[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                TREATIES

  Mr. McCAIN. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to executive 
session to consider the following treaties on today's executive 
calendar, No. 13 through No. 22.
  Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider the following treaties:

       Treaty Document No. 103-35, treaty Between the United 
     States of America and Jamaica Concerning the Reciprocal 
     Encouragement and Protection of Investment, with Annex and 
     Protocol;
       Treaty Document No. 103-36, treaty Between the United 
     States of America and the Republic of Belarus Concerning the 
     Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment with 
     Annex, Protocol, and Related Exchange of Letters;
       Treaty Document No. 103-37, treaty Between the United 
     States of America and Ukraine Concerning the Encouragement 
     and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex, and 
     Related Exchange of Letters;
       Treaty Document No. 103-38 treaty Between and Government of 
     the United States of America and the Government of the 
     Republic of Estonia Concerning the Encouragement and 
     Reciprocal Protection of Investment with Annex;
       Treaty Document No. 104-10, treaty Between the United 
     States of America and Mongolia Concerning the Encouragement 
     and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex and 
     Protocol;
       Treaty Document No. 104-12, Treaty Between the Government 
     of the United States of America and the Government of the 
     Republic of Latvia Concerning the Encouragement and 
     Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex and Protocol;
       Treaty Document No. 104-13, Treaty Between the Government 
     of the United States of America and the Government of the 
     Republic of Georgia Concerning the Encouragement and 
     Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex;
       Treaty Document No. 104-14, Treaty Between the Government 
     of the United States of America and the Government of the 
     Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Concerning the Encouragement 
     and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex and 
     Protocol;
       Treaty Document No. 104-19, Treaty Between the Government 
     of the United States of America and the Government of the 
     Republic of Albania Concerning the Encouragement and 
     Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex and Protocol; 
     and
       Treaty Document No. 104-24, Agreement for the 
     Implementation of the United Nations Convention of the Law of 
     the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to Fish Stocks.


Statement on the Agreement for the Implementation of the United Nations 
 Convention on The Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to Fish 
                                 Stocks

  Mr. PELL. Madam President, I am very pleased that the Senate is 
proceeding to consider Treaty Document 104-24, commonly known as the 
Straddling Fish Stocks Agreement. I strongly urge my colleagues to 
support Senate advice and consent to ratification.
  The need for this Agreement--and indeed other appropriate measures to 
protect fisheries--has become increasingly evident in the past years. 
World fish production, both marine and aquaculture, peaked in 1989 at 
roughly 100 million tons. Since then, marine catches have declined 
significantly due to over-exploitation. By 1992, the world marine catch 
had declined to 86 million tons and by 1994 to 72.3 million tons. The 
Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 70 percent of the 
world's marine fish stocks are fully to heavily exploited, over-
exploited, depleted, or slowly recovering.
  Against this backdrop, the Straddling Stocks Agreement will 
significantly advance U.S. interests. In effect, it confirms the U.S. 
approach to fisheries management and reflects the acceptance by other 
nations of that approach. The agreement does not require any changes to 
U.S. fishery laws or institutions. The Magnuson Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act as well as other acts, provide the necessary 
legislative authority for the United States to carry out its 
obligations under the agreement.
  It is very important to note that the Straddling Stocks Agreement is 
tightly linked, both legally and practically, to the U.N. Convention on 
the Law of the Sea, which has for nearly 2 years been pending before 
the Foreign Relations Committee. The United States ability to pursue 
its objectives under the agreement will be maximized only if we in the 
Senate move ahead to grant advice and consent to ratification of the 
Law of the Sea Convention.
  Over the past 2 years I have repeatedly addressed the Senate to 
highlight the ways in which the Law of the Sea Convention has been 
improved, and now meets our fisheries interests, our national security 
interests, and our economic interests. I hope that all my colleagues 
who have shown such an interest in the Straddling Stocks Agreement will 
join me in my efforts to see the convention ratified promptly.
  Mr. McCAIN. I further ask unanimous consent that the treaties be 
considered as having passed through their various parliamentary stages 
up to and including the presentation of the resolutions of 
ratification, that all committee provisos, reservations, 
understandings, et cetera, be considered agreed to; that any statements 
be printed in the Congressional Record as if read; and that the Senate 
take one vote on the resolutions of ratification to be considered as 
separate votes;
  Further, that when the resolutions of ratifications are voted upon, 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that the President be 
notified of the Senate's action, that following disposition of the 
treaties the Senate return to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCAIN. I ask for a division vote on the resolutions of 
ratification.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  All those in favor of ratification please stand and be counted. 
(After a pause.) All those opposed to ratification be stand and be 
counted.
  On a division, two-thirds of the Senators present having voted in the 
affirmative, the resolutions of ratification are agreed to.
  The resolutions of ratification agreed to are as follows:

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