H. Res. 598

In the House of Representatives, U.S., 

December 16, 2005

Whereas on September 2, 2004, United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 1559 was adopted by the Security 

Council to address Syria’s continued interference in Lebanese politics, reaffirming strict respect for Lebanon’s 

sovereignty, and stipulating the withdrawal of all nonLebanese 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 point-
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ing 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 extreme 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; 
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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 

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 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns the Government of Syria for hindering and failing to cooperate fully in a timely and substantive manner with the investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri 

conducted by the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC); 

(2) expresses support for extending the investigative 

mandate of the UNIIIC for at a minimum an additional 

six-month period as recommended by the UNIIIC in 

order to fully ascertain the responsibility for the assas-
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sination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik 

Hariri; 

(3) states its concern that insecurity in Lebanon 

could have a destabilizing effect on the region and harm 

the ability of the people of Lebanon to strengthen democracy and economic prosperity in their country; 

(4) expresses its gratitude to—

(A) chief investigator Detlev Mehlis and the 

UNIIIC for their continuing efforts to uncover evidence related to the assassination of Rafik Hariri; 

and 

(B) those who have freely assisted the UNIIIC 

in its investigation; 

(5) demands that Syria commit itself to expeditiously fulfill all obligations to cooperate with the 

UNIIIC and to meet all obligations of United Nations 

Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 1636; 

(6) encourages the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote, 

and influence of the United States in the United Nations 

Security Council to advocate for the application of punitive measures against Syria that target its leadership—

including the enactment of punitive sanctions against 

Syria under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United 

Nations—if Syria further fails to cooperate fully with 
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the ongoing UNIIIC investigation and continues to violate Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 1636; 

(7) urges the Government of the United States to 

support the extension of the jurisdiction of the UNIIIC 

to cover assassinations and assassination attempts in 

Lebanon since October 1, 2004; and 

(8) urges the President to implement further measures against the Syrian leadership in accordance with 

the requirements in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 

108–175), particularly if Syria further fails to cooperate 

fully with the ongoing UNIIIC investigation and continues to violate Security Council Resolutions 1559, 

1595, and 1636. 

Attest:

Clerk.