[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 104-36

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the Convention 
on International Maritime Organization, Treaty Document No. 104-36, 
transmitted to the Senate by the President on October 1, 1996; and I 
ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time; 
that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's 
message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to 
accept, amendments to the Convention on the International Maritime 
Organization, signed at Geneva, March 6, 1948 (the IMO Convention). The 
amendments were adopted on November 7, 1991, and November 4, 1993, by 
the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at its 
seventeenth and eighteenth sessions. I also transmit, for the 
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State 
describing the amendments, their purpose and effect.
  The United States is the world's largest user of international 
shipping. These amendments strengthen the International Maritime 
Organization's capability to facilitate international maritime traffic 
to carry out its activities in developing strong maritime safety and 
environmental protection standards and regulations. The IMO's policies 
and maritime standards largely reflect our own. The United States pays 
less than 5 percent of the assessed contributions to the IMO.
  The 1991 amendments institutionalize the Facilitation Committee as 
one of the IMO's standing committees. The Facilitation Committee was 
created to streamline the procedures for the arrival, stay and 
departure of ships, cargo and persons in international ports. This 
committee effectively contributes to greater efficiencies and profits 
for the U.S. maritime sector, while assisting U.S. law enforcement 
agencies' efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and the threat of 
maritime terrorism.
  The 1993 amendments increase the size of the IMO governing Council 
from 32 to 40 members. The United States has always been a member of 
the IMO governing Council. Increasing the Council from 32 to 40 Member 
States will ensure a more adequate representation of the interests of 
the more than 150 Member States in vital IMO maritime safety and 
environment protection efforts worldwide.
  The 1991 amendments institutionalize the Facilitation Committee as 
one of the IMO's main committees. The 1993 amendments increase the size 
of the Council from 32 to 40 members, thereby affording a broader 
representation of the increased membership in the IMO's continuing 
administrative body.
  Support for these amendments will contribute to the demonstrated 
interest of the United States in facilitating cooperation among 
maritime nations. To that end, I urge that the Senate give early and 
favorable consideration to these amendments and give its advice and 
consent to their acceptance.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, October 1, 1996.

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