[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8543-H8546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING OSCE MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERS FOR COOPERATION

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 654) honoring the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe Mediterranean Partners for 
Cooperation, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 654

       Whereas the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and subsequent 
     agreements and the work of the Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as its Parliamentary 
     Assembly and affiliated institutions, encompass what is 
     referred to as the Helsinki Process;
       Whereas the 1975 Helsinki Final Act included a specific 
     section on ``Questions relating to Security and Cooperation 
     in the Mediterranean'' in recognition of the interrelation 
     between security in Europe and security in the Mediterranean 
     region;
       Whereas the long-standing relationship between the 
     participating states of the Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe and the Mediterranean Partners for 
     Cooperation, currently Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, 
     Morocco, and Tunisia, dates back to the origins of the 
     Helsinki Process and is rooted in the important geographical, 
     historical, cultural, economic, and political links between 
     them and the states of the Mediterranean region;
       Whereas the OSCE participating states have declared their 
     intention to promote the development of cooperative relations 
     with the Mediterranean Partners and to encourage the 
     development of mutually beneficial cooperation in various 
     fields of economic activity and have sought to increase 
     mutual confidence so as to promote security and stability in 
     the Mediterranean region as a whole;
       Whereas, since its establishment by the 1990 Charter of 
     Paris, the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE has called for 
     enhanced engagement with the Mediterranean Partners for 
     Cooperation and their constituent assemblies in the pursuit 
     of improved economic cooperation, and security and stability 
     in the Mediterranean region;
       Whereas in the 1992 Helsinki Document, the leaders of the 
     OSCE participating states committed to widening cooperation 
     and increasing dialogue with the Mediterranean Partners as a 
     means to promote social and economic development in order to 
     narrow the prosperity gap between Europe and its 
     Mediterranean neighbors and to protect the Mediterranean 
     ecosystems;
       Whereas in the 1999 Istanbul Document, the OSCE 
     participating states encouraged the Mediterranean Partners 
     for Cooperation to draw on the expertise of the participating 
     states in setting up structures and mechanisms in the 
     Mediterranean region for early warning, preventive diplomacy, 
     and conflict prevention;
       Whereas the 2003 Maastricht Ministerial recognized that 
     threats originating or evolving in adjacent regions are of 
     increasing importance, and therefore the OSCE will intensify 
     its cooperation with its Mediterranean and Asian Partners for 
     Cooperation, and also encouraged the Partners for Cooperation 
     to embrace the principles and commitments of the OSCE;
       Whereas the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation 
     participate as observers in the annual meetings of the OSCE 
     Ministerial Council as well as the regular meetings of the 
     OSCE Permanent Council and Forum for Security Cooperation;
       Whereas, the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation 
     actively participate in the work of the Contact Group within 
     the Permanent Council, as well as OSCE yearly events, 
     including the Annual Security Review Conference, the Economic 
     Forum, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, and the 
     Annual, Fall and Winter Sessions of the OSCE Parliamentary 
     Assembly;
       Whereas since 1995, the OSCE and the Mediterranean Partners 
     for Cooperation have organized annual Mediterranean 
     Conferences to provide the opportunity for the OSCE 
     participating states and the Mediterranean Partners to 
     exchange views on matters of mutual interest and to 
     strengthen their cooperative relationship;
       Whereas in 2001, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary 
     Assembly appointed the first Special Representative on 
     Mediterranean Affairs, Mr. Michel Voisin of France, in order 
     to enhance engagement of members of parliament from the 56 
     participating states of the OSCE with members of parliament 
     from the Mediterranean Partner states;
       Whereas since 2001, successive OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 
     Special Representatives on Mediterranean Affairs have been 
     appointed by former Assembly Presidents, Mr.

