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opportunity to encourage complete Soviet-Cuban withdrawal from Angola, the possible provision of humanitarian assistance, and the holding of free and fair elections;

(4) the Marxist regime in Angola known as the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola (hereafter in this section referred to as the "MPLA") is currently launching a major dryseason offensive against the opposition involving thousands of Cuban troops and billions of dollars in sophisticated Soviet weaponry;

(5) the people of Angola are starving because of the hardships resulting from 12 years of civil war and inefficient Marxist economic policies;

(6) the MPLA regime has turned to the international community for substantial food aid while continuing to spend most of Angola's national budget on sustaining the war effort, including payments for Cuban troops and Soviet arms; and

(7) the growing intensity of the war, the starvation and mounting suffering of the Angolan people, the continued presence in Angola of 37,000 Cuban combat troops and South African forces, the continued presence and active involvement of 2,500 Soviet military advisers, and the refusal of the MPLA to negotiate with the opposition, increase the urgency of reaching a peaceful solution.

(b) POLICY.-It is the sense of the Congress that

(1) the United States should continue to work toward a peaceful resolution to the Angolan conflict that includes

(A) the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces and Soviet military advisers;

(B) a negotiated settlement to the 12-year conflict leading to the formation of a government of national unity and the holding of free and fair elections; and

(C) efforts by the President and the Secretary of State to convey to Soviet leaders at the proposed summit and in other meetings that the aggressive military build-up in Angola undermines positive bilateral relations and that the United States is committed to supporting democratic forces in Angola until democracy is achieved;

(2) the people of Angola should not be left to starve because of the MPLA regime;

(3) the United States should consider responding to the humanitarian needs of the Angolan people, and if humanitarian assistance is provided, such assistance should be distributed in an evenhanded manner, so that Angolans throughout the entire war-torn country are provided with food and basic medical

care;

(4) any humanitarian assistance should be distributed through private and voluntary organizations or nongovernmental organizations; and

(5) within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State should prepare and transmit to the Congress a report detailing the progress of discussions between the Soviet Union and the United States on the conflict in Angola.

SEC. 1223.94 *

[Repealed-1993]

SEC. 1224.95 *** [Repealed-1993]

PART D-MIDDLE EAST

SEC. 1231. MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE.

(a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds that

(1) the General Assembly of the United Nations recognized the sovereignty of the State of Israel through Resolution 181 of 1947 and the right of all Israeli citizens to live within secure and recognized boundaries through Resolutions 242 and 338 of 1973;

(2) the Government of the Soviet Union severed diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in 1967 and has opposed every recent United States initiative for direct, bilateral negotiations among the warring parties of the Middle East including the Camp David accords of 1979 and the Reagan plan of 1982;

(3) the Government of the Soviet Union has further demonstrated its lack of respect for the integrity of the Israeli state by systematically denying exit visas to Soviet Jews who wish to live and work in the State of Israel; and

(4) a permanent and equitable settlement of the Middle Eastern conflict can result only from agreements between the Arab States and Israel.

(b) POLICY.-It is the sense of the Congress that the United States should not actively encourage the participation of the Soviet Union in any conference, meeting, or summit on the Arab-Israeli conflict which includes nations other than those in the Middle East unless the Government of the Soviet Union has either

(1)(A) reestablished diplomatic relations with the State of Israel at the ambassadorial level;

(B) publicly reaffirmed its acceptance of United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338; and

(C) substantially increased and maintained the number of exit visas granted to Jewish individuals and families within the Soviet Union who have applied for emigration to the State of Israel; or

(2) been jointly invited by the governments of the states in the region involved in the talks.

SKC, 1232. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD LEBANON.

(a) FINDINGS.-The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) After nearly 13 years of civil conflict and foreign intervention, the situation in Lebanon appears no closer to resolu

bon.

(2) Through most of the last dozen years, the Lebanese have managed to continue economic activity sufficient to stave off

**Sec 1223 had required a report to Congress from the Secretary of State on forced detention by the African National Congress and the South African Government since the South African Government enacted a State of Emergency in June 1986. It was repealed by sec. 4(bX3) of Public Law 103 149 (107 Stat. 1505).

