III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 553 

Expressing the sense of the Senate on the challenges the conflict in Syria 

poses to long-term stability and prosperity in Lebanon. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. PERDUE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate on the challenges the 

conflict in Syria poses to long-term stability and prosperity in Lebanon. 

Whereas the stability of Lebanon, a pluralistic democracy in 

the Middle East, is in the interests of the United States 

and United States allies in the region; 

Whereas the United States has provided more than 

$2,000,000,000 in assistance to Lebanon in the past decade, including training and equipment for the Lebanese 

Armed Forces (LAF); 

Whereas the conflict in Syria threatens stability in Lebanon 

as a result of violent attacks against Lebanese citizens 

perpetrated by combatants active in Syria, as well as a 

massive influx of refugees fleeing the conflict; 


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•SRES 553 IS 

Whereas the United States has contributed more than 

$5,500,000,000 in humanitarian assistance for victims of 

the conflict in Syria, including for refugees in Lebanon; 

Whereas the people of Lebanon have shown great generosity 

in welcoming more than 1,000,000 refugees from Syria, 

a refugee population equal to 1⁄4 of its native population; 

Whereas Lebanon is hosting more refugees proportionally 

than any nation in the world; 

Whereas the refugee crisis has challenged Lebanon’s economy, which faces a national debt that is approximately 

140 percent of gross domestic product and underperforming economic growth; 

Whereas the LAF have been called into direct conflict with 

the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as a result 

of attacks carried out by the terrorist group in Lebanon; 

Whereas the Syrian conflict has placed additional strains on 

the Government of Lebanon as it continues to confront 

political deadlock that has kept the Presidency vacant for 

more than two years; 

Whereas the unique political constitution of Lebanon hinges 

on that nation’s distinct demographic and social equilibrium; 

Whereas the prolongation of the Syrian conflict has the potential to upset the precarious social and political balance 

in Lebanon; 

Whereas the constitution of Lebanon is further undermined 

by undue foreign influence, particularly by the Islamic 

Republic of Iran through its terrorist proxy Hizbollah; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1701 in 2006, which calls for the disarmament of all 


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•SRES 553 IS 

armed groups in Lebanon and stresses the importance of 

full control over Lebanon by the Government of Lebanon; 

and 

Whereas Hizbollah continues to violate United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, including by replenishing 

its stock of rockets and missiles in South Lebanon: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of bilateral 

3 United States assistance to the Government of Leb4 anon in building its capacity to provide services and 

5 security for Lebanese citizens and curbing the influ6 ence of Hizbollah; 

7 (2) encourages continued coordination between 

8 the Department of State, the United Nations High 

9 Commissioner for Refugees, and humanitarian orga10 nizations to ensure that refugees from the conflict in 

11 Syria, including those in Lebanon, are supported in 

12 such a way as to mitigate any potentially adverse ef13 fect on their host countries; 

14 (3) recognizes that it is in the interests of the 

15 United States to seek a negotiated end to the con16 flict in Syria that includes the ultimate departure of 

17 Bashar al-Assad, which would allow for the eventual 

18 return of the millions of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, 

19 Jordan, Turkey, and other countries around the 

20 world; 


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•SRES 553 IS 

1 (4) supports full implementation of United Na2 tions Security Council Resolution 1701; and 

3 (5) recognizes the LAF as the sole institution 

4 entrusted with the defense of Lebanon’s sovereignty 

5 and supports United States partnerships with the 

6 LAF, particularly through the global coalition to de7 feat the terrorist group ISIS. 

Æ 


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