[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1585]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 66--COMMEMORATING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 
                      AND THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND

  Mr. WEBB (for himself, Mr. Biden, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Warner, Mr. Dodd, 
Mr. Hagel, Mrs. Boxer, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 66

       Whereas 2008 marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of 
     the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States 
     and the Kingdom of Thailand in 1833, during President Andrew 
     Jackson's administration and the reign of King Rama III, and 
     the commencement of the relationship between the 2 countries;
       Whereas Thailand was the first treaty ally of the United 
     States in the Asia-Pacific region and remains a steadfast 
     friend with shared values of freedom, democracy, and liberty;
       Whereas, in December 2003, the United States designated 
     Thailand as a major ally outside the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization, which improved the security of both countries, 
     particularly by facilitating joint counterterrorism efforts;
       Whereas, for more than a quarter century, Thailand has been 
     the host country of Cobra Gold, the United States Pacific 
     Command's annual multinational military training exercise, 
     designed to ensure regional peace and promote regional 
     security cooperation;
       Whereas, in the wake of the tragic 2004 tsunami, the United 
     States and Thailand launched joint relief operations from 
     Utapao, Thailand, strengthening the overall capacity of the 
     forces involved in providing relief and setting the model for 
     effective humanitarian operations throughout the entire 
     region affected by the deadly tsunami;
       Whereas Thailand is a key partner of the United States in 
     Southeast Asia and has supported closer relations between the 
     United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
       Whereas, on June 22, 2006, Congress agreed to House 
     Concurrent Resolution 409, 109th Congress, commemorating the 
     60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His 
     Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand;
       Whereas, on December 5, 2007, the people of Thailand 
     celebrated the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol 
     Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, who is loved 
     and respected for his lifelong dedication to the social and 
     economic development of the people of Thailand;
       Whereas, on December 23, 2007, the Royal Thai Government 
     held nationwide parliamentary elections that are paving the 
     way for a successful return of democracy to Thailand;
       Whereas approximately 500,000 people of Thai descent live 
     in the United States, joining in the pursuit of the American 
     Dream;
       Whereas Thailand is the 20th largest trading partner of the 
     United States, with bilateral trade totaling approximately 
     $30,600,000,000 per year; and
       Whereas the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between 
     the United States and Thailand are strong: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commemorates the 175th anniversary of relations between 
     the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand;
       (2) offers sincere congratulations to the Kingdom of 
     Thailand and the people of Thailand for the democratic, free, 
     and fair elections held on December 23, 2007;
       (3) commemorates the 80th birthday of His Majesty King 
     Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and offers sincere 
     congratulations and best wishes for the continued prosperity 
     of the Kingdom of Thailand; and
       (4) looks forward to continued, enduring ties of friendship 
     between the peoples of Thailand and the United States.

  Mr. WEBB. Madam President, today I wish to introduce a resolution to 
commemorate the 175th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
United States and Thailand and the 80th birthday anniversary of His 
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, and also to express our 
recognition for the success of the recent parliamentary election in 
that country.
  I am very pleased to be joined by Senator Biden and Senator Lugar, 
the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee, together with Senators Warner, Dodd, Hagel, Boxer, and 
Murkowski as cosponsors of this resolution.
  Next month will mark 175 years of a special friendship between the 
United States and Thailand, which began with the signing of the Treaty 
of Amity and Commerce in 1833 during the administration of President 
Andrew Jackson, making Thailand our first treaty ally in Asia.
  Throughout the years, Thailand has often been a close friend and 
strategic partner of the United States and has proven to be a 
dependable key ally in Southeast Asia, helpful to the United States' 
interests in that region.
  Sharing our values of freedom and liberty, Thailand has partnered 
with the United States in fighting numerous military engagements 
throughout our history, including its current support in the global war 
on terror.
  In 2003, President Bush declared Thailand a major non-NATO ally, a 
designation which represents a close and extensive relationship between 
our two countries.
  The United States has enjoyed dynamic, vast, and varied cooperation 
and partnership with Thailand, which have not only strengthened our 
bilateral relations, but in many ways have also benefitted the Asian 
region as a whole.
  For more than a quarter century, Thailand has been the host country 
of Cobra Gold--the United States annual multinational military training 
exercise--to promote regional stability and security cooperation. As 
another case in point, the United States and Thailand's joint relief 
operations in the wake of the tragic 2004 tsunami promoted the overall 
capacity of the international humanitarian forces in providing relief, 
setting a model for effective humanitarian operations in the region.
  Madam President, I have visited Thailand many times over the past 25 
years and have many friends in that country. I had the privilege of 
visiting Thailand last year for the first time as a sitting Senator and 
was very pleased to see so much cooperation with the United States, 
particularly with our military. During our meetings, I was also 
gratified to see that so many Thai military leaders and Government 
leaders had been educated and trained in the United States--leading to 
the sense of lasting friendship and goodwill between our two countries 
toward our mutual interests.
  On another important point, as was promised at the time of the 
political coup, which occurred in 2006, I am very pleased to be able to 
remind and reassure my colleagues that Thailand held democratic, free, 
and fair parliamentary elections in December of last year, marking a 
successful return to full-fledged democracy.
  So I congratulate the new Thai Government. I look forward to the 
continuation of the long tradition of friendship and close cooperation 
between Thailand and the United States.
  I urge quick passage of this resolution, which I now send to the 
desk.

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