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H.L.C.

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

TO H. RES. 273

OFFERED BY MS. ROS-LEHTINEN

Strike the preamble and insert the following:

Whereas the people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, proud, and honorable history dating from ancient times to the present;

Whereas Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a history of friendship and cooperation which has been marked by the immigration of many Lebanese to the United States where they and their descendants have contributed greatly to the fabric of American life;

Whereas Syria has dominated the Lebanese political scene, resulting in a deterioration of Lebanon's human rights situation, the manipulation of Lebanese election results to meet Syria's requirements, 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Whereas Syria has publicly withdrawn its military forces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, however, an intelligence structure;

Whereas Congress conditioned the lifting of sanctions on Damascus in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175) upon the Government of Syria ending its occupation of Lebanon (including the complete withdrawal of intelligence and all other security-related personnel in Lebanon) and upon other factors;

Whereas the international community has, through the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559

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H.L.C.

(2004), 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;

Whereas there remains unresolved and as a matter of national and world concern the assassination of Rafiq alHariri, former Lebanese prime minister, which has justly been condemned as a terrorist act;

Whereas the international community has begun investigations into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri and it is the policy of the United States to urge full cooperation with the investigations;

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 precondition for national reconciliation and a rebuilding of Lebanon's democratic institutions; and

Whereas general elections in Lebanon are scheduled to begin on May 29, 2005: Now, therefore, be it

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert

the following:

1 That it is the sense of the House of Representatives

2 that

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(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);

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

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 a proper respect for
fundamental freedoms of every citizen; and

(5) it should be the policy of the United States

Government to-

(A) support free and fair elections in Leb-
anon by encouraging international election as-
sistance and observers;

(B) support a national dialogue that tran-
scends sectarian divisions and urge the develop-

ment of democratic institutions and safeguards

to foster sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon;
and

(C) call for the immediate release of all po-
litical prisoners and detainees held in Lebanese
and Syrian prisons.

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H.L.C.

Amend the title so as to read: "Resolution recognizing the courageous efforts of the people of Lebanon to restore their independence and urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, the support for free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon.".

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In the first clause of the preamble, strike "on May

14, 1948," and insert "in May 1948”.

In the 12th clause of the preamble, add "and" at the end after the semicolon.

In the 13th clause of the preamble, strike "; and" and insert ": Now, therefore, be it”.

Strike the 14th clause of the preamble.

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