†
191
HR 4818 EAS
gious freedom occurring or being tolerated in Saudi
Arabia; or
(2) take an action described in one of the para-
graphs (9) through (15) of 405(a) of such Act or a
commensurate action under the authority in section
402(c)(1)(B) of such Act with respect to Saudi Arabia
that the President determines is appropriate after
consideration of the recommendations for United
States policy made by the United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom.
SUPPORT FOR THE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF LEBANON
SEC. 5111. (a) The Senate makes the following find-
ings:
(1) The United States has long supported the
sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political inde-
pendence of Lebanon and the sole and exclusive exer-
cise by the Government of Lebanon of national gov-
ernmental authority throughout that country.
(2) The continued presence in Lebanon of non-
governmental armed groups and militias, including
Hizbollah, prevents the Government of Lebanon from
exercising its full sovereignty over all territory in that
country.
(3) The Government of Syria has had a military
presence in Lebanon since 1976, and maintains ap-
proximately 20,000 troops in Lebanon.
†
192
HR 4818 EAS
(4) The Government of Syria continues to violate
United Nations Security Council Resolution 520,
adopted in 1982, which demands that ‘‘all non-Leba-
nese forces’’ leave Lebanon.
(5) Syria has, since 1979, been labeled by the
Department of State as a state sponsor of terrorism.
(6) President George W. Bush signed an Execu-
tive order on May 11, 2004, that implements sanc-
tions against the Government of Syria pursuant to
the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–175; 22
U.S.C. 2151 note).
(7) United Nations Security Resolution 1559,
approved on September 2, 2004, expressed support for
a free and fair electoral process in the upcoming pres-
idential election in Lebanon conducted according to
constitutional rules adopted in Lebanon without for-
eign interference or influence.
(8) On September 3, 2004, the Government of
Syria, according to numerous reports, exerted undue
influence upon government officials in Lebanon to
amend the constitution to extend the term of the
President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud, who is sup-
ported by the Government of Syria.
(b) It is the sense of the Senate that—
†
193
HR 4818 EAS
(1) the United Nations should seek a firm, nego-
tiated schedule for the complete withdrawal from Leb-
anon of Syria armed forces in order to facilitate the
restoration of the sovereignty, territorial integrity,
and political independence of Lebanon;
(2) the Government of Syria should immediately
withdraw its troops from Lebanon in accordance with
United Nations resolutions;
(3) the Government of Syria should—
(A) cease its support and armament of ter-
ror groups such as Hizbollah; and
(B) facilitate efforts by the government and
armed forces of Lebanon to disarm all non-
governmental armed groups and militias located
in Lebanon and to extend central government
authority throughout Lebanon; and
(4) the Government of Syria should cease efforts
to derail the democratic process in Lebanon and to
interfere with the legitimate electoral process in that
country.
†
194
HR 4818 EAS
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Foreign Operations, Ex-
port Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act,
2005’’.
Attest:
Secretary.