[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR MOROCCO IS CRUCIAL

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                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago a letter was sent to 
President Clinton, signed by 90 members of the House and Senate, urging 
the President to ``undertake all appropriate steps to strengthen U.S.-
Moroccan cooperation.'' I signed this letter because I strongly believe 
that we should stand by our friends in the world.
  Morocco has for years been a loyal American ally in a region fraught 
with peril. It is a constitutional monarchy with a free and 
democratically-elected government. Led by King Hassan, Morocco is 
committed to free trade, privatization and a free-market economy. In 
the past year, there has been more than a 300-percent increase in 
direct investment from the United States.
  Morocco would like to see our relationship grow--working together in 
the region and in mutually-beneficial trade development. We all know 
that the key to the future, especially for America's economic health is 
to create more markets and greater stability for U.S. companies to 
expand around the world.
  This is why American support for our ally Morocco is just as crucial 
today as it has been in the past.

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