[[Page H8544]]

     Bruce George of the United Kingdom, and Mr. Goran Lennmarker 
     of Sweden, as well as by current President, Mr. Joao Soares 
     of Portugal, reaffirming the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's 
     commitment to the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation;
       Whereas, under the leadership of then-President of the OSCE 
     Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Bruce George of the United 
     Kingdom, the Parliamentary Assembly convened its first 
     conference dedicated to ensuring peace, democracy, and 
     prosperity in the region of the Mediterranean in Madrid in 
     2002; and
       Whereas the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has convened 
     Mediterranean Seminars at its fall meetings since 2003, with 
     the active participation of members of parliament 
     representing the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the 
     Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Israel, the Hashemite 
     Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Tunisian 
     Republic for their participation in the Organization for 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as Mediterranean 
     Partners for Cooperation;
       (2) welcomes the representatives of the OSCE Mediterranean 
     Partners for Cooperation to Washington, DC, on the occasion 
     of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
     Seminar on OSCE Mediterranean Partner Engagement, July 22-23, 
     2009;
       (3) encourages the OSCE to re-evaluate its past practices 
     and ongoing activities in the Mediterranean dimension in 
     order to further empower the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for 
     Cooperation in the work of the OSCE, and to support the 
     Partners' leadership on matters which impact their citizens, 
     their governments, and the region; and
       (4) encourages the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for 
     Cooperation to continue to work with the OSCE participating 
     states to enhance trade, economic development, security, and 
     stability in the Mediterranean region, and to embrace 
     existing OSCE commitments, including those in the Human 
     Dimension.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Klein) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 654, which honors 
the Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe for its 
cooperation with Mediterranean partners. I wish to thank my good friend 
from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for introducing this resolution. I would 
also like to commend him for his excellent leadership for many years in 
the Helsinki Commission, both as past President of the Parliamentary 
Assembly, and as the current Special Representative on Mediterranean 
Affairs. The important relationship between the OSCE and its 
Mediterranean Partners dates back to the founding of the organization 
in 1975. The Helsinki Final Act rightly recognized the connection 
between European and Mediterranean security, as well as the deeply 
rooted geographical, historical, cultural, economic and political ties 
between the states in this region. In particular, Algeria, Egypt, 
Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia have been active partners in this 
OSCE partnership.
  Since the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was established in 1990, it has 
called for enhanced collaboration between Members of Parliament from 
the participating states of the OSCE and Mediterranean legislators in 
order to promote regional stability and economic cooperation. The House 
of Representatives is pleased to welcome the representatives of the 
OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation to Washington, D.C. later 
this week for a seminar on further strengthening ties between OSCE and 
this region.
  In addition to the European Union's Euro-Mediterranean partnership 
and NATO's Mediterranean dialogue, this OSCE initiative provides 
another valuable forum in which Israel and its Arab neighbors can 
discuss issues of common regional concern, both formally and 
informally. It also gives these Mediterranean and Middle Eastern states 
an opportunity to learn firsthand about neighboring Europe's ongoing 
security needs and to benefit, through example, from Europe's hard-won 
success in establishing viable security structures, looking to the day 
when a peaceful Middle East will perhaps want to establish its own 
OSCE-like security architecture.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the OSCE for its efforts 
to engage more closely with the Mediterranean region and to encourage 
the Partners for Cooperation to further their efforts to enhance trade, 
security and economic development. I strongly support this resolution 
and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of this resolution, which highlights the efforts of 
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation. Twenty years ago the OSCE and 
its Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation recognized that, in an 
increasingly globalized world, the security challenges confronting them 
in their respective regions were increasingly linked. As a result, they 
agreed to formalize a diplomatic mechanism to facilitate closer 
cooperation on a range of issues, including the development of a model 
strategy to address 21st century security threats and improve stability 
in the Mediterranean region. The efforts toward this cooperation have 
already borne fruit, with the Partnership addressing issues such as 
migration and integration and exchanging information on ``best 
practices'' in order to develop strategies which reduce feelings of 
exclusion and estrangement among immigrant populations which, as we've 
all seen, can contain the potential to motivate some individuals to 
embrace extremist ideologies.
  I note that representatives of the OSCE and its Mediterranean 
Partners will meet in Washington this week to discuss further expansion 
of relations and to hold a dialogue on shared concerns. Dialogue on 
these complex but critical issues is a meaningful way to enhance the 
stability and economic growth of both the OSCE member-states and the 
countries of the Mediterranean region. I support the resolution which 
underlines the worthy endeavors being undertaken by the OSCE and its 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Let me thank the distinguished gentleman 
from Florida. There are two distinguished gentlemen from Florida, the 
manager of this particular legislation, H. Res. 654, and my dear friend 
who has been leading the Organization for Security and Cooperation for 
a number of years.
  I rise to support this resolution in honor of the efforts by the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mediterranean 
Partners for Cooperation because I believe, as a member of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee, the efforts of collaboration that we have addressing 
the questions of peace and security are crucial.
  I'd like to acknowledge some of the aspects of the OSCE's work. The 
1999 Istanbul document, the OSCE participating states encourage the 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation to draw on the expertise of the 
participating states in setting up structures and mechanisms in the 
Mediterranean region. As well, you can also believe or manage to see 
that the OSCE provides the kind of bridge of cooperation that is very, 
very important. We welcome the representatives of OSCE that are here. I 
want to thank Mr. Hastings for his great leadership in this effort.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
resolution today which honors the OSCE's Mediterranean Partners of 
Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. And I do want to 
express deepest respect and gratitude to Alcee Hastings for his 
groundbreaking work with each of those six partners. Mr. Hastings is 
the

