[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Res. 118 Engrossed in House (EH)] H. Res. 118 In the House of Representatives, U. S., March 30, 1993. Whereas on November 23, 1985, terrorists hijacked Egypt Air flight 648 and diverted it to Malta; Whereas during the hijacking, 60 people were killed, including citizens of 12 countries; Whereas one of those killed by the terrorists was Scarlett Rogenkamp of Oceanside, California, who was one of 5 passengers, including 3 United States citizens, who were shot in the head; Whereas after investigations, Mohammed Ali Rezaq, a suspected member of the Abu Nidal Organization, was tried and convicted in Malta on a variety of charges related to the hijacking, including the willful homicide of Scarlett Rogenkamp and others, and he was sentenced to a prison term of 25 years; Whereas the Government of Malta assured the United States Government in September 1992 that Rezaq would remain in prison until 1996; Whereas the United States Government immediately began exploring grounds for further prosecution of Rezeq upon his release in 1996; Whereas the United States Government learned in February 1993 that the Government of Malta had, without notice to the United States and other interested parties, reduced Rezaq's sentence and planned to release him that month; Whereas the United States Government and the governments of other countries whose citizens were killed in the hijacking of Egypt Air flight 648 repeatedly urged the Government of Malta to retain Rezaq in custody or make arrangements for him to be tried elsewhere; Whereas on February 12, 1993, because of concern that Rezaq could be released, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an arrest warrant for Rezaq, and this warrant was provided to the Government of Malta in the hope that the Government of Malta would continue to detain him; Whereas the Government of Malta brushed aside the requests that had been made by the governments of the United States and other countries and allowed Rezaq to fly to another country on short notice; and Whereas these actions by the Government of Malta undermine the efforts to deter international terrorists by letting them go free without serving sentences commensurate with their crimes: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) strongly condemns the release by the Government of Malta of convicted terrorist Mohammed Ali Rezaq; (2) believes such action seriously undermines the efforts to foster good relations between Malta and the United States and undermines the international and United States efforts to discourage and deter international terrorism; (3) urges all governments to cooperate in transferring Rezaq either to the United States or to another concerned country in order that he may face additional criminal charges for his involvement in the Egypt Air hijacking and the murder of innocent civilians; (4) urges all governments to abide by the rule of law and not provide safe haven to terrorists in order that terrorism will be met with the full force of justice and that terrorists will not escape being held accountable; and (5) urges the President to review the United States relationship with Malta, including foreign assistance and economic relations. Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of State with a request that the Secretary transmit a copy of this resolution to the Government of Malta. Attest: Clerk.