[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4580]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               TUNISIA'S 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 26, 2001

  Mr. HILLIARD Mr. Speaker, I rise to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the Republic of Tunisia on its 45th anniversary of 
independence, to be celebrated on Tuesday, March 20, 2001. I invite my 
colleagues to join in extending our congratulations to the people and 
leaders of this important friend in Africa.
  The Republic of Tunisia has been and continues to be a model of 
economic growth. Moreover, Tunisia has been at the forefront of 
normalization with Israel as the Middle East peace process develops.
  Today, Tunisia maintains a more stable democratic system of 
government, and a steadily increasing middle class. The country 
continues to make every effort to broaden its political debate.
  We should be proud to recognize our friendship with Tunisia, which 
spans more than 200 years. The U.S. was the first great power to 
recognize Tunisia's independence in 1956, and in keeping with that 
tradition, I congratulate the Republic of Tunisia and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.

                          ____________________