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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 738 Agreed to House (ATH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 738

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
Government of Syria's continued interference in the internal affairs of 
                                Lebanon.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 15, 2007

  Mr. Ackerman (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Issa, and Mr. Boustany) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

                            October 15, 2007

   Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
Government of Syria's continued interference in the internal affairs of 
                                Lebanon.

Whereas in 2004, Lebanon's current president had his term extra-legally extended 
        through the interference of Syria in Lebanon's internal affairs;
Whereas former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the leading opponent of 
        continued Syrian domination of Lebanon and the extra-legal extension of 
        the president's term, was assassinated along with 22 people by a massive 
        car bomb on February 14, 2005;
Whereas investigators from the United Nations have suggested that officials of 
        Syria's government, at the highest levels, appear to be culpable for the 
        assassination of Rafiq Hariri and the 22 other people;
Whereas the people of Lebanon, following the murder of Rafiq Hariri, engaged in 
        a massive popular revolt known as the Cedar Revolution against Syrian 
        interference in their internal affairs and suppression of their national 
        sovereignty;
Whereas the Cedar Revolution, reinforced by international pressure, culminated 
        in the rapid withdrawal of Syrian occupation forces and free elections;
Whereas the current Lebanese government has been under steady attack by domestic 
        and foreign forces that have been engaged in instigating riots and 
        insurrection, suspending the operation of Lebanon's parliament, and 
        perpetrating horrific acts of terror against the Lebanese people;
Whereas Syria and Iran are seeking to dominate Lebanon through their campaign of 
        murder and intimidation aimed at the Lebanese parliamentary majority and 
        other anti-Syrian public and political figures;
Whereas Syria and Iran, through their Lebanese proxies, have demanded the 
        selection of another Lebanese president hand-picked by the Government of 
        Syria;
Whereas Syria and Iran, in clear contravention of numerous United Nations 
        Security Council resolutions, notably 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006), 1664 
        (2006), 1680 (2006), 1701 (2006), and 1757 (2007), have grossly violated 
        Lebanon's sovereignty by continuing to provide arms to illegitimate 
        Lebanese militias, Palestinian terrorist groups and other terrorist 
        organizations; meddling in Lebanon's internal political affairs; and 
        actively supporting efforts to prevent the election of a new president 
        in accordance with Lebanese law; and
Whereas a sovereign and independent Lebanon is in the national security interest 
        of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the campaign of murder, terror, and 
        intimidation aimed at overthrowing the democratically-elected 
        government of Lebanon and establishing a new Lebanese 
        government subservient to the will and interests of Syria and 
        Iran;
            (2) condemns Syria and Iran for their gross interference in 
        Lebanon's internal political affairs, and particularly, the 
        selection of a new president, and gross violations of United 
        Nations Security Council resolutions protective of Lebanon's 
        sovereignty and independence;
            (3) condemns Lebanese political parties and actors who have 
        allied themselves with Syria and Iran to the detriment of their 
        own country and its national interests;
            (4) condemns efforts by some Lebanese political figures to 
        obstruct, delay, and impede the legal and established processes 
        of their country for the selection of a new president according 
        to the rule of law;
            (5) affirms its continued strong support for Lebanon's 
        democratically-elected government, people and national 
        sovereignty, and its readiness to provide material support;
            (6) calls on all nations to recognize and support Lebanon's 
        sovereignty and independence; and
            (7) urges the President to use all peaceful means at the 
        disposal of the United States to help safeguard Lebanon's 
        sovereignty and independence.
                                 <all>
```