IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 273 
Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for free 
and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of demo-
cratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule 
in Lebanon. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 11, 2005 
Mr. MCCOTTER (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. COX, Mr. 
BURTON of Indiana, and Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, 
support for free and fair democratic elections in Leb-
anon, and the development of democratic institutions and 
safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in Leb-
anon. 
Whereas the people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, 
proud, and honorable history dating from ancient times 
to the present, and Lebanon has been a free and demo-
cratic nation for much of its modern history; 
Whereas Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a his-
tory of friendship and cooperation which has been wit-
nessed by the immigration of millions of Lebanese to the
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United States where they and their descendants have 
contributed greatly to the fabric of American life; 
Whereas Syria has dominated Lebanese politics and political 
leaders, resulting in a deterioration of Lebanon’s human 
rights situation, the engineering of Lebanese election re-
sults to Syria’s liking, and the imposition of curbs on 
Lebanon’s media, once the freest in the Arab world; 
Whereas Syria has publicly withdrawn its military forces 
from Lebanon, leaving behind a pro-Syrian intelligence 
structure within the Lebanese intelligence agencies; 
Whereas Congress conditioned the lifting of sanctions on Da-
mascus in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sov-
ereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–175) 
upon the Government of Syria ending its occupation of 
Lebanon, including the complete withdrawal of intel-
ligence and all other security-related personnel in Leb-
anon, and upon other factors; 
Whereas the international community has reaffirmed its call 
for the strict respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial 
integrity, unity, and political independence under the sole 
and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon 
through the passage of United Nations Security Council 
Resolution 1559 (2004); 
Whereas there remains unresolved and as a matter of na-
tional and world concern the assassination of Rafiq al- 
Hariri, former Lebanese prime minister, which has justly 
been condemned as a terrorist act; 
Whereas the international community has begun investiga-
tions into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri and it is 
the policy of the United States to urge full compliance 
with the investigations;
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Whereas the international community is considering further 
action to promote Lebanese sovereignty; 
Whereas the emancipation of political prisoners and detainees 
held in Syrian and Lebanese prisons is a requirement to 
a national reconciliation and rebuilding of Lebanon’s 
democratic institutions; and 
Whereas general elections in Lebanon are scheduled to begin 
on May 29, 2005: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) Syria should complete its withdrawal of all 
remaining intelligence and security forces from the 
Lebanese Republic in accordance with United Na-
tions Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004); 
(2) Lebanon should allow unfettered access to 
international monitors verifying compliance with 
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 
(2004); 
(3) Lebanon should hold free, fair, and trans-
parent elections to begin on May 29, 2005, in ac-
cordance with all international standards and agree-
ments; 
(4) the United States should aid the people of 
Lebanon in their efforts to restore the separation of 
powers, the rule of law, and the proper respect for 
fundamental freedoms of every citizen; and