III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 470 

Promoting a comprehensive political agreement in Iraq. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 8, 2006 

Mr. KERRY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Promoting a comprehensive political agreement in Iraq. 

Whereas Iraq is destabilized by an ongoing insurgency and 

increasing sectarian violence; 

Whereas General John P. Abizaid, the head of the United 

States Central Command, said in March 2006 that ‘‘sectarian violence is a greater concern for us security-wise 

right now than the insurgency’’; 

Whereas General George Casey, the senior United States 

military commander in Iraq, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the 

United States Ambassador to Iraq, have stated that ‘‘the 

principal threat to stability is shifting from an insurgency 

grounded in rejection of the new political order to sectarian violence grounded in mutual fears and recriminations’’; 


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•SRES 470 IS

Whereas a national unity government and a comprehensive 

political agreement among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are 

essential to end sectarian violence, undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq; 

Whereas, on April 22, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly approved senior leaders of a national unity government, including Jawad al-Mailiki as Prime Minister; 

Whereas, under the constitution of Iraq, the Prime Minister 

has 30 days to form a government; 

Whereas a comprehensive political agreement must resolve 

fundamental issues dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border security; 

Whereas reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help 

bring stability to Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq’s 

neighbors, the region, and the international community; 

Whereas Iraq’s neighbors, representatives of the Arab 

League, and the international community as represented 

by NATO, the European Union, and the permanent 

members of the United Nations Security Council can assist in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement; and 

Whereas the President should expedite this process by bringing together these parties and the leaders of the new 

Government of Iraq: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 

2 President, not later than 30 days after the date of the 

3 formation of a new national unity government in Iraq, 

4 should convene a summit that includes the leaders of that 

5 government, leaders of the governments of each country 


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•SRES 470 IS

1 bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the 

2 Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza3 tion, representatives of the European Union, and leaders 

4 of the governments of each permanent member of the 

5 United Nations Security Council, for the purpose of reach6 ing a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that ad7 dresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil reve8 nues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, 

9 economic assistance, and border security. 

Æ 


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