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NEWS: ME/Ros-Lehtinen Introduces Middle East Measures
January 14, 2009
NEWSHouse Foreign Affairs Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican
CONTACT: Sam Stratman, (202) 226-7875, January 14, 2009
Alex Cruz, (202) 225-2800
http://foreignaffairs.republicans.house.gov
For IMMEDIATE Release
Ros-Lehtinen Introduces Middle East Measures
Bills will prevent transfer of dangerous technologies to Iran, strengthen nuclear nonproliferation safeguards and urge Administration not to attend Durban II
(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced in recent days three key pieces of legislation promoting security in the Middle East and exemplifying the U.S. commitment to defending freedom, tolerance, and democratic ideals in the region.
Ros-Lehtinen is the author of the STOP Act, a law designed to prevent foreign nations from passing technology to Iran, Syria, and North Korea which could contribute to the missile, nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs of these rogue regimes. Iran poses a serious threat to U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East, particularly Israel, which Iranian President Ahmadinejad called to be “wiped off the map.”
“We are all in agreement that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, and this bill ensures that foreign entities may not evade existing law to aid Iran in its pursuit of destructive ambitions,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
Ros-Lehtinen is also the author of H.R. 364, a measure which blocks a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates unless stringent conditions are met. The legislation links the agreement with actions by the UAE to stop the shipment of nuclear-related equipment, material and technology and conventional military hardware from the UAE to Iran in violation of U.S. laws and U.N. sanctions relating to Iran.
“Serious concerns remain regarding the UAE’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the effectiveness of their export control system” Ros-Lehtinen said. “We should not enter into nuclear cooperation with any country before we are certain that it will not undermine U.S. security,” she cautioned.
Last Friday, Ros-Lehtinen introduced a resolution calling on the President and Secretary of State to withhold U.S. funding for and participation in the Durban Review Conference (Durban II). The bill, H. Res. 42, comes as the preparations for the April 20-24 Conference have further shown that dictatorships and rogue regimes will again control the agenda, rendering the conference as nothing more than a venomous anti-Israel, anti-America, anti-Semitic forum.
“Though innocently described as a conference designed to combat racism, Durban II is actually set to illustrate and aggravate the worst kinds of prejudice, bigotry, and endemic hate that continue to plague this world today,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
In 2001, the U.S. and Israel walked out of the Durban Conference when it became apparent that worthy goals were being extinguished by the hate-filled political agenda of its participants, including the member nations of the Organization of Islamic Countries and the Non-Aligned Movement. “Given that the start of Durban II is less than 4 months away, Congress must swiftly adopt legislation urging the Administration to stay away from this hatefest and preventing U.S. taxpayer funds from being used to support this conference in any way,” she said.