•HRES 223 IH 
refuge in neighboring countries, mobilizing an inter-
national response encompassing pledges of assistance to-
taling over $1,000,000,000; 
Whereas the 40-year history of undemocratic, repressive lead-
ership under the regime of Bashar al Assad and his fa-
ther Hafez al Assad has eroded civil society, debilitated 
the capacity for self government, and undermined con-
fidence in the rule of law in Syria; 
Whereas the Syrian opposition, though lacking comprehensive 
and coordinated assistance from the international com-
munity, and suffering constant attacks by the Assad re-
gime, has succeeded in establishing effective self-govern-
ment in significant sections of the country and is devel-
oping a capacity to exercise responsible authority and de-
liver essential services; 
Whereas the United States Government recognizes the Syrian 
Opposition Coalition as the legitimate representative of 
the Syrian people and is assisting the Council and its af-
filiated local coordinating bodies to establish structures of 
governance, including mechanisms for the provision of se-
curity and justice; 
Whereas the Syrian population is about 70 percent Sunni and 
also includes large minorities of Alawites and Christians 
(including Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian 
Apostolic, and Eastern Rite Catholics), as well as smaller 
numbers of Shia (including Ismailis), Druze, Ezidi, 
Mandaean, and Jewish communities with longstanding 
ancient and indigenous ties to the area; 
Whereas according to the February 5, 2013, Report of the 
Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the 
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•HRES 223 IH 
Syrian Arab Republic, the conflict is becoming increas-
ingly sectarian; 
Whereas the Syrian Government has sought to exacerbate 
ethnic and religious tensions by employing paramilitary 
forces, known as shabiha, to terrorize communities sus-
pected of sympathizing with the opposition, and has thus 
sown the seeds of unbridled sectarian conflict; 
Whereas elements of the opposition have reportedly engaged 
in isolated instances of attacks on religious shrines in 
areas of mixed ethnicity, which if they become more wide-
spread jeopardize a transition to a post-conflict, demo-
cratic, and pluralistic Syria; and 
Whereas members of the international community, notably 
Iran, Russia, and China, have undermined international 
consensus for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, sty-
mied efforts to halt the Syrian Government’s atrocities, 
maintained military support for Bashar al Assad’s on-
slaught against civilians, or blocked action at the United 
Nations Security Council: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on the Syrian Opposition Coalition to 
publicly outline a detailed vision of inclusion for all 
of Syria’s people, including a guarantee of full citi-
zenship and equality under the law; 
(2) calls on the Obama Administration, in close 
cooperation with international and regional partners, 
to continue to support the Syrian Opposition Coali-
tion as it develops mechanisms of transitional justice 
guaranteeing the rights of all citizens under the law, 
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•HRES 223 IH 
and to support the Syrian Opposition Coalition as it 
forms an inclusive and democratic provisional gov-
ernment; and 
(3) urges all parties in the conflict to respect 
international humanitarian law, protect minorities, 
preserve minority cultural and religious sites, and 
hold accountable those who violate these norms. 
Æ 
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