Condemning actions by the Government of Syria that have hindered the investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri conducted by the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), expressing support for extending the UNIIIC's investigative mandate, and stating concern about similar assassination attempts apparently aimed at destabilizing Lebanon's security and undermining Lebanon's sovereignty.

        [Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 598 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 598

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

December 16, 2005
Whereas on September 2, 2004, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
was adopted by the Security Council to address Syria's continued
interference in Lebanese politics, reaffirming strict respect for
Lebanon's sovereignty, and stipulating the withdrawal of all non-
Lebanese forces from Lebanon and the disbanding and disarmament of all
Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias;
Whereas on February 14, 2005, former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri and
22 others were killed in a terrorist bombing orchestrated by
unidentified assailants;
Whereas on April 7, 2005, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution
1595, under which the Security Council decided to ``establish an
international independent investigation Commission [the UNIIIC] based in
Lebanon to assist the Lebanese authorities in their investigation of all
aspects of this terrorist act, including to help identify its
perpetrators, sponsors, organizers and accomplices'';
Whereas on October 19, 2005, the first report of the United Nations
International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), headed by
former German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, found ``there is converging
evidence pointing at both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in this
terrorist act'';
Whereas the October 19, 2005, report also asserted that ``[g]iven the
infiltration of Lebanese institutions and society by the Syrian and
Lebanese intelligence services working in tandem, it would be difficult
to envisage a scenario whereby such a complex assassination plot could
have been carried out without their knowledge'';
Whereas on October 31, 2005, the United Nations Security Council adopted
Resolution 1636, which expressed extreme concern that ``Syrian
authorities have cooperated in form but not in substance'' with the
UNIIIC, that ``several Syrian officials tried to mislead the
investigation by giving false or inaccurate statements'' and that
``Syria's continued lack of cooperation with the inquiry would
constitute a serious violation of its obligations'';
Whereas on December 12, 2005, the second report of the UNIIIC noted that
``steady progress'' has been made in the Lebanese portion of the
investigation that ``remains to be matched'' in the Syrian portion of
the investigation and recommended an extension of the UNIIIC's
investigative mandate by a ``minimum period of six months'' since
substantive lines of enquiry are far from being completed and ``given
the slow pace with which the Syrian authorities are beginning to
discharge their commitments to the [Security] Council'';
Whereas Syria's actions to hinder the UNIIIC's investigative efforts include
credible reports of the arrest and threatening of close relatives of at
least one crucial witness, delay caused by procedural maneuvering, and
the report of two witnesses that all Syrian intelligence documents
concerning Lebanon have been burned;
Whereas since the assassination of Rafik Hariri, intimidation of the press in
Lebanon has increased and a series of attacks and explosions in Lebanon
have occurred, targeting political leaders and journalists who have
advocated Lebanese sovereignty, including Samir Qassir, May Chidiac, and
most recently on December 12, 2005, the assassination of Gebran Tueni, a
Member of the Lebanese Parliament and the general manager of the
Lebanese daily an-Nahar, which has been a vital editorial voice opposing
Syrian political control and influence in Lebanon; and
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on December 12, 2005, expressed
outrage at the assassination of Gebran Tueni and stated: ``Syrian
interference in Lebanon continues, and it must end completely. The
United States will work with its partners on the Security Council and in
the region to see that Security Council Resolutions 1595 and 1636 are
fully implemented.'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the Government of Syria for hindering and failing to
cooperate fully in a timely and substantive manner with the
investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon
Rafik Hariri conducted by the United Nations International Independent
Investigation Commission (UNIIIC);
(2) expresses support for extending the investigative mandate of the
UNIIIC for at a minimum an additional six-month period as recommended by
the UNIIIC in order to fully ascertain the responsibility for the
assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri;
(3) states its concern that insecurity in Lebanon could have a
destabilizing effect on the region and harm the ability of the people of
Lebanon to strengthen democracy and economic prosperity in their
country;
(4) expresses its gratitude to--
(A) chief investigator Detlev Mehlis and the UNIIIC for
their continuing efforts to uncover evidence related to the
assassination of Rafik Hariri; and
(B) those who have freely assisted the UNIIIC in its
investigation;
(5) demands that Syria commit itself to expeditiously fulfill all
obligations to cooperate with the UNIIIC and to meet all obligations of
United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 1636;
(6) encourages the United States Permanent Representative to the
United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United
States in the United Nations Security Council to advocate for the
application of punitive measures against Syria that target its
leadership--including the enactment of punitive sanctions against Syria
under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations--if Syria further
fails to cooperate fully with the ongoing UNIIIC investigation and
continues to violate Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 1636;
(7) urges the Government of the United States to support the
extension of the jurisdiction of the UNIIIC to cover assassinations and
assassination attempts in Lebanon since October 1, 2004; and
(8) urges the President to implement further measures against the
Syrian leadership in accordance with the requirements in the Syria
Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public
Law 108-175), particularly if Syria further fails to cooperate fully
with the ongoing UNIIIC investigation and continues to violate Security
Council Resolutions 1559, 1595, and 1636.
Attest:

Clerk.