[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE 42D ANNIVERSARY OF TUNISIAN INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 1998

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the anniversary of the 
42nd year of Independence for the Republic of Tunisia, to be celebrated 
on March 20, 1998.
  Legend has it that more than 200 years ago, Tunis, as token of esteem 
and friendship, sent one of its finest stallions to U.S. President 
George Washington. Unfortunately, customs officials in the nascent 
republic denied entry to the horse, which spent its remaining days in 
the Port of Baltimore.
  After this somewhat rocky start, I am pleased to note that U.S.-
Tunisian relations have improved considerably. Tunisia is about to 
celebrate its 42nd anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of 
Tunisia as an independent country, a time during which Tunisia has 
enjoyed a strong and healthy relationship with the United States.
  I congratulate Tunisia for its many accomplishments, not the least of 
which is to have established a more democratic system of government, 
making every effort to broaden political debate, including passage of 
an electoral law that reserved 19 seats of the National assembly for 
members of opposition political parties.
  Tunisia has a very impressive economic record, having turned to 
economic programs designed to privatize state owned companies and to 
reform the banking and financial sectors over the last decade.
  As a result Tunisia's economy has grown at an average rate of 4.65 
percent just in the last three years, and its economic success has had 
a beneficial impact on Tunisia's international standing. Tunisia is one 
of the few countries to graduate successfully from development 
assistance and to join the developed world.
  Tunisia has also become a moderating force in the Middle East peace 
process, taking an active role within the international community in 
fighting terrorism.
  This may not seem so important until you consider that Tunisia's only 
two neighbors are Algeria which has been racked by civil strife for 
several years, and Libya, whose dictator has supported the most 
nefarious and subversive kinds of terrorism.
  Tunisia may not live in a good, friendly neighborhood, but they are 
good neighbors to the United States, maintaining internal stability in 
the face of external chaos.
  With increasing strong ties between us, the American people 
congratulate the people of Tunisia on this historic occasion, and I 
encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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