Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 3.djvu/120

 101 STAT. 1418 Terrorism. '

Maritime affairs.

Armed Forces. Iran.

President of U.S.

Iran. Armed Forces.

PUBLIC LAW 100-204—DEC. 22, 1987

(5) Restablishment of the authority of the Government of Lebanon throughout the nation is a prerequisite for a lasting solution to the problem of international terrorism emanating from Lebanon. (c) FURTHER SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the further sense of Congress that the provision of at least 200,000 tons of wheat and 30,000 tons of rice through Public Law 480, title I and section 416 of the Agriculture Act of 1949 to the Government of Lebanon is in the interest of the United States. Provision of this assistance will meet the United States policy objective of strengthening the Central Government as well as helping alleviate a serious hunger problem. SEC. 1233. ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings: (1) According to Article 2 of the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas, every state is entitled to exercise free and open use of the high seas for the navigation of its vessels. (2) On September 22, 1987, United States Navy forces discovered the Iranian ship Iran Ajr laying mines in international waters of the Persian Gulf, and fired upon that ship to help terminate the mining. (3) On September 23, 1987, President Reagan declared that this United States action was "authorized by law", and a statement was issued by the State Department that the United States had the right under international law to use "reasonable and proportionate force" to terminate the mining. (b) POLICY.—It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) by mining the high seas of the Persian Gulf without notifying nonbelligerent nations engaged in maritime commerce, the Government of Iran violated international law; (2) the use of force by the United States Navy to terminate that Iranian mining was justified under international law; and (3) fostering broader adherence to international law promotes the security interests of the United States. SEC. 1234. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR.

Petroleum and petroleum products.

International organizations.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— (1) the continuation of the Iran-Iraq war threatens the security and stability of all states in the Persian Gulf; (2) stability in the Persian Gulf and the flow of oil is critical to world trade and the economic health of the West; (3) the conflict between Iran and Iraq threatens United States strategic and political interests in the region; (4) the conflict threatens international commercial shipping interests and activities; and (5) the Iran-Iraq war has continued seven years with more than 1,500,000 casualties. (b) POLICY.—The Congress declares it to be the policy of the United States consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 598— (1) to support the withdrawal of both Iran and Iraq to internationaly recognized boundaries; (2) to support an immediate cease-fire; (3) to endorse the peaceful resolution of this conflict under the auspices of the United Nations;

