H. Res. 118

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

March 30, 1993.

Whereas on November 23, 1985, terrorists hijacked Egypt

Air flight 648 and diverted it to Malta;

Whereas during the hijacking, 60 people were killed, including citizens of 12 countries;

Whereas one of those killed by the terrorists was Scarlett

Rogenkamp of Oceanside, California, who was one of 5

passengers, including 3 United States citizens, who were

shot in the head;

Whereas after investigations, Mohammed Ali Rezaq, a suspected member of the Abu Nidal Organization, was tried

and convicted in Malta on a variety of charges related to

the hijacking, including the willful homicide of Scarlett

Rogenkamp and others, and he was sentenced to a prison

term of 25 years;

Whereas the Government of Malta assured the United States

Government in September 1992 that Rezaq would remain

in prison until 1996;

Whereas the United States Government immediately began

exploring grounds for further prosecution of Rezeq upon

his release in 1996;

Whereas the United States Government learned in February

1993 that the Government of Malta had, without notice
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to the United States and other interested parties, reduced Rezaq’s sentence and planned to release him that

month;

Whereas the United States Government and the governments

of other countries whose citizens were killed in the hijacking of Egypt Air flight 648 repeatedly urged the Government of Malta to retain Rezaq in custody or make arrangements for him to be tried elsewhere;

Whereas on February 12, 1993, because of concern that

Rezaq could be released, the United States District Court

for the District of Columbia issued an arrest warrant for

Rezaq, and this warrant was provided to the Government

of Malta in the hope that the Government of Malta would

continue to detain him;

Whereas the Government of Malta brushed aside the requests

that had been made by the governments of the United

States and other countries and allowed Rezaq to fly to

another country on short notice; and

Whereas these actions by the Government of Malta undermine the efforts to deter international terrorists by letting them go free without serving sentences commensurate with their crimes: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) strongly condemns the release by the Government of Malta of convicted terrorist Mohammed Ali

Rezaq;

(2) believes such action seriously undermines the efforts to foster good relations between Malta and the

United States and undermines the international and
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United States efforts to discourage and deter international terrorism;

(3) urges all governments to cooperate in transferring Rezaq either to the United States or to another

concerned country in order that he may face additional

criminal charges for his involvement in the Egypt Air hijacking and the murder of innocent civilians;

(4) urges all governments to abide by the rule of

law and not provide safe haven to terrorists in order that

terrorism will be met with the full force of justice and

that terrorists will not escape being held accountable;

and

(5) urges the President to review the United States

relationship with Malta, including foreign assistance and

economic relations.

SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall

transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of State

with a request that the Secretary transmit a copy of this resolution to the Government of Malta.

Attest:

Clerk.