H12468 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 5, 2007 rules and agree to the resolution, H. (1) recognizes the close relationship be- of ambassadors. President Bush wel- Res. 435, as amended. tween the United States and the Republic of comed San Marino’s new Ambassador, The question was taken; and (two- San Marino; Paulo Rondelli, during a White House thirds being in the affirmative) the (2) expresses its deep gratitude to the Re- ceremony on July 25. U.S. Ambassador rules were suspended and the resolu- public of San Marino for its close collabora- tion and support in issues of critical impor- Ronald Spogli presented his credentials tion, as amended, was agreed to. tance to our economic and national security to the Captains Regent in San Marino’s A motion to reconsider was laid on interests; and Palazzo Publico on March 8. I welcome the table. (3) commemorates the first bilateral ex- this development in our bilateral rela- f change of Ambassadors in the history of our tions, and look forward to ever closer RECOGNIZING THE CLOSE RELA- long relationship. cooperation with our European ally. TIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- I urge my colleagues to join me in STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF ant to the rule, the gentleman from supporting this resolution which recog- SAN MARINO New York (Mr. ENGEL) and the gen- nizes the close relationship between tleman from Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN) our two countries, expresses gratitude Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to each will control 20 minutes. to San Marino for its friendship and suspend the rules and agree to the con- The Chair recognizes the gentleman support, and commemorates the first current resolution (H. Con. Res. 236) from New York. ever exchange of ambassadors. recognizing the close relationship be- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of tween the United States and the Re- GENERAL LEAVE Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- my time. public of San Marino, as amended. Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield The Clerk read the title of the con- imous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and ex- myself such time as I may consume. current resolution. Mr. Speaker, let’s take a moment to tend their remarks and include extra- The text of the concurrent resolution recognize an ally whose relationship neous material on the resolution under is as follows: with the United States certainly ex- consideration. H. CON. RES. 236 ceeds its size. Completely surrounded The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Whereas the Republic of San Marino is the by Italy, the European microstate of objection to the request of the gen- oldest republic in the world; San Marino has the smallest popu- Whereas the Republic of San Marino was tleman from New York? founded by those fleeing the religious perse- There was no objection. lation of all the members of the Coun- cution of the Roman Empire, and has ad- Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in cil of Europe. Yet, San Marino has hered to the principles of tolerance and indi- strong support of this resolution and made a strong ally of the United vidual liberty throughout its history; yield myself as much time as I may States, most notably within a number Whereas the United States and the Repub- consume. of international institutions, including lic of San Marino have long held close ties the United Nations and the Inter- based on common interests and common val- I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from national Monetary Fund. In fact, the ues; U.S. and San Marino have collaborated Whereas the special bond between the Re- California (Mr. DREIER), for intro- public of San Marino and the United States ducing this resolution that recognizes closely on several key issues such as was first expressed nearly a century and a a small but important friend of the combating international terrorist fi- half ago in an exchange of letters between United States. nancing and protecting intellectual President Abraham Lincoln and the Captains It is often said, Mr. Speaker, that property rights. Regent of San Marino; good things come in small packages, Moreover, San Marino has been a Whereas President Lincoln expressed in his and in the case of San Marino, this is leader in promoting interreligious and letter his deep respect for the Republic of intercultural dialogue within the Euro- San Marino as ‘‘one of the most honored in certainly true. San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe, only Vati- pean Union. The value of our relation- all of history’’ and took encouragement from ship was marked earlier this year by its example that a ‘‘government founded on can City and Monaco being smaller. republican principles is capable of being so San Marino, which is home to 29,000 the first exchange of ambassadors be- administered as to be secure and enduring’’; inhabitants in a territory one-third the tween the U.S. and San Marino. Whereas the Republic of San Marino has size of the District of Columbia, at- I, therefore, ask my colleagues to been a steadfast ally of the United States in tracts several million visitors a year. join me in supporting Ranking Member many international organizations, such as The tourist industry makes up over 50 DREIER’s H. Con. Res. 236, recognizing the United Nations and the International our close relationship with the Repub- Monetary Fund; percent of the country’s GDP. San Marino is said to be the oldest lic of San Marino. Whereas the Republic of San Marino has Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve been a close collaborator on a number of key republic in the world. It was founded in 301 A.D. by Marinus of Rab, a Christian my time. economic issues, such as the protection of in- Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield tellectual property; fleeing from religious persecution by to the author of this resolution, the Whereas the Republic of San Marino has the Roman Emperor. gentleman from California (Mr. been a close collaborator in the fight against Its constitution, which dates back to terrorism, including efforts to combat inter- DREIER) such time as he may consume. 1600, is the world’s oldest written con- (Mr. DREIER asked and was given national terrorist financing; stitution, and remains in effect to this Whereas through its chairmanship of the permission to revise and extend his re- Committee of Ministers of the Council of Eu- day. marks.) rope, the Republic of San Marino has worked San Marino has been an active player Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I want to to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural at the international level, including thank my colleagues, the gentleman the United Nations, International Mon- dialogue; from New York (Mr. ENGEL) and the Whereas earlier this year, the United etary Fund, and Council of Europe. gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. States and the Republic of San Marino up- Through these bodies, San Marino has graded their diplomatic relations to ambas- BOOZMAN), for their very thoughtful re- sought to promote interreligious and marks on this resolution. sador-level, and exchanged the first bilateral intercultural dialogue, as well as the Ambassadors in our history; I also want to join in expressing my Whereas Paolo Rondelli, the first Ambas- protection of intellectual property. appreciation to my fellow Californian, sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of San Marino has also cultivated a the distinguished Chair of the Com- the Republic of San Marino to the United close friendship with the United States mittee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. LANTOS States, presented his credentials to Presi- based on our shared values and inter- and, of course, the ranking Republican, dent Bush at a ceremony at the White House ests. This relationship was first ex- Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. on July 25, 2007; and pressed when President Abraham Lin- Whereas the Honorable Ronald P. Spogli coln exchanged letters with the Cap- b 1500 presented credentials to the Captains Regent tains Regent of San Marino. I think both of the sets of remarks (co-Heads of State) in a ceremony in San Nearly 150 years after these letters offered underscore something that is Marino’s Palazzo Publico on March 8, 2007: Now, therefore, be it were sent, the United States and San extraordinarily important, and that is Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Marino upgraded their bilateral rela- that we thank and express our appre- Senate concurring), That Congress— tions to include the first ever exchange ciation to our allies, no matter how VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:03 Nov 06, 2007 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K05NO7.022 H05NOPT1 bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with HOUSE November 5, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H12469 large or how small their populations, we have honored their friendship and Whereas in 1978, Lalibela was recognized on in dealing with the challenges that we support, as was said, by elevating our the World Heritage List as a property consid- face internationally. relationship to the ambassadorial ered to have outstanding universal cultural But I will say I have a particular in- level. value by the World Heritage Committee of My good friend and fellow Califor- the United Nations Educational, Scientific terest in the world’s oldest republic be- and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); cause I am privileged to represent its nian Ron Spogli, as the first U.S. Am- Whereas in the mid-19th century, Emperor namesake, the City of San Marino, bassador to the Republic of San Tewodros II began the modernization of California. Marino, presented his credentials to Ethiopia and led a successful campaign to I had the privilege, Mr.