolved and as a matter of national and world concern the assassination of Rafiq alHariri, former Lebanese prime minister, which has justly 

been condemned as a terrorist act; 

Whereas the international community has begun investigations into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri and it is 

the policy of the United States to urge full compliance 

with the investigations; 
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•HRES 273 IH 

Whereas the international community is considering further 

action to promote Lebanese sovereignty; 

Whereas the emancipation of political prisoners and detainees 

held in Syrian and Lebanese prisons is a requirement to 

a national reconciliation and rebuilding of Lebanon’s 

democratic institutions; and 

Whereas general elections in Lebanon are scheduled to begin 

on May 29, 2005: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) Syria should complete its withdrawal of all 

4 remaining intelligence and security forces from the 

5 Lebanese Republic in accordance with United Na6 tions Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004); 

7 (2) Lebanon should allow unfettered access to 

8 international monitors verifying compliance with 

9 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 

10 (2004); 

11 (3) Lebanon should hold free, fair, and trans12 parent elections to begin on May 29, 2005, in ac13 cordance with all international standards and agree14 ments; 

15 (4) the United States should aid the people of 

16 Lebanon in their efforts to restore the separation of 

17 powers, the rule of law, and the proper respect for 

18 fundamental freedoms of every citizen; and 
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1 (5) it should be the policy of the United States 

2 Government to— 

3 (A) support free and fair elections in Leb4 anon by encouraging international election as5 sistance and observers; 

6 (B) urge the development of democratic in7 stitutions and safeguards to foster sovereign 

8 democratic rule in Lebanon; and 

9 (C) call for the immediate release of all po10 litical prisoners and detainees held in Lebanese 

11 and Syrian prisons. 

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