Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2501

 117 STAT. 2482

PUBLIC LAW 108–175—DEC. 12, 2003

Public Law 108–175 108th Congress An Act Dec. 12, 2003 [H.R. 1828]

Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003. 22 USC 2151 note. 22 USC 2151 note.

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

13:59 Aug 30, 2004

To halt Syrian support for terrorism, end its occupation of Lebanon, and stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, and by so doing hold Syria accountable for the serious international security problems it has caused in the Middle East, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003’’. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

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Congress makes the following findings: (1) On June 24, 2002, President Bush stated ‘‘Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations’’. (2) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 (September 28, 2001) mandates that all states ‘‘refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts’’, take ‘‘the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts’’, and ‘‘deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts’’. (3) The Government of Syria is currently prohibited by United States law from receiving United States assistance because it has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, as determined by the Secretary of State for purposes of section 6(j)(1) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2405(j)(1)) and other relevant provisions of law. (4) Although the Department of State lists Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and reports that Syria provides ‘‘safe haven and support to several terrorist groups’’, fewer United States sanctions apply with respect to Syria than with respect to any other country that is listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. (5) Terrorist groups, including Hizballah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine—General Command, maintain offices, training camps, and other facilities on Syrian territory, and operate in areas of Lebanon occupied by the Syrian armed forces and receive supplies from Iran through Syria.

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