[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN TRIBUTE TO NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR TOM VRAALSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2001

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the co-founders of 
the Friends of Norway Congressional Caucus--Representative Earl Pomeroy 
of North Dakota, Representative John Thune of South Dakota, and 
myself--to pay tribute to a dear friend, His Excellency Tom Vraalsen, 
as he concludes his tenure as the Norwegian Ambassador to the United 
States. After five years of distinguished service here, Ambassador 
Vraalsen is leaving to become the Norwegian Ambassador to Finland.
  Ambassador Vraalsen's record of public service to his own country, 
and to the world community, is remarkable. Prior to his tenure as 
Norwegian Ambassador to the United States, he served as the Norwegian 
Ambassador to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He served as Norway's 
Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1975 to 
1979. A member of the Foreign Service since 1960, Ambassador Vraalsen 
has also held several positions in Norwegian embassies in Peking, 
Cairo, Manila, and Jakarta.
  Ambassador Vraalsen is a respected expert in international 
humanitarian and socio-economic development issues--having most 
recently served as Special Envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General for 
Humanitarian Affairs in the Sudan in 1998. In addition, he has written 
numerous papers and articles on African economic development issues, as 
well as conflict prevention and resolution, and he is author and co-
author, respectively, of two books: The U.N.--Dream and Reality (1984) 
and U.N. in Focus (1975).
  Our friendships with Ambassador Vraalsen have been complemented 
through our work with him on the Friends of Norway Congressional 
Caucus--an organization we established in the House of Representatives 
in 1999. Ambassador Vraalsen first developed the idea to create the 
Caucus, which he believed would help foster connections between 
American and Norwegian leaders and address issues of concern to the 
Norwegian-American community. Many members of our Caucus are of 
Norwegian heritage, or represent states in which a significant 
proportion of Norwegian-Americans live.
  The Friends of Norway Congressional Caucus has grown, and today it 
boasts over 40 members. With Ambassador Vraalsen's cooperation and 
encouragement, the organization has served as an important medium for 
promoting cultural, commercial, and economic ties between the United 
States and Norway.
  Ambassador Vraalsen has served his country well as Ambassador to the 
United States. We feel honored to have worked with him. As he embarks 
upon a new path in his career of service, we will miss his advice and 
counsel on issues important to our two countries.
  Mr. Speaker, today we wish Ambassador Vraalsen the best of luck, and 
good health and happiness always. We will miss him.

                          ____________________