US submits new bill to Congress to put Russia on list of state sponsors of terrorism
(Baonghean.vn) - Politico reported that US Senators Richard Blumenthal of the Democratic Party and Lindsey Graham of the Republican Party have submitted to Congress a new bill to put Russia on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, ignoring the stance of the State Department.
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US Capitol. Photo: AP |
“Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham have introduced new legislation that would override the State Department’s unilateral declaration (on Russia’s inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism),” the source said. However, the bill’s authors have yet to receive widespread support for their initiative in Congress.
Congressman Blumenthal himself said he disagreed with the White House's opposition to recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. "We know that the administration has a different view on this issue. I oppose that view," he said.
The State Department has the authority to designate countries as “sponsors of terrorism,” but the Senate has previously passed a resolution calling for such a designation, and a corresponding bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, as Politico previously reported, the State Department has warned lawmakers about the potential problems that could arise from designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
In early September, US President Joe Biden denied that he would add Russia to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The White House later said that the US administration had made a final decision not to list Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that if Washington takes such a step, it could completely ruin relations between the two countries./.
