LARSON STATEMENT ON THE SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2003

LARSON STATEMENT ON THE SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) today issued the following statement on the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, H.R. 1828.

"This legislation will send a clear message to Syria that the United States will not tolerate activities in any nation that support terrorism," said Larson. "The bill will give the President necessary diplomatic tools to hold Syria accountable for its actions and it will hopefully help bring about positive changes in Syria and the Middle East. It is also a step forward in the process of compelling the Syrians to withdraw from Lebanon."

The bill requires the President to impose a number of economic and diplomatic sanctions against Syria if the Syrian government fails to end its support for various terrorist organizations, refuses to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction and fails to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. Larson is a co-sponsor of the legislation.

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