Sec. 1224, relating to detention of children in South Africa, was repealed by sec. 4(b)(3) of Public Law 103 149 (107 Stat. 1505).

economic collapse and provide its citizens with basic necessities.

(3) During the past year, however, the collapse in the value of the Lebanese pound from less than 40 to the dollar to nearly 300 has made the importation of wheat, rice, and other basic commodities prohibitively expensive.

(4) As a result, for the first time, the Lebanese are faced with the prospect of starvation.

(5) Hizballah and other radical elements are taking advantage of the current economic crisis by providing foreign supplied food. In so doing, they are winning converts to their cause and radicalizing the youth.

(6) It is in the interest of the United States to support the traditional Lebanese free enterprise system of distribution of food which until now has been able to compete successfully with these radical movements.

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.-It is the sense of the Congress that the United States should base its policy toward Lebanon on the following principles:

(1) Preservation of the unity of Lebanon.

(2) Withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon.

(3) Recognition of and respect for the territorial integrity of Lebanon.

(4) Reassertion of Lebanese sovereignty throughout the nation and recognition that it is the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon for its safekeeping.

(5) Reestablishment 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, Cnited States Navy forces discovered the Iranian ship Iran Air 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 state ment 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. (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 internationally 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;

(4) to encourage all governments to refrain from providing military supplies to any party which refuses to abide by United Nations Security Council Resolution 598;

(5) to recognize that stability and security in the Persian Gulf will only be achieved if Iran and Iraq are at peace and agree not to interfere in the affairs of other nations through military action or the support of terrorism; and

(6) to urge strict observance of international humanitarian law by both sides and to support financially the International Committee of the Red Cross' special appeal for prisoners of

war.

SEC. 1235. IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

(a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds that

(1) the United Nations has passed nine resolutions condemning the violation of human rights in Iran;

(2) the United Nations Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities stressed in Resolution 1987-12 that to date, more than two-hundred thousand Iranians have been imprisoned, tortured or executed because of their beliefs;

(3) the United Nations Commission on Human Rights confirms seven thousand executions in Iran between 1978 and 1985, and attests that the actual number is probably much higher;

(4) despite the persistent requests over the past six years by the United Nations and by many human rights organizations

that the Iranian Government allow a special representative of the United Nations Security Council to inspect Iranian prisons and to determine the true extent of torture in Iran, such requests have been ignored by the Iranian Government;

(5) executions, including executions of children and members of religious minorities, still take place in Iran;

(6) the Khomeini government has brought the domestic economy of Iran to the brink of ruin by pouring the resources of the country into war making;

(7) Iran has rejected all proposals to end the seven year IranIraq war;

(8) Iran has not responded positively to United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 which calls for an end to the IranIraq war;

(9) the Khomeini government continues to attack and intimidate the other countries of the Persian Gulf region; and

(10) it is known that the Khomeini government supports terrorism and has used hostage taking as an instrument of foreign policy.

(b) POLICY.-Now, therefore, the Congress

(1) expresses concern for those citizens who must endure war and unprecedented repression;

(2) supports an official United States policy of completely halting the shipment of any kind of armament to the Government of Iran; and

(3) urges that the President continue to make every effort to cooperate with the other nations of the United Nations to bring about an end to government sponsored torture in Iranian prisons, to pressure Iran to permit inspection of Iranian prisons by an international delegation, and to respect internationally recognized human rights.

SEC. 1236. IRANIAN PERSECUTION OF THE BAHA'IS.

(a) POLICY.-It is the sense of the Congress that

(1) the Government of Iran has systematically discriminated against the Baha'i community, including the arbitrary detention, torture, and killing of Baha'is, the seizure of Baha'i property, and the outlawing of the Baha'i faith; and

(2) Iran's gross violations of the human rights of the Baha'i community are in direct contravention of the Charter of the United Nations and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY.-It is the sense of Congress that the President shall take all necessary steps to focus international attention on the plight of the Baha'i community and to bring pressure to bear on the Government of Iran to cease its insidious policy of persecution.

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