[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 140 (Friday, October 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON THE ELECTION OF AMBASSADOR DAN 
GILLERMAN AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 60TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2005

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 368, congratulating the State of Israel on the election of 
Ambassador Dan Gillerman as Vice President of the 60th United Nations 
General Assembly. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important 
resolution.
  In June 2005, Ambassador Gillerman was elected to serve as the Vice 
President of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Incredibly, 
Ambassador Gillerman is the first Israeli to serve as Vice President of 
the General Assembly in the past 53 years. The last Israeli to hold 
this prestigious post was the legendary Abba Eban, who served as Vice 
President in 1952. Ambassador Gillerman is bringing years of notable 
experience to this international body which historically has not been 
supportive of the State of Israel.
  Ambassador Gillerman has played a prominent role in helping to steer 
Israel towards economic liberalization and a free market economy. He 
has served on the Prime Minister's National Economic and Social 
Council, the President's Committee of the Coordinating Council of 
Israel's Economic Organizations, and as Chairman of the Israel-British 
Business Council, as well as being a member of the executive board of 
the International Chamber of Commerce.
  Most importantly, Ambassador Gillerman has been personally involved 
in the economic aspects of the Israeli/Palestinian peace process. He 
has honorably represented Israel during talks with Palestinian and Arab 
leaders trying to further economic cooperation within the region. I 
hope that his appointment at the United Nations will lead to further 
progress on a final peace settlement between Israel and Palestine.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ambassador 
Gillerman and the State of Israel on this historic occasion.

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