Date: 1981-12-15
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. necessary Impediment to the negotiation thousands of men and women are en- of a comprehensive settlement of the gaged in the work of Congress. Whether ArabIsraeli conflict based on U.N. those thousands are Involved In meeting Security Council Resolution 242 and 338. the physical necessities of Congressas The United States has taken the posiare the maintenance and foodservice tion that the final status of territory ocpeople--or In providing their Senators cupied by* Israel in. June 1967 must be and Congressmen with highly specialized determined through negotiations under and technical assistance--as are our per- these U.N. resolutions to which Israel sonal and. committee staff members- agreed. those men and women are serving vital We have had a long partnership with roles on Capitol Hill. Israel. a partnership I wish up to sustain From time to time. however. one of and nurture. but such a partnership rethose vital people achieves a special quires close consultation on matters standing among us. Such. a person 15 which are of mutual concern. It is very Susan Alvarado. Legislative Assistanft to difficult to work to bring peace to the Vice President GORGEo Busii. So promi- region if our efforts are undercut by nent and valued has Ms. Alvarado be- unilateral actions of this nature. The come that todays Washington Post Knesset vote is harmful to the peace featured her In Its "Style" section. . process and creates a new complication As Interesting as that article is. how- for U.S. efforts to advance. the Camp ever. It catches only certain facets of Ms. David process to which we are firmly Alvarados personality. career. and sig- committed. nificance on Capitol Hill. Though I do Alteprist h rbIreids not want to detract from the luster of the Alteprist h rbIreids Post article. or to "gild. the lily." I do pute should engage their energies In the want to add some words of personal ap- effort to achieve a Just. lasting and compreciation In Susan Alvarados behalf- prehensive settlement of the conflict words with which I believe many of our without taking unilateral actions which colleagues will concur. undermine the prospects for peace. Though Susan Alvarado has been In her current position for a relatively brief HOW AMTERICA LO0OKS AT EUROPE time. she Is a Capitol Hill veteran. Many Senators were impressed favorably with Mr. PERCY. Mr. President. on Decemher efficiency. spirit. and helf3 .fulness ben 1 the very able distinguished Arthur when she served on Senator STEVENS Burns. U.S. Ambassador to the Federal assistant minority leaders staff. The Republic of Germany. gave a speech in understanding. skill. and expertise that Bonn on "How America Looks at EuMs. Alvarado learned under Senator rope." Ambassador Burns made several STEVENS tutelage has served her. the points that I would particularly like to Sntand the Vice President well In call to the attention of my colleagues In her most recent capacity. and we are allthSea. Indebted -to Senator STEVENS for first First. he points out that part of Euintroducing Ms. Alvarado toher Capitol ropeans uncertainty about U.S. leaderHill1 duties. and to Vice -President BUSH ship in recent years derives directly from for providing her with a wider field of foreign perceptions of U.S. loss of ecoresponsibility in which to serve the Ben-. nomic vigor. creativity and productivity. -ate. Second. the Ambassador says he has no difficulty understanding people In Europe who disagree with U.S. policies. and even demonstiate peacefully against them. But he has great difficulties understanding Ewu.peans who equate U.S. motives lniternauonally with Soviet motives. Third. he reminds Europeans that American commitment to the North Atlantic Alliance remains strong and steadfast. but that Americans are also watching the nuclear debate In Europe with Increasing concern. If Europeans reaffirmation of alliance determination to seek collective security through both adequate defense preparedness. and arms control negotiations. Is long postponed or uncertain. "there may well be a growing sentiment In America to turn back upon Itself and let Europe depend. for its security and freedom. upon Its own resources or uponSoviet good will." Finally and most Important. Ambassador Burns stresses that the foundation of the alliance Is those common values that bind together our shared heritage and culture: respect for human rights. faith in democracy. and devotion to the rule of law. He goes on to express his feeling that confidence in the objectives of the alliance and the United States will not be fully restored until all our citizens learn or rediscover that these values are worth protecting. Hie further suggests that appreciation of the values and achievements of our western civilization must begin. on both sides of the Atlantic. in our homes. schools and parliaments. Mr. President I ask unanimous consent that the full text of Ambassador Burns remarks be printed in the RECORD.