[[Page H8545]]

former President of the Parliamentary Assembly, and now serves as 
Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs, and is trying to bring 
the Helsinki process, the three baskets of the Helsinki Final Act, 
which emphasize economic issues, human rights issues and security 
issues and, really, to bring that good, positive process that has 
worked wonders over the years in election reform. Mr. Hastings has 
observed--how many is it now, Alcee?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Eleven.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Eleven different elections overseas, usually 
as the head of the delegation. And we're trying to inculcate those kind 
of values and to say to our partners, learn from the Helsinki process. 
It works. It has yielded tremendous results and progress in the area of 
human rights. And so I want to, again, thank him for his work and again 
for this resolution.
  I'd also like to welcome the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, 
Joao Soares, as well as Goran Lenmarker, who is the immediate past 
President of the Parliamentary Assembly; Jerry Grafstein, our good 
friend from Canada, who's also here, who has done yeoman's work again.
  Everybody knows about NATO, Mr. Speaker. They don't necessarily, at 
least in the United States, know about the good work that the OSCE has 
done all these years. The Parliamentary Assembly was formed in the 
early 1990s to be, really, the voice of Members of Parliament and 
Congresses around the 56 countries that make up the OSCE. And we have 
really become friends. I was Chairman of the Helsinki Commission for 12 
years. I've been on it since my second term in 1983, and now serve as 
ranking member. And Mr. Hastings and Ben Cardin are serving as co-
chairs. This is a remarkable organization that, again, far too few 
people know the contributions that it makes, particularly in the area 
of human rights.
  So again, I want to thank Mr. Hastings and wish him great success 
with the conference that's underway, but especially for the hard work 
and very under-appreciated work in reaching out to those partners in 
the Mediterranean to say, learn from the OSCE and maybe even provides 
some insights also as to how we can improve our work as well.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Smith 
from New Jersey may manage the rest of this resolution and the 
remainder of the Foreign Affairs resolutions.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the sponsor 
of the bill, the gentleman and my good friend from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings).
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my good friend and geographic soul 
mate. Our districts abut each other in South Florida. And I am 
especially grateful to my good friend from New Jersey for his kind 
remarks regarding not only the OSCE, but his compliment to me and the 
work that I've done that could not have been done but for the 
extraordinary work that he and others that are Members of the CSCE 
referred to as the Helsinki Commission here in Washington undertake. 
Chris has been the Special Representative on a subject of vital concern 
to the world, and that is human trafficking. And he has no peer, not 
only in this institution, but in the 56 participating states he is 
fully recognized in that regard.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to honor the OSCE 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation.
  My good friend, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and I introduced H. Res. 
654 with 16 other colleagues to recognize the contributions of a unique 
partnership of the OSCE which engages Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, 
Morocco and Tunisia in supporting security and stability in the 
Mediterranean region.
  I would truly like to thank my friends of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, especially Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen, and Subcommittee Chairs Gary Ackerman, Robert Wexler, 
Donald Payne, Bill Delahunt, and Eni Faleomavaega, as well as Ranking 
Members Chris Smith and Dana Rohrabacher, who all supported this 
resolution and demonstrated the pivotal geopolitical importance of 
positive partnerships with North Africa and the Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, it is also my pleasure to welcome representatives of 
these states to Washington, D.C., for the Commission on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe Seminar on OSCE Mediterranean Partners. As I 
speak, a reception is ongoing, being hosted by the Speaker of the House 
for these members who are here for this seminar, and I thank our 
Speaker as well.
