    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [November 7, 1997]
    [Pages 1512-1513]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Agreement Establishing the South
    Pacific Regional Environment Programme With Documentation
    November 7, 1997

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, the Agreement Establishing the South Pacific Regional
    Environment Programme, done at Apia on June 16, 1993 (``the
    Agreement''). The report of the Department of State with respect to the
    Agreement is attached for the information of the Senate.
        The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has existed
    for almost 15 years to promote cooperation in the South Pacific region,
    to protect and improve the South Pacific environment and to ensure
    sustainable development in that region. Prior to the Agreement, SPREP
    had the status of an informal institution housed within the South
    Pacific Commission. When this institutional arrangement began to prove
    inefficient, the United States and the nations of the region negotiated
    the Agreement to allow SPREP to become an intergovernmental organization
    in its own right and enhance its ability to promote cooperation among
    its members.
        The Agreement was concluded in June 1993 and entered into force in
    August 1995. Nearly every nation--except the United States--that has
    participated in SPREP and in the negotiation of the Agreement is now
    party to the Agreement. As a result, SPREP now enjoys a formal
    institutional status that allows it to deal more effectively with the
    pressing environmental concerns of the region. The United States and its
    territories can only participate in its activities as official
    observers.

    [[Page 1513]]

        The Agreement improves the ability of SPREP to serve the interests
    of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and
    Guam. Its ratification is supported by our territories and will
    demonstrate continued United States commitment to, and concern for, the
    South Pacific region.
        Under its terms, the Agreement entered into force on August 31,
    1995. To date, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,
    Fiji, France, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue,
    Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Western Samoa have become
    parties to the Agreement.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Agreement and give its advice and consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 7, 1997.