[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
                                TUNISIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 2002

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the Republic of 
Tunisia's 46th anniversary on March 20, 2001. It was 46 years ago that 
the Republic of Tunisia was formally established as an independent 
country. Over the years, Tunisia has forged a strong and solid 
relationship with the United States that extends beyond bilateral ties 
to issues of world peace and economic partnership.
  The close and solid relationship between Tunisia and the United 
States at the bilateral level has steadily grown from U.S. assistance 
to the young Tunisian nation in the early years to a constructive and 
fruitful partnership between two countries for the sake of development 
and prosperity. This relationship entered a new important phase when 
Tunisia joined the coalition to fight the scourge of terrorism in the 
wake of the September 11th attacks.
  The population of Tunisia numbers approximately 9.6 million 
inhabitants, with more than 62 percent in urban areas. The official 
language of Tunisia is Arabic, while French and Italian are also 
spoken. Increasingly, English is also spoken among a growing number of 
Tunisians. The overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, and 
the official religion is Sunni Islam. Christian and Jewish communities 
practice their faith freely and contribute to Tunisia's rich cultural 
diversity. The family remains the basic unit of Tunisian society. 
Enjoying total equality of rights with men, women have gained a good 
measure of autonomy and are able to pursue their own careers on an 
equal footing with men. Tunis, the capital, with a population of about 
one million, is one of the principal cosmopolitan urban centers of the 
Mediterranean.
  Strengthened by economic achievements in recent years, Tunisia is 
starting the new millennium with confidence and serenity. It expects to 
reinforce and deepen the reforms it has initiated in order to face the 
challenges of the new stage and integrate its productive system into 
the world economy. Tunisia continues to be a model for developing 
countries. It has sustained remarkable economic growth and undertaken 
reforms toward political pluralism.
  Mr. Speaker, Tunisia continues to preserve the safety and security of 
its people and to protect its borders while moving ahead with 
deliberate and steadfast conviction to further strengthen the 
democratic values that our two countries share as foundations for free 
and open societies. I wish to congratulate the citizens of Tunisia and 
its elected officials as they commemorate their 46th Anniversary and 
wish them the best for many more years of continued peace and 
prosperity.

                          ____________________