[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 105-32

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaty transmitted to the Senate on November 7, 1997, by the President 
of the United States: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme 
Agreement (Treaty Document No. 105-32). I further ask unanimous consent 
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 
ratification, the Agreement Establishing the South Pacific Regional 
Environment Programme, done at Apia on June 16, 1993 (``the 
Agreement''). The report of the Department of State with respect to the 
Agreement is attached for the information of the Senate.
  The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has existed 
for almost 15 years to promote cooperation in the South Pacific region, 
to protect and improve the South Pacific environment and to ensure 
sustainable development in that region. Prior to the Agreement, SPREP 
had the status of an informal institution housed within the South 
Pacific Commission. When this institutional arrangement began to prove 
inefficient, the United States and the nations of the region negotiated 
the Agreement to allow SPREP to become an intergovernmental 
organization in its own right and enhance its ability to promote 
cooperation among its members.
  The Agreement was concluded in June 1993 and entered into force in 
August 1995. Nearly every nation--except the United States--that has 
participated in SPREP and in the negotiation of the Agreement is now 
party to the Agreement. As a result, SPREP now enjoys a formal 
institutional status that allows it to deal more effectively with the 
pressing environmental concerns of the region. The United States and 
its territories can only participate in its activities as official 
observers.
  The Agreement improves the ability of SPREP to serve the interests of 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
Guam. Its ratification is supported by our territories and will 
demonstrate continued United States commitment to, and concern for, the 
South Pacific region.
  Under its terms, the Agreement entered into force on August 31, 1995. 
To date, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, 
France, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New 
Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Western Samoa have become parties 
to the Agreement.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Agreement and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                    William J. Clinton.
  The White House, November 7, 1997.

                          ____________________