[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10874-H10876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS ON ITS 30TH
ANNIVERSARY
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 282) congratulating the Association of South East
Asian Nations [ASEAN] on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 282
Whereas 1997 marks the 30th anniversary of the Association
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN);
Whereas the emphasis of ASEAN on cooperation and the
nonviolent settlement of disputes has helped to bring peace
between the nations of the region which for decades had been
characterized by instability and conflict;
Whereas the economies of the member nations of ASEAN have
experienced significant economic growth benefiting the lives
of many of their people;
Whereas ASEAN as a group is the 4th largest trading partner
of the United States and constitutes a larger market for
United States exports than the People's Republic of China,
Taiwan, and Hong Kong combined;
Whereas ASEAN has successfully fostered a sense of
community among its member nations despite differing
interests, including the establishment of the region's only
security forum, the Association of South East Asian Nations
Regional Forum (ARF), and the Association of South East Asian
Nations Free Trade Area (AFTA);
Whereas ASEAN has played a pivotal role in international
efforts of global and regional concern, including securing
the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia and
diplomatic efforts to foster a political settlement to the
civil war in Cambodia;
Whereas the United States relies on ASEAN as a partner in
fostering regional stability, enhancing prosperity, and
promoting peace; and
Whereas the 30th anniversary of the formation of ASEAN
offers an opportunity for the United States and the nations
of ASEAN to renew their commitment to international
cooperation on issues of mutual interest and concern: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and its member nations on the occasion of its
30th anniversary;
(2) looks forward to a broadening and deepening of
friendship and cooperation with ASEAN in the years ahead for
the benefit of the people of the United States and the
nations of ASEAN;
(3) encourages progress by ASEAN members toward the further
development of democracy, respect for human rights,
enhancement of the rule of law, and the expansion of market
economies; and
(4) recognizes the past achievements of ASEAN and pledges
its support to work closely with ASEAN as both the United
States and the nations of ASEAN face current and future
regional and global challenges.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Gilman] and the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings] each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
General Leave
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this
measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have had the opportunity to
bring to the floor this measure congratulating the Association of South
East Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, on the occasion of their 30th
anniversary.
The ASEAN organization has a lot to be proud of. Its emphasis on
cooperation and a nonviolent settlement of disputes has fostered peace
among its members in a region of the world which has long been wrought
with instability and conflict.
The United States has important strategic, economic, and political
interests at stake in Southeast Asia. Maintaining stability remains an
overriding U.S. security interest in the region. Instability would not
only threaten significant U.S. economic interests but could also
undermine important U.S. political relationships.
ASEAN's Regional Forum [ARF], the region's only security consultative
platform, is a key partner of the United States in maintaining regional
stability. The ASEAN countries provide our Nation with significant
commercial opportunities. ASEAN as a group is the fourth largest
trading partner of the United States and constitutes a larger market
for U.S. exports than does the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and
Hong Kong combined.
[[Page H10875]]
The Congress rightfully has expressed its concern about the
development of human rights and democracy in the nations of ASEAN but
is pleased with the flourishing of democracy in Thailand and the
Philippines. It is hoped these examples are going to encourage progress
by the other nations of ASEAN and the furthering of democratic
principles and practices, respect for human rights, and the enhancement
of the rule of law.
The Congress looks forward to a broadening and deepening of
friendship and cooperation with ASEAN in the years ahead for the mutual
benefit of the people of the United States and the nations of ASEAN.
In closing, I want to thank for their support the distinguished
ranking minority member, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton]; the
distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter]; and the subcommittee's ranking
minority member, the gentleman from California [Mr. Berman]; as well as
another gentleman who has had strong interest in this matter, the
gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega].
I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would echo the remarks of the chairman, the gentleman
from New York [Mr. Gilman], particularly as it pertains to the
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], the gentleman from California
[Mr. Berman], the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega], and
those of us that serve on the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Mr. Speaker, I am one of the authors of this resolution, as is the
ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], and I urge
my colleagues to join the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] and
those of us on the Democratic side in supporting its adoption.
Some 32 years ago, a handful of underdeveloped and not very
influential Southeast Asian countries binded together to create the
Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN. I dare say that at
the time of ASEAN's founding in 1967, not even the most optimistic
would have guessed how far the ASEAN nations would have traveled down
the road of economic development.
It is true that in a number of instances political reform has lagged
behind economic development, but I remain confident, as do my
colleagues, that political pluralism and full-fledged democracy will
one day prevail throughout the region.
Today, ASEAN has established itself as one of the premier regional
groupings in the world. It has also shown itself to be a good friend of
the United States. It deserves our accommodation on its 30th
anniversary, and I urge adoption of this resolution as a gesture of
friendship and support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], the distinguished vice chairman
of our committee.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I do rise as a cosponsor in strong support
of H. Res. 282, a resolution congratulating ASEAN on the occasion of
its 30th anniversary of creation.
I would, however, like to take a few minutes here or a part of a
minute or so to speak extemporaneously on what took place on this floor
just a minute or two ago when we were debating an Iraqi resolution. I
would have requested time if I had known what was going to be said in
some of the closing comments of that debate.
