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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 277 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 277

 Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the importance of 
         diplomatic relations with the Pacific Island nations.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 15, 1998

 Mr. Inouye (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Byrd, 
     Mr. Thomas, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Roth, Mr. Ford, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. 
Murkowski, and Mr. Sessions) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

              October 9 (legislative day, October 2), 1998

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the importance of 
         diplomatic relations with the Pacific Island nations.

Whereas the South Pacific region covers an immense area of the earth, 
        approximately 3 times the size of the contiguous United States;
Whereas the United States seeks to maintain strong and enduring economic, 
        political, and strategic ties with the Pacific island countries of the 
        region, despite the reduced diplomatic presence of the United States in 
        the region since World War II;
Whereas Pacific island nations wield control over vast tracts of the ocean, 
        including seabed minerals, fishing rights, and other marine resources 
        which will play a major role in the future of the global economy;
Whereas access to these valuable resources will be vital in maintaining the 
        position of the United States as the leading world power in the new 
        millennium;
Whereas Asian countries have already recognized the important role that these 
        Pacific island nations will play in the future of the global economy, as 
        evidenced by the Tokyo summit meeting in October 1997 with various 
        Pacific island heads of state;
Whereas the Pacific has long been regarded as one of the ``last frontiers'', 
        with an enormous wealth of uncultivated resources; and
Whereas direct United States participation in the human and natural resource 
        development of the South Pacific region would promote beneficial ties 
        with these Pacific island nations and increase the possibilities of 
        access to the region's valuable resources: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) it is in the national interest of the United States to 
        remain actively engaged in the South Pacific region as a means 
        of supporting important United States commercial and strategic 
        interests, and to encourage the consolidation of democratic 
        values;
            (2) a Pacific island summit, hosted by the President of the 
        United States with the Pacific island heads of government, 
        would be an excellent opportunity for the United States to 
        foster and improve diplomatic relations with the Pacific island 
        nations;
            (3) through diplomacy and participation in the human and 
        natural resource development of the Pacific region, the United 
        States will increase the possibility of gaining access to 
        valuable resources, thus strengthening the position of the 
        United States as a world power economically and strategically 
        in the new millennium; and
            (4) the United States should fulfill its longstanding 
        commitment to the democratization and economic prosperity of 
        the Pacific island nations by promoting their earliest 
        integration in the mainstream of bilateral, regional, and 
        global commerce and trade.
                                 <all>
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