[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY: A NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION OF GREEK AND 
                           AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 435, S. Res. 251.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 251) designating March 25, 2000, as 
     ``Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of 
     Greek and American Democracy.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 251) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 251

       Whereas the ancient Greeks developed the concept of 
     democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was invested 
     in the people;
       Whereas the Founding Fathers of the United States of 
     America drew heavily upon the political experience and 
     philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative 
     democracy;
       Whereas the founders of the modern Greek state modeled 
     their government after that of the United States in an effort 
     to best imitate their ancient democracy;
       Whereas Greece is one of the only 3 nations in the world, 
     beyond the former British Empire, that has been allied with 
     the United States in every major international conflict this 
     century;
       Whereas the heroism displayed in the historic World War II 
     Battle of Crete epitomized Greece's sacrifice for freedom and 
     democracy as it presented the Axis land war with its first 
     major setback and set off a chain of events which 
     significantly affected the outcome of World War II;
       Whereas President Clinton, during his visit to Greece on 
     November 20, 1999, referred to modern day Greece as ``a 
     beacon of democracy, a regional leader for stability, 
     prosperity and freedom, helping to complete the democratic 
     revolution that ancient Greece began'';
       Whereas these and other ideals have forged a close bond 
     between our 2 nations and their peoples;
       Whereas March 25, 2000, marks the 179th anniversary of the 
     beginning of the revolution which freed the Greek people from 
     the Ottoman Empire; and
       Whereas it is proper and desirable to celebrate with the 
     Greek people and to reaffirm the democratic principles from 
     which our 2 great nations were born: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 25, 2000, as ``Greek Independence Day: 
     A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American 
     Democracy''; and
       (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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