[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7617-S7618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SENATOR TORRICELLI HONORS DEPARTING SWEDISH AMBASSADOR

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the 
monumental service and dedication of one of Sweden's finest Ambassadors 
ever to have served in the United States, Mr. Henrik Liljegren. After 
4\1/2\ years in Washington, Ambassador Liljegren is being reassigned to 
Istanbul, Turkey, and I want to take this opportunity to express my 
admiration for, and gratitude to, this skilled diplomat.
  Ambassador Liljegren has spent his time in Washington carefully 
fostering a new level of understanding between our two countries. The 
end of the cold war has created new perspectives for Sweden's foreign 
policy, and new opportunities for Sweden and the United States to 
further their relationship. Ambassador Liljegren is well respected for 
his willingness to promote closer ties between the people of our two 
great nations.
  His strategy for strengthening United States-Swedish ties has been 
multifaceted and creative. For example, he recently testified before 
the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to help 
determine whether or not neutral countries had profited from their 
policies during the Second World War. Ambassador Liljegren was aware of 
the State Department's Eizenstat Report, which was stern in its 
condemnation of neutral states during this period, and was forthcoming 
in explaining his country's policies vis-a-vis the Third Reich. His 
testimony was influential in drawing attention to the systematic effort 
on the part of the Swedish Foreign Ministry to assist the Jews during 
World War II.
  On behalf of my colleagues in the Senate and the entire Nation, I 
want to

[[Page S7618]]

again express our gratitude for Ambassador Liljegren's service, and 
wish him the best of luck as he continues his career in Turkey.


TRIBUTE TO STEPHANIE A. FRANK AND ERICK N. VIORRITTO, RECIPIENTS OF THE 
             1997 WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to Stephanie A. Frank of Dover, NH, and Erick N. Viorritto of 
Manchester, NH, on being selected as the Granite State winners of the 
1997 White House Presidential Scholars Program sponsored by General 
Motors and Saturn. Stephanie and Erick were chosen on the basis of 
academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in their 
school and community. Each student also selected the teacher who has 
had the most impact on his or her accomplishments.
  Stephanie and Erick, along with their parents and honored teachers, 
spent a week in Washington, and attended the Presidential Scholar 
Medallion ceremony hosted by President Clinton. Stephanie, a graduate 
of Dover High School in Dover, NH, brought her teacher Mr. Christopher 
Lawrence to accompany her on the trip, while Erick, a graduate of 
Manchester's West High School in Manchester, NH, brought his teacher 
Mr. Gaston P. Normand, Jr., for the festivities.
  Founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House 
Presidential Scholars Program honors the Nation's most accomplished 
students. This year, 141 high school seniors were chosen from among 
2,600 eligible candidates on the basis of academic and artistic 
success, leadership, and involvement in their school and community.
  As a former high school teacher myself, I commend Stephanie and Erick 
for their hard work and outstanding achievements. Congratulations to 
Stephanie and Erick on this distinguished honor. It is an honor to 
represent these outstanding students in the U.S. Senate. 

                          ____________________