[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5135-5136]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          TUNISIA NATIONAL DAY

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Government and the people of Tunisia on the occasion of their annual 
National Day celebration, March 20, which this year marks the 43rd 
anniversary of their independence from France. While the Republic of 
Tunisia is only 43 years old, the Tunisian nation has a long rich 
history, dating back to ancient Carthage.
  Accompanied by the senior U.S.-NATO military commander responsible 
for the region, I was privileged to visit Tunisia last April. At the 
request of Admiral Lopez, I met with top government and military 
officials in the company of U.S. Embassy officials in hopes of 
integrating U.S. and Tunisian actions and efforts in Europe.
  The United States and Tunisia go back a long way. In 1797, our two 
nations signed a treaty of peace and friendship. Among other things, 
this treaty called for ``perpetual and constant peace.'' Indeed, for 
the past 200

[[Page 5136]]

years, our two nations have enjoyed such a relationship. During World 
War II, Tunisia's nationalist leaders suspended their struggle against 
France in order to support the Allied cause: they knew which side in 
that war was fighting for the values they held dear. During the tense 
cold war years, Tunisia was one of America's most reliable allies in 
the Mediterranean, and Tunisia's friendship proved of tremendous 
benefit to the Sixth Fleet.
  Since the end of the cold war, Tunisia has continued to be a friend 
and ally of the United States. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben 
Ali has been very active in supporting the Middle East peace process. 
He has also sought to open his country's economy to greater U.S. 
investment, a goal that has gotten a recent boost from our own State 
Department, which has proposed a new trade partnership with the 
countries of North Africa, including Tunisia. Our military ties with 
Tunisia also remain strong. Just last month Defense Secretary William 
Cohen visited Tunisia and discussed a number of issues of mutual 
interest, including the Iraqi situation, the Middle East peace process 
and the Lockerbie bombing.
  I think it is safe to say that few of our Nation's bilateral 
relationships have been broadly and consistently positive for so long. 
I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating Tunisia on its 
National Day and in honoring this great friend of the United 
States.

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