[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 93 (Friday, June 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6658-S6659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROGRESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I wish today to emphasize the hope all 
Texans and all Americans have for continued progress in the Middle East 
peace talks as heads of state of Arab countries begin a summit meeting 
in Cairo, Egypt.
  These leaders are meeting the same week that Prime Minister-elect 
Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new cabinet to the Israeli Knesset for 
approval. Prime Minister-elect Netanyahu has expressed his own support 
for peace by listing as a guideline of his new Government that ``Israel 
will work to broaden the circle of peace with all of its neighbors.''
  Mr. President, the United States must continue to be an important 
influence for peace in the Middle East

[[Page S6659]]

and throughout the world. President Clinton himself recently stated 
that he hopes the Arab leaders who attend this summit will ``give Mr. 
Netanyahu an opportunity to constitute his government and set a policy 
and not presume that we can't pursue peace.''
  Under these circumstances, Mr. President, I know that it is the hope 
of my colleagues here, and people all across America that the 
governments attending the summit in Cairo, and governments throughout 
the Middle East, reaffirm their commitment to a comprehensive peace in 
the Middle East.
  I believe, too, that it will be particularly important that these 
leaders express their willingness to work with the democratically 
elected government of Israel to pursue a meaningful peace.
  Mr. President, through great courage on all sides, we've made 
significant strides toward peace. We hope and pray that we continue 
down that path.

                          ____________________