[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11460-11461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 WELCOMING KING MOHAMMED VI OF MOROCCO

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 325, submitted 
earlier by Senator Abraham.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 325) welcoming King Mohammed VI of 
     Morocco upon his first official visit to the United States of 
     America.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I am pleased the Senate is considering a 
resolution today that commemorates the state visit of the King of 
Morocco. I extend my warmest welcome to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of 
Morocco on the occasion of his first official visit to the United 
States of America. It is my hope that my colleagues will join me in 
welcoming the King with swift adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 325) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.

[[Page 11461]]

  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 325

       Whereas Morocco was the first country to recognize the 
     independence of the United States;
       Whereas Morocco and the United States signed a Treaty of 
     Friendship and Cooperation in 1787;
       Whereas the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation stands as 
     the basis for the longest unbroken treaty relationship 
     between the United States and a foreign country in the 
     history of the Republic;
       Whereas the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation has 
     established a close, friendly, and productive alliance 
     between the United States and Morocco that has stood the test 
     of history and exists today;
       Whereas the close relationship between the United States 
     and Morocco has helped the United States advance important 
     national interests;
       Whereas the United States and Morocco have long shared the 
     objectives of securing a true and lasting peace in the Near 
     East region and have worked together to establish and advance 
     the Middle East peace process;
       Whereas, under the leadership of the late King Hassan II, 
     Morocco played a critical role in hosting meetings, promoting 
     dialogue, and encouraging moderation in the Middle East, 
     leading to some of the peace process's most important and 
     lasting achievements;
       Whereas, with the ascension of the King Hassan II's 
     successor, King Mohammed VI, Morocco is suitably positioned 
     and ably guided by its current leadership to maintain its 
     traditional role in the peace process;
       Whereas Morocco and the United States have worked 
     successfully to enhance economic stability, growth, and 
     progress in the Maghreb region and its environs, including 
     Morocco's role as host to the inaugural Middle East and North 
     Africa Summit held in Casablanca in 1994, and Morocco's 
     continuing prominence in sustaining that dialogue and 
     promoting economic integration with Tunisia and Algeria;
       Whereas King Mohammed VI has assumed and expanded the 
     legacy of his father, the late Hassan II, in strengthening 
     the rule of law, promoting the concepts of democracy, human 
     rights and individual liberties, and implementing far-
     reaching economic and social reforms to benefit all of the 
     people of Morocco;
       Whereas the preservation of the rights and freedoms of the 
     Moroccan people and the expansion of reforms in Morocco 
     represent a model for progress and bolster the foreign policy 
     objectives of the United States in the region and elsewhere;
       Whereas leading American corporations such as the CMS 
     Energy Corporation, the Boeing Company, the Goodyear Tire and 
     Rubber Company, the Gillette Company, and others are 
     responsible for substantial and increasingly higher levels of 
     trade, investment, and commerce between the United States and 
     Morocco, involving increasingly diverse sectors of the 
     Moroccan and American economies;
       Whereas the expansion of economic activity is emerging as a 
     new and increasingly important component of the historical 
     friendship between the United States and Morocco, and is 
     helping to strengthen the fabric of the bilateral 
     relationship and to sustain it throughout the 21st century 
     and beyond;
       Whereas the people of the United States and Morocco have 
     long enjoyed fruitful exchanges in fields such as culture, 
     education, politics, science, business, and industry, and 
     Americans of Moroccan origin are making substantial 
     contributions to these and other disciplines in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas Morocco and the United States are preparing for the 
     first official visit to the United States by King Mohammed VI 
     to highlight these and other achievements, to celebrate the 
     long history of warm and friendly ties between the two 
     countries, to continue discussions on how to advance and 
     accelerate those objectives common to the United States and 
     Morocco, and to inaugurate a new chapter in the longest 
     unbroken treaty relationship in the history of the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE VISIT OF KING MOHAMMED 
                   VI OF MOROCCO TO THE UNITED STATES.

       The Senate hereby--
       (1) welcomes His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco upon 
     his first official visit to the United States;
       (2) reaffirms the longstanding, warm, and productive ties 
     between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, as 
     established by the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 
     1787;
       (3) pledges its commitment to expand ties between the 
     United States and Morocco, to the mutual benefit of both 
     countries; and
       (4) expresses its appreciation to the leadership and people 
     of Morocco for their role in preserving international peace 
     and stability, expanding growth and development in the 
     region, promoting bilateral trade and investment between the 
     United States and Morocco, and advancing democracy, human 
     rights, and justice.

     SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL OF RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
     resolution to the President with the request that he further 
     transmit such copy to King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

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