SENATE RESOLUTION 409--REQUESTING INFORMATION ON TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES IN SYRIA PURSUANT TO SECTION 502B(C) OF THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961

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SENATE RESOLUTION 409--REQUESTING INFORMATION ON TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS

PRACTICES IN SYRIA PURSUANT TO SECTION 502B(C) OF THE FOREIGN

ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

\[S. Res. 409\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/409)

Resolved,

SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS

PRACTICES IN SYRIA.

(a) Statement Required.--Not later than 30 days after the

date of the adoption of this resolution, the Secretary of

State shall, pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign

Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(c)), transmit to the

Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the

Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives

a statement, prepared with the assistance of the Assistant

Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and

the Office of the Legal Adviser, with respect to Turkey.

(b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a)

shall include the following elements:

(1) All available credible information concerning alleged

violations of internationally recognized human rights by the

Government of Turkey, its armed forces, and associated groups

and persons, including the denial of the right to life in the

context of their activities in Syria caused by indiscriminate

or disproportionate operations, the infliction of civilian

casualties, and the displacement of civilian populations;

(2) A description of the steps the United States Government

has taken--

(A) to promote respect for and observance of human rights

as part of Turkey's activities in Syria and discourage any

practices that are inimical to internationally recognized

human rights; and

(B) to publicly or privately call attention to, and

disassociate the United States and any security assistance

provided for Turkey from, such practices.

(3) An assessment, notwithstanding any such practices,

whether extraordinary circumstances exist that necessitate a

continuation of security assistance for Turkey and, if so, a

description of the circumstances and the extent to which the

assistance should be continued (subject to such conditions as

Congress may impose under section 502B of the Foreign

Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304)).

(4) Other information, including--

(A) an assessment from the Secretary of State of the

likelihood that United States security assistance, as defined

in section 502B(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22

U.S.C. 2304(d)), has been and will be used in Syria;

(B) a description of the extent to which the activities of

the Government of Turkey, its armed forces, and associated

groups or persons have--

(i) caused, assisted, or resulted in the release of ISIS

fighters, supporters, and other extremists from detention; or

(ii) promoted conditions that support, assist or have

resulted or could result in a strengthening of the military

capabilities of such fighters and extremists within Syria,

including the practical control over territory;

(C) a description of the extent to which such strengthening

of such capabilities of ISIS and other extremist groups and

persons could increase the threat to the United States,

United States citizens, and United States interests, both in

the United States and abroad;

(D) a description of efforts by the Secretary of State and

other United States officials to persuade the Government of

Turkey to cease its activities in Syria and commitments to

support United States and multilateral efforts to

comprehensively defeat ISIS within Syria;

(E) a determination whether Turkey's purchase and

acceptance of delivery of the S-400 missile system from the

Russian Federation constitutes a \\\`\\\`significant transaction''

pursuant to section 231 of the Countering America's

Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525);

(F) a description of any actions by the Government of

Turkey to forcibly repatriate Syrian refugees; and

(G) an assessment of whether the Government of Turkey is

blocking humanitarian aid from reaching communities in need

of assistance in northeast Syria.

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