  High-level delegations from all of the Mediterranean partner 
countries are participating in this seminar, along with the president 
of the OSCE parliamentary assembly, representatives of the Greek 
chairmanship of the OSCE in office, and other OSCE participating 
states, including Kazakhstan has representatives here. They're the next 
chair in office.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past several years, I have served as 
parliamentary assembly special representative for Mediterranean 
affairs, and it's through this work that I have sought, along with 
others, to enhance the long-standing relationship between the OSCE 
participating states and the Mediterranean partners.
  In the interest of time, I would put my full statement in as a part 
of the Record, but I would point out since 1975 much has been 
accomplished. However, much more needs to be done.
  The commission seminar seeks to support these efforts and 
reprioritize the potential of this essential partnership.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends again for their support and urge my 
colleagues to vote for H. Res. 654 to truly sustain vital diplomatic 
instruments and partnerships which bring greater stability and 
prosperity to our world.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to honor the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation.
  My good friend Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and I introduced H. Res. 
654 with 16 other colleagues to recognize the contributions of a unique 
partnership of the OSCE which engages Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, 
Morocco and Tunisia, in supporting security and stability in the 
Mediterranean Region.
  I would truly like to thank my friends of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs especially Chairman Howard Berman, Ranking Member Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, Subcommittee Chairs Gary Ackerman, Robert Wexler, Donald 
Payne, Bill Delahunt, Eni Faleomavaega, as well as Ranking Members 
Chris Smith and Dana Rohrabacher who all supported this resolution and 
demonstrated the pivotal geopolitical importance of positive 
partnerships with North Africa and the Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, it is also my pleasure to welcome representatives of 
these States to Washington, DC for the ``Commission on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe Seminar on OSCE Mediterranean Partner 
Engagement,'' which will take place tomorrow and Thursday, here in the 
Capitol.
  High-level delegations from all of the Mediterranean Partner 
countries will participate in the seminar, along with the President of 
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, representatives of the Greek 
Chairmanship of the OSCE and other OSCE participating States. I invite 
all of my colleagues to attend and actively participate in the 
proceedings.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past several years, I have served as OSCE 
Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative for Mediterranean Affairs 
and it is through this work that I have sought to enhance the long-
standing relationship between the OSCE participating States and the 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation.
  This relationship dates back to the origins of the Helsinki Process 
with the signing of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe, now the OSCE. The Final Act 
recognized this unique and important relationship in a specific section 
on ``Questions relating to Security and Cooperation in the 
Mediterranean.''
  In the succeeding decades the OSCE Participating States and their 
Mediterranean Partners have worked to increase mutual confidence and 
develop economic and environmental cooperation in order to promote 
security and stability throughout Europe and the Mediterranean basin. 
It is through this unique forum that Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, 
Morocco and Tunisia continue to develop their capacity for leadership 
in the region, all the while exchanging expertise with the OSCE 
participating States.
  Since 1975 much has been accomplished, however, much more needs to be 
done. The

[[Page H8546]]

Commission's seminar seeks to support these efforts and reprioritize 
the potential of this essential partnership.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends again for their support and urge my 
colleagues to vote for H. Res. 654 to truly sustain vital diplomatic 
instruments and partnerships, which bring greater stability and 
prosperity to our world.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 654.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________