[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S10897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22--RELATIVE TO EXPO '98 IN LISBON, 
                                PORTUGAL

  Mr. PELL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 22

       Whereas there was international concern expressed at the 
     Rio Conference of 1992 about conservation of the seas;
       Whereas 1998 has been declared the ``International Year of 
     the Ocean'' by the United Nations in an effort to alert the 
     world to the need for improving the physical and cultural 
     assets offered by the world's oceans;
       Whereas the theme of Expo '98 is ``The Oceans, a Heritage 
     for the Future'';
       Whereas Expo '98 has a fundamental aim of alerting 
     political, economic, and public opinion to the growing 
     importance of the world's oceans;
       Whereas Portugal has established a vast network of 
     relationships through ocean exploration;
       Whereas Portugal's history is rich with examples of the 
     courage and exploits of Portuguese explorers;
       Whereas Portugal and the United States have a relationship 
     based on mutual respect, and a sharing of interests and 
     ideals, particularly the deeply held commitment to democratic 
     values;
       Whereas today over 2,000,000 Americans can trace their 
     ancestry to Portugal; and
       Whereas the United States and Portugal agreed in the 1995 
     Agreement on Cooperation and Defense that in 1998 the 2 
     countries would consider and develop appropriate means of 
     commemorating the upcoming quincentennial anniversary of the 
     historic voyage of discovery by Vasco da Gama: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the United States should fully participate 
     in Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal, and encourage the private 
     sector to support this worthwhile undertaking.

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, today I am submitting a resolution 
expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
fully participate in Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal, and that it should 
encourage the private sector to support this effort.
  Prime Minister Cavaco Silva recently invited the United States and 
other countries to participate in Expo '98, which will be the last 
exposition to take place in this century. A number of countries, 
including Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom, Morocco, India, 
Pakistan, and Cape Verde, have committed to participating in Expo '98, 
and several others, including Argentina, the Philippines, Canada, and 
Poland, have demonstrated their strong interest in participating.
  I understand that our own Government is seriously considering 
accepting the Portuguese Government's invitation. I believe it would be 
useful for the Senate to weigh in on this issue, and to encourage the 
administration to participate in this important exposition.
  As a longtime friend of Portugal, I am pleased to support United 
States participation in Expo '98. The theme of the exposition, ``The 
Oceans, A Heritage for the Future,'' is particularly fitting as we mark 
the 500th anniversary of Vasco Da Gama's discovery of the sea route to 
India. Portugal, of course, has a great history of sea exploration, and 
in fact, helped to create important trade links between the peoples of 
Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal 
since the 12th century, is a vibrant cultural and economic center, and 
its location on the Atlantic makes it a fine choice for an expo focused 
on the sea.
  The U.N. General Assembly has declared 1998 as the International Year 
of the Ocean in an effort to alert the world to the need to improve the 
physical and cultural assets of the world's oceans. The theme of the 
expo is therefore, particularly appropriate. A fundamental goal of Expo 
'98 will be to focus on the growing importance of the world's oceans 
and to foster a debate on the sustainable use of marine resources and 
environmental protection. The United States, of course, has a vested 
interest in being part of this debate.
  The organizers of Expo '98 will provide all facilities relating to 
each national pavilion free of charge. Accordingly, participating 
countries will have to provide only the contents of its representation, 
which I expect to be sponsored by the private sector. In fact, the 
resolution I am submitting encourages the private sector to support 
Expo '98.
  As a fellow Atlantic power, and an ally of Portugal, the United 
States should have a strong interest in participating in this 
exposition. I sincerely hope that President Clinton will accept Prime 
Minister Cavaco Silva's invitation to be part of this important event.


                          ____________________