IV
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 505
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the
importance of diplomatic relations with the Pacific Island nations.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 20, 1998
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. BEREU-
TER, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr.
HASTINGS of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 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 contig-
uous United States;
Whereas the United States seeks to maintain strong and en-
during economic, political, and strategic ties with the Pa-
cific 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,
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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 lead-
ing world power in the new millennium;
Whereas Asian countries have already recognized the impor-
tant 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 is-
land 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 re-
gion’s valuable resources: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that—
(1) it is in the national interest of the United
States to remain actively engaged in the South Pa-
cific 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 is-
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land heads of government, would be an excellent op-
portunity for the United States to foster and im-
prove diplomatic relations with the Pacific island na-
tions;
(3) through diplomacy and participation in the
human and natural resource development of the Pa-
cific region, the United States will increase the pos-
sibility 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 long-
standing commitment to the democratization and
economic prosperity of the Pacific island nations by
promoting their earliest integration in the main-
stream of bilateral, regional, and global commerce
and trade.
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