[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMENDING INDIA ON ITS CELEBRATION OF REPUBLIC DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID VITTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues today and 
take this opportunity to commend India on its celebration of Republic 
Day, which formalized India as a parliamentary democracy.
  On January 26th of this year India celebrated its 51st Republic Day. 
In that time India has grown into the world's largest democracy and has 
helped illustrate the stabilizing force of democracy.
  India is one of America's foremost friends in the South Asian region 
of the world and has continued to be a consistent and helpful ally to 
the United States in our on-going war against terrorism. Increasingly, 
America must attempt to engage the Muslim world through diplomacy, and 
India, along with other nations, provides an opportunity to do that. 
Most importantly, we will need to identify our friends and to stand by 
those countries that reflect our faith in ideals such as democracy, 
human rights and religious freedom.
  Over one billion Indian people of diverse faiths in India currently 
practice democracy and enjoy religious freedom. They look to courts for 
justice, respect human rights, and in short, embody American values in 
this important region of the world. The United States and the Republic 
of India have a common bond and a strong commitment to shared 
principles. I sincerely hope that the partnership that has been forged 
between our great nations will continue to blossom.
  Because of these many accomplishments, I wish to join my colleagues 
to express my strong support that the friendship between our two 
countries continues, and to commend India on its celebration of 
Republic Day.

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