Tom Lantos: “next Sunday the people of Lebanon will go to the polls to start a series of parliamentary elections that will play out…”

“next Sunday the people of Lebanon will go to the polls to start a series of parliamentary elections that will play out over the next four weeks. This resolution expresses Congress's ongoing concern that the Lebanese people be allowed to choose their own leaders freely and fairly, in light of the recent withdrawal from Lebanon of all Syrian security forces and intelligence officials, which is not yet verifiably complete. I commend our colleague Ms. Ros- Lehtinen for bringing these important issues before us. Mr. Speaker, freedom-loving people everywhere cheered earlier this year as the Lebanese people defied the odds, spurred on by the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, and peacefully rose up and forced the caretaker government to step down, letting key exile leaders return, and leading to the expelling of nearly all of Syria's uninformed forces from long-occupied Lebanese soil. We all hope that there will continue to be a peaceful transition to sovereign, democratic rule in Lebanon. Sadly, the upcoming elections saw their first casualty this weekend, when adherents of rival parties clashed in the region of Metn. Government soldiers were summoned to disperse the crowds, and as they did so, one man was shot and killed. It was a somber reminder of how volatile the situation surrounding the elections can be.…”