To promote a comprehensive political agreement in Iraq.

SA 4204. Mr. KERRY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 437, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:

SEC. 1084. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IRAQ SUMMIT.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Iraq is destabilized by an ongoing insurgency and increasing sectarian violence.

(2) General John P. Abizaid, the head of the United States Central Command, said in March 2006 that “sectarian violence is a greater concern for us security-wise right now than the insurgency”.

(3) General George Casey, the senior United States military commander in Iraq, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States Ambassador to Iraq, have stated that “the principal threat to stability is shifting from an insurgency grounded in rejection of the new political order to sectarian violence grounded in mutual fears and recriminations”.

(4) A national unity government and a comprehensive political agreement among Shias, Sunnis, and Kurds are essential to end sectarian violence, undermine the insurgency, and bring stability to Iraq.

(5) On May 20, 2006, the Iraqi National Assembly swore in a national unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.

(6) A comprehensive political agreement must resolve fundamental issues dividing Iraqis and undermining stability, including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, and border security.

(7) Reaching a comprehensive agreement that will help bring stability to Iraq is in the best interests of Iraq's neighbors, the region, and the international community.

(8) Iraq's neighbors, representatives of the Arab League, and the international community as represented by NATO, the European Union, and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council can assist in the process of bringing about such a comprehensive agreement.

(9) The President should expedite this process by bringing together these parties and the leaders of the new Government of Iraq.

(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the President should convene a summit as soon as possible that includes the leaders of the Government of Iraq, leaders of the governments of each country bordering Iraq, representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the governments of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security.