[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7261-S7262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 58--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE TENTH 
         ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. Inouye) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 158

       Whereas the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum was founded by 
     former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in 1993;
       Whereas the Tokyo Declaration, signed by 59 
     parliamentarians from 15 countries, entered into force as the 
     founding charter of the forum on January 14 and 15, 1993, 
     establishing the basic structure of the forum as an inter-
     parliamentary organization;
       Whereas the original 15 members, one of which was the 
     United States, have increased to 27 member countries;
       Whereas the forum serves to promote regional identification 
     and cooperation

[[Page S7262]]

     through discussion of matters of common concern to all member 
     states and serves, to a great extent, as the legislative arm 
     of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation;
       Whereas the focus of the forum lies in resolving political, 
     economic, environmental security, law and order, human 
     rights, education, and cultural issues;
       Whereas the forum will hold its tenth annual meeting on 
     January 6 through 9, 2002, which will be the first meeting of 
     the forum hosted by the United States;
       Whereas approximately 270 parliamentarians from 27 
     countries in the Asia Pacific region will attend this 
     meeting;
       Whereas the Secretariat of the meeting will be the Center 
     for Cultural and Technical Exchange Between East and West in 
     Honolulu, Hawaii;
       Whereas the East-West Center is an internationally 
     recognized education and research organization established by 
     the United States Congress in 1960 largely through the 
     efforts of the Eisenhower administration and the Congress;
       Whereas it is the mission of the East-West Center to 
     strengthen understanding and relations between the United 
     States and the countries of the Asia Pacific region and to 
     help promote the establishment of a stable, peaceful and 
     prosperous Asia Pacific community in which the United States 
     is a natural, valued and leading partner; and
       Whereas it is the agenda of this meeting to advance 
     democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region:
        Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of 
     Representatives Concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) expresses support for the tenth annual meeting of the 
     Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and for the ideals and 
     concerns of this body;
       (2) commends the East-West Center for hosting the meeting 
     of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and the 
     representatives of the 27 member countries; and
       (3) calls upon all parties to support the endeavors of the 
     Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and to work toward achieving 
     the goals of the meeting.

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Inouye and myself, I 
rise to submit a Senate Concurrent Resolution concerning the 
forthcoming tenth annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary 
Forum, APPF, that will take place in Honolulu in January 2002.
  The Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum consists of 27 countries of 
which the United States is one of the original founders. Our former 
colleague, Senator Bill Roth, was one of the leaders of this 
organization which was created as a parliamentary counterpart to the 
heads of state meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, 
organization.
  The first meeting was held in Singapore in 1991, and, earlier this 
year, Chile sponsored the ninth annual meeting. Next year, for the 
first time, the annual meeting will be hosted by the United States in 
Hawaii. The Center for Cultural and Technical Exchange Between East and 
West, better known as the East West Center, will provide the 
Secretariat for the meeting which is expected to attract approximately 
270 parliamentarians from countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
  Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Chile, China, 
Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mongolia, the 
Philippines, and New Zealand. Discussions and debates are frank and 
open. The meetings provide an opportunity for legislators in these 
countries to hear and exchange views on a diversity of topics including 
human rights, security, law, the economy, and the environment.
  I invite my colleagues to attend next year's early January meeting in 
Hawaii. It is an occasion to meet with leaders on both sides of the 
Pacific for frank discussions and to experience as well the spirit of 
Aloha.

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