[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           FORTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF TUNISIAN INDEPENDENCE

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2000

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the anniversary of the 
44th year of Independence for the Republic of Tunisia, to be celebrated 
on March 20, 2000.
  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 44th 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 several 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, while maintaining internal stability in the face of 
external chaos.
  I am pleased with the increasingly strong ties between the United 
States and Tunisia, and join the American people in congratulating the 
people of Tunisia on this historic occasion. I encourage my colleagues 
to do the same.

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