Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 93.djvu/1450

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PUBLIC LAW 96-000—MMMM. DD, 1979

93 STAT. 1418

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—JULY 18, 1979

the United Nations for the purpose of establishing a special investigatory commission charged with the responsibility of securing a full accounting of Americans listed as missing in Southeast Asia. The commission should be composed of individuals selected because of their impeccable credentials and their long-standing service to the principles embodied in the United Nations Charter. The commission should be authorized to hold hearings, receive written communications, and seek the full cooperation and the facilities of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for purposes of verifying crash sites, confirming information on the last known whereabouts of missing Americans, and taking other appropriate measures to secure a full accounting of Americans listed as missing in Southeast Asia. The commission should be directed to submit a report summarizing its findings to the appropriate body of the United Nations. Agreed to July 18, 1979.

J^iy 1 > i9'79 8

P A R L I A M ENT OF THE E U R O P E A N COMMUNITY

[H. Con. Res. 159]

Affirmation of congressional ^"PP"'^-

Whereas since World War II the United States has consistently supported European integration as a fundamental basis for peace, stability, and prosperity; and Whereas the basic aims for the European Community are to foster the well-being of its citizens through economic growth and stability among its member states, and to lay the foundations for closer union among the peoples of Europe; and Whereas, in the common interest, the United States has maintained close ties with the Community, dating from the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community; and Whereas these ties have been further strengthened by the continuing exchanges, initiated in 1972, between Members of the United States Congress and representatives of the European Parliament, the members of which have heretofore been appointed from the legislatures of the member states of the Community; and Whereas the