What we say and what we do on this floor on international relations
does matter, and we ought to be careful with what we say to make sure
it is accurate.
Now it was said a few minutes ago, in some hyperbole no doubt, that
the U.S. taxpayer stands behind tens of billions of dollars of
assistance to Indonesia. That is not factual. There is a standby
allocation to assist with the financial problems and the currency
exchange rates in Indonesia. The U.S. is willing to be a backup to the
IMF, but it is nothing approaching that amount, and perhaps that backup
will not be used.
We also heard a lot of rhetoric here about evenhandedness when it
comes to Turkey and the Kurds and Iraq. Well, we also might have said
we need evenhandedness when it comes to terrorist organizations like
the PKK, and I think it is inappropriate for us to demonize countries
unless the facts are on our side.
Now one of the gentleman here misunderstands the situation in East
Timor. There are problems in East Timor, alleged human rights
violations, and certainly there are human rights violations, and there
has been violence on both sides on that issue. This has been a major
source of contention and conflict since the Portuguese walked away from
that colony of East Timor and the Indonesians came in.
But the problem is not that people cannot practice their religion in
Indonesia. That is not the problem, as was suggested out here. So it is
important that we not demonize countries for things that are not true.
We should not be demonizing countries at all, and when we have a
legitimate reason for criticism, we should exercise that criticism.
Now back to the ASEAN resolution. This Member would congratulate the
distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], for his leadership demonstrated
on recognizing the increasing significance of this important
multilateral organization. Through his authorship of the resolution as
the chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I was pleased
to expedite consideration of this resolution.
Over the last three decades, ASEAN has emerged into a critically
important security institution in Southeast Asia. Originally created as
a means to respond to the threat of Vietnamese expansionism, it is now
an umbrella organization where all of Southeast Asia, including
Vietnam, can eventually work together to promote their common
interests, and most of the countries now are members in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia is not yet because of what happened there in what can only be
called legitimately a coup.
ASEAN has had an important role in promoting a peaceful resolution to
the Spratly Islands crisis and has brought significant pressure to bear
regarding the ongoing crisis in Cambodia.
This Member would also note that the United States, Russia, the
People's Republic of China, and other countries interested in Asian
security, and I could have mentioned Japan, have been able to work
constructively through the ASEAN Regional Forum, or the ARF. While
ASEAN certainly has a significant challenge as authoritarian
governments are brought into that organization, we can also hope and
push for the Vietnamese, the Laotians, the Burmese. Their association
with the ASEAN will have a democratizing effect on these one-party
states.
While the State Department does not, as a rule, take a position on
such nonbinding resolutions like this one, this Member would note the
gentleman from New York worked very closely with the State Department
and the minority to ensure unanimous support for H. Res. 282.
His success in this effort has been demonstrated by the fact that the
distinguished ranking Democrat on the Committee on International
Relations, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], and the
distinguished ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on the Asian
Pacific, the gentleman from California [Mr. Berman], are cosponsors of
this resolution, and it was unanimously approved by the Committee on
International Relations on October 31, 1997. This Member is also
pleased to be a cosponsor.
Mr. Speaker, this Member once again congratulates the gentleman from
New York and urges adoption of H. Res. 282.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman from
Nebraska have additional speakers?
Mr. BEREUTER. I have one more speaker.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Then, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher].
[[Page H10876]]
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
amendment.
Mr. Speaker, ASEAN has proven a great example for developing
countries around the world. It was not that long ago, in fact 30 years
ago, when these same countries which we laud today for their 30th
anniversary were the ultimate in developing countries. They were no
different than the developing countries in Africa and in Latin America
and elsewhere.
Yet these countries, through a strong support for the economic rights
of their people, at the very least the economic rights of their people,
have shown that free enterprise and a respect for property rights will
indeed bring a fountain of wealth and well-being for the people of the
societies that so respect those rights.
{time} 1445
ASEAN as well, I might add, has been a force for democracy, although
the Members of ASEAN, all of the Members are not, of course, totally
democratic. But let us take a look at the fact that the Philippines
today has evolved from a country that was in a dictatorship for a
number of decades, and now has a strong and vibrant economic situation
where they are growing at 5 and 6 percent a year, as well as a strong
democracy, along with Thailand whose democracy has been put to the
maximum stress, but yet has maintained a slow but, yes, steady pace
toward a more open and democratic society. These two countries serve as
an example for all of Southeast Asia and, yes, serve as an example for
all the countries in the developing world.
Today, many countries in ASEAN, especially Thailand, are going
through, but as well as the other countries of ASEAN, are going through
an economic crisis, a crisis dealing with their money system. They are
learning a lot through this crisis. We would like this amendment today,
our expression of good will toward the countries of ASEAN and
congratulations, comes at a unique moment for the United States to let
these countries know that we consider them our friends, we consider
them our partners, we consider them to be people who in the future will
have even stronger and closer ties to the United States of America.
So I rise in strong support and ask my colleagues to join me in
support of this proposal and this amendment.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for
his timely and cogent remarks. I urge support for House Resolution 282.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H.Res. 282.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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