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Submitted Resolutions

Date: Feb. 12, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Foreign Affairs


SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - February 12, 2007)

SENATE RESOLUTION 77--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE SOMALI REPUBLIC

Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the committee on Foreign Relations:

S. Res. 77

Whereas, after the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, the main judicial system in Somalia devolved into a system of sharia-based Islamic courts, which have increased their power to include security and enforcement functions;

Whereas, in 2000, the courts consolidated to form the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which came into conflict with secular warlords in the capitol city of Mogadishu by asserting its ever increasing power;

Whereas, the ICU is known to have links to Al-Qaeda and has provided a safe haven for members of Al-Qaeda;

Whereas, by June 2006, ICU forces controlled Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia, creating a potential haven for Islamic terrorists;

Whereas, in 2004, the Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic (TFG) was formed in Kenya;

Whereas, in 2006, the TFG army joined forces with the army of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to sweep the ICU from power and, after a string of swift military victories, enter Mogadishu; and

Whereas, the current situation is still volatile, creating a short window of opportunity to positively affect Somalia's stability and future status:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) the Senate expresses its support for the Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic;

(2) the Senate recognizes Ethiopia, particularly Prime Minister Meles, and Kenya for the noble efforts aimed toward pursuing peace in Somalia and support for the United States in the War on Terror;

(3) the United States should support and push efforts for serious multi-party talks aimed at establishing a national unity government in Somalia;

(4) the United States should take several measures, at an appropriate time, to promote stability;

(5) assistance from the United States will better equip the TFG to face the challenges of restoring peace to this war-torn country;

(6) the United States should promote foreign investment in Somalia and facilitate financial and technical assistance to the TFG; and

(7) the United States should aid the TFG to--

(A) locate and free Somali-owned financial assets throughout the world;

(B) solicit support from other friendly countries; and

(C) encourage nongovernmental organizations to commit more resources and projects to Somalia.

http://thomas.loc.gov/

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