[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT ALPHA OUMAR KONARE OF MALI TO MICHIGAN 
                            STATE UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE STABENOW

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, as part of the Michigan State University 
community, the people I represent have had the great pleasure of 
welcoming to Michigan many world leaders who have opened the world to 
us and introduced us to new cultures. This is why I am so pleased to 
have his excellency Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare, President of the Republic 
of Mali, to receive an honorary degree at Michigan State University's 
May 8th Advanced Degree Commencement Ceremony.
  The honorary degree recognizes President Konare's contributions to 
establishing democracy and peace in Mali, to peacemaking efforts in 
Africa, and to preserving Mali's cultural heritage through his 
professional activities as an archaeologist.
  In recent years, Mali has moved from a repressive dictatorship to an 
open parliamentary democracy, a transition which can be largely 
credited to the leadership and activism of President Konare.
  President Konare won the first multiparty presidential election in 
his country's history and was sworn in as President of the Republic of 
Mali on June 8, 1992. Prior to his election he was president of the 
West African Archaeologist Association as well as the first African 
President of the International Council of Museums.
  President Konare's visit celebrates the new and developing 
partnership the MSU community has had with the people of Mali. In 
recent years, more than 20 Malians have pursued undergraduate and 
graduate programs at MSU, while an almost equal amount of American MSU 
graduate students have conducted their thesis or dissertation research 
on Mali. The strong research and educational links the MSU community 
and the people of Mali have forged in recent years can be credited to 
both President Konare and MSU's great commitment to education and 
diversity.
  But most importantly, President Konare's visit reaffirms the 
friendship between the MSU community and the people of Mali, and it is 
my hope that we continue developing new initiatives that will, 
together, take us well into the 21st Century.
  Through President Konare's leadership, the MSU community views the 
Republic of Mali as more than just a friend of the United States; Mali 
is our partner in education. I thank President Konare for his 
contribution to democracy, his worldwide leadership, and his commitment 
to Michigan State University.

                          ____________________