H. CON. RES. 89- US AND UN MEMBER STATE SOVEREIGNTY

Introduced by Mr. McDermott (D- WA) on March 11, 2003

Cosponsored by: Mr. GEORGE MILLER (D-CA), Mr. CONYERS (D-MI), Ms. LEE (D-CA), Mr. KUCINICH (D-OH), Ms. NORTON (D-DC), Mr. BROWN (D-OH), Mr. PAYNE (D- NJ), Mr. OWENS (D-NY), and Mr. OLVER (D-MA)

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should respect the sovereign equality of the member states of the United Nations Security Council with respect to each state's position concerning Iraq's compliance with Resolution 1441.

Concurrent Resolution

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should respect the sovereign equality of the member states of the United Nations Security Council with respect to each state's position concerning Iraq's compliance with Resolution 1441.

Whereas Article 1, Section 1, of the United Nations Charter states that a primary purpose of the United Nations is `To maintain international peace and security, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to the breach of the peace.';

Whereas Article 2, Section 1, of the United Nations Charter states that `The organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members.';

Whereas Article 25 of the United Nations Charter states that `The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.';

Whereas some members of the executive branch have warned member states on the Security Council that a possible consequence of a vote against the United States' position with respect to Iraq's compliance with Resolution 1441 may be a deterioration of their relations with the United States;

Whereas some Members of Congress have openly discussed undertaking retaliatory economic measures against member states on the Security Council which vote against the United States' position;

Whereas President Bush has stated that `the world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values'; and

Whereas it is widely recognized that overwhelming public sentiment in many democratic states represented on the Security Council supports the continuing pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Iraq: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the executive branch should respect the right of independent decision-making of member states on the Security Council, as well as the principle set forth in Article 2, Section 1, of the United Nations Charter, in its diplomatic exchanges regarding Security Council resolutions; and

(2) members of the executive branch and Members of Congress should refrain from threatening member states on the Security Council with possible negative consequences with respect to diplomatic, economic, and social relations with the United States as a result of any vote cast in opposition to the United States' position concerning Iraq's compliance with Resolution 1441.

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