[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 40 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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RECOGNITION OF TUNISIA NATIONAL DAY AND UNITED STATES-TUNISIA RELATIONS

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to direct your 
attention to a milestone soon to be celebrated by one of America's 
oldest friends and allies. On March 20, 1999, Tunisia observes its 
National Day, the 43rd anniversary of freedom from foreign control.
  Tunisians have many reasons to be proud of their progress during 
these last four decades. We as Americans should share that 
satisfaction, because we have important common values and a long 
history of strong, mutually beneficial relations.
  In fact, when Tunisia was still governed by Pasha Bey of Tunis, as a 
unit of the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia became one of the first treaty 
partners of the newly independent United States. The two nations signed 
a ``Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation'' in 1797. The pact 
provided for ``perpetual and constant peace'' between the parties. If 
all our treaties were as faithfully observed as this one, our foreign 
relations would be more serene.
  Whether protecting Mediterranean shipping lanes against Barbary 
pirates, opposing the Nazi war machine in North Africa, or supporting 
Western interests during the Cold War, the U.S. could count on Tunisia. 
More than 30 years ago, Tunisia displayed great courage in urging other 
Arab nations to seek an equitable settlement with Israel. Tunisia later 
built on that pioneering stand by playing an important role as an 
honest broker at delicate points in the peace process.
  You do not see many headlines or television footage about Tunisia. 
The reason is that news coverage of Africa and the Middle East is 
dominated by conflict, extremism, famine, and other calamities. 
Tunisia, by enviable contrast, is a quiet success. On a recent visit to 
Tunisia, Undersecretary of State, Stuart Eizenstat, called Tunisia a 
``model for developing countries.'' He was correct. During these last 
43 years, Tunisia has built a stable, middle class society. Tunisia has 
adopted progressive social policies that feature tolerance for 
minorities, equal rights for women, universal education and a first-
rate public health system, and avoided the pitfall of religious 
extremism that has tormented so many other developing nations.
  Under President Ben Ali's leadership, Tunisia has undertaken 
political reforms toward political pluralism and become the first 
nation south of the Mediterranean to formally associate itself with the 
European Union.
  These are only some of the accomplishments of this small, resilient, 
forward-looking nation. We should be mindful of this enviable record. 
We should also take satisfaction that, 43 years ago, the United States 
welcomed Tunisia's independence and provided both moral and financial 
support. If all our investments abroad paid such dividends, the world 
would be a more peaceful place.

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