IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 598 

Condemning actions by the Government of Syria that have hindered the 

investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon 

Rafik Hariri conducted by the United Nations International Independent 

Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), expressing support for extending 

the UNIIIC’s investigative mandate, and stating concern about similar 

assassination attempts apparently aimed at destabilizing Lebanon’s security and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 14, 2005 

Mr. ISSA (for himself, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. ACKERMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning actions by the Government of Syria that have 

hindered the investigation of the assassination of former 

Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri conducted by 

the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), expressing support for extending the UNIIIC’s investigative mandate, and stating 

concern about similar assassination attempts apparently 

aimed at destabilizing Lebanon’s security and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. 

Whereas on September 2, 2004, United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 1559 was adopted by the Security 
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•HRES 598 IH 

Council as a reaction to Syria’s increased influence over 

Lebanese politics, reaffirming strict respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty, and stipulating the withdrawal of all 

non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon and the disbanding 

and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias; 

Whereas on February 14, 2005, former Prime Minister of 

Lebanon Rafik Hariri and 22 others were killed in a terrorist bombing orchestrated by unidentified assailants; 

Whereas on April 7, 2005, the United Nations Security 

Council adopted Resolution 1595, under which the Security Council decided to ‘‘establish an international independent investigation Commission [the UNIIIC] based in 

Lebanon to assist the Lebanese authorities in their investigation of all aspects of this terrorist act, including to 

help identify its perpetrators, sponsors, organizers and 

accomplices’’; 

Whereas on October 19, 2005, the first report of the United 

Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), headed by former German prosecutor 

Detlev Mehlis, found ‘‘there is converging evidence pointing at both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in this terrorist act’’; 

Whereas the October 19, 2005, report also asserted that 

‘‘[g]iven the infiltration of Lebanese institutions and society by the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services 

working in tandem, it would be difficult to envisage a 

scenario whereby such a complex assassination plot could 

have been carried out without their knowledge’’; 

Whereas on October 31, 2005, the United Nations Security 

Council adopted Resolution 1636, which expressed ex-
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•HRES 598 IH 

treme concern that ‘‘Syrian authorities have cooperated 

in form but not in substance’’ with the UNIIIC, that 

‘‘several Syrian officials tried to mislead the investigation 

by giving false or inaccurate statements’’ and that ‘‘Syria’s continued lack of cooperation with the inquiry would 

constitute a serious violation of its obligations’’; 

Whereas on December 12, 2005, the second report of the 

UNIIIC noted that ‘‘steady progress’’ has been made in 

the Lebanese portion of the investigation that ‘‘remains 

to be matched’’ in the Syrian portion of the investigation 

and recommended an extension of the UNIIIC’s investigative mandate by a ‘‘minimum period of six months’’ 

since substantive lines of enquiry are far from being completed and ‘‘given the slow pace with which the Syrian 

authorities are beginning to discharge their commitments 

to the [Security] Council’’; 

Whereas Syria’s actions to hinder the UNIIIC’s investigative 

efforts include credible reports of the arrest and threatening of close relatives of at least one crucial witness, 

delay caused by procedural maneuvering, and the report 

of two witnesses that all Syrian intelligence documents 

concerning Lebanon have been burned; 

Whereas since the assassination of Rafik Hariri, intimidation 

of the press in Lebanon has increased and a series of attacks and explosions in Lebanon have occurred, targeting 

political leaders and journalists who have advocated Lebanese sovereignty, including Samir Qassir, May Chidiac, 

and most recently on December 12, 2005, the assassination of Gebran Tue ́ni, a Member of the Lebanese Parliament and the general manager of the Lebanese daily 

an-Nahar, which has been a vital editorial voice opposing 

Syrian political control and influence in Lebanon; and 
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Whereas Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on December 12, 

2005, expressed outrage at the assassination of Gebran 

Tue ́ni and stated: ‘‘Syrian interference in Lebanon continues, and it must end completely. The United States 

will work with its partners on the Security Council and 

in the region to see that Security Council Resolutions 

1595 and 1636 are fully implemented.’’: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns the Government of Syria for hin3 dering and failing to cooperate fully in a timely and 

4 substantive manner with the investigation of the as5 sassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon 

6 Rafik Hariri conducted by the United Nations Inter7 national Independent Investigation Commission 

8 (UNIIIC); 

9 (2) expresses support for extending the inves10 tigative mandate of the UNIIIC for at a minimum 

11 an additional six-month period as recommended by 

12 the UNIIIC in order to fully ascertain the responsi13 bility for the assassination of former Prime Minister 

14 of Lebanon Rafik Hariri; 

15 (3) states its concern that insecurity in Leb16 anon could have a destabilizing effect on the region 

17 and harm the ability of the people of Lebanon to 

18 strengthen democracy and economic prosperity in 

19 their country; 
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1 (4) expresses its gratitude to— 

2 (A) chief investigator Detlev Mehlis and 

3 the UNIIIC for their continuing efforts to un4 cover evidence related to the assassination of 

5 Rafik Hariri; and 

6 (B) those who have freely assisted the 

7 UNIIIC in its investigation; 

8 (5) demands that Syria commit itself to expedi9 tiously fulfill all obligations to cooperate with the 

10 UNIIIC and to meet all obligations of United Na11 tions Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 

12 1636; 

13 (6) encourages the United States Permanent 

14 Representative to the United Nations to use the 

15 voice, vote, and influence of the United States in the 

16 United Nations Security Council to advocate for the 

17 application of punitive measures against Syria that 

18 target its leadership—including the enactment of 

19 punitive sanctions against Syria under Chapter VII 

20 of the Charter of the United Nations—if Syria fur21 ther fails to cooperate fully with the ongoing 

22 UNIIIC investigation and continues to violate Secu23 rity Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 1636; and 

24 (7) urges the Government of the United States 

25 to support the extension of the jurisdiction of the 
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1 UNIIIC to cover assassinations and assassination 

2 attempts in Lebanon since February 14, 2005. 

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