III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 63 

Calling for an investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq 

Hariri and urging steps to pressure the Government of Syria to withdraw 

from Lebanon. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 17, 2005 

Mr. REID (for Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. REID, Mr. FRIST, 

Mr. LEVIN, Mr. DODD, Mr. CORZINE, Mr. ALLEN, and Mr. CHAFEE)) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION

Calling for an investigation into the assassination of Prime 

Minister Rafiq Hariri and urging steps to pressure the 

Government of Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.

Whereas on February 14, 2005, Rafiq Hariri, the former 

Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated in a despicable terrorist attack; 

Whereas the car bomb used in the assassination killed 16 

others and injured more than 100 people; 

Whereas the intent of the terrorists who carried out the assassination was to intimidate the Lebanese people and 

push Lebanon backward toward chaos; 
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•SRES 63 ATS

Whereas Rafiq Hariri served as Prime Minister of Lebanon 

for a total of 10 years since the end of the Lebanese war 

in 1991; 

Whereas Rafiq Hariri helped revitalize the economy of Lebanon and rebuild its shattered infrastructure and pioneered and directed the rebirth of Beirut’s historic downtown district; 

Whereas Rafiq Hariri stepped down as Prime Minister on 

October 20, 2004; 

Whereas Syria maintains at least 14,000 troops and a large 

number of intelligence personnel in Lebanon; 

Whereas there is widespread opposition in Lebanon to the 

continuing Syrian presence in Lebanon; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement (February 15, 2005) condemning the 

terrorist bombing that killed Rafiq Hariri and calling on 

‘‘the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act’’; 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 

(September 2, 2004) calls for the political independence 

and sovereignty of Lebanon, the withdrawal of foreign 

forces from Lebanon, and the disarmament of all militias 

in Lebanon; 

Whereas Syria is the main supporter of the terrorist group 

Hezbollah, the only significant remaining armed militia 

in Lebanon; 

Whereas Hezbollah supports Palestinian terrorist groups and 

poses a threat to the prospects for peace in the Middle 

East; 
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•SRES 63 ATS

Whereas the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 

Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note) was enacted into law on December 12, 2003; and 

Whereas the President has recalled the United States Ambassador to Syria for urgent consultations: Now, therefore, 

be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) condemns the cowardly and despicable as3 sassination of Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Min4 ister of Lebanon; 

5 (2) extends condolences to Prime Minister 

6 Hariri’s family and the people of Lebanon; 

7 (3) supports United Nations Security Council 

8 Resolution 1559 (September 2, 2004), which calls 

9 for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Leb10 anon; 

11 (4) urges the President to seek a United Na12 tions Security Council resolution that establishes an 

13 independent investigation into the assassination; 

14 (5) urges the President to consider imposing 

15 sanctions under the Syria Accountability and Leba16 nese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (22 

17 U.S.C. 2151 note); and 

18 (6) supports the call of the Lebanese people for 

19 an end to Syria’s presence in Lebanon, and for free 
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•SRES 63 ATS

1 and fair elections monitored by international observ2 ers.

Æ