Van Nuys, CA – Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee today issued the following statement to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005:

“Even as this horrible crime shook Lebanon and the world, it launched one of the most powerful popular uprisings in recent history: the Cedar Revolution movement, which freed Lebanon from Syrian occupation and led the Lebanese people to the path of sovereignty and freedom.

“As we mark this somber anniversary, Lebanon continues to face the threat of militia violence from Hezbollah as well as foreign interference from Syria and Iran. I believe the U.S. Congress, as well as the Administration, will remain firmly committed to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, including disarming all militias on Lebanese soil, extending the Lebanese State’s authority over its own territory, and stopping the flow of weapons from Syria and Iran into Lebanon. At the same time, it is important that we reaffirm our support for the Special Tribunal on Lebanon so that the assassins of PM Hariri and other Lebanese leaders can be brought to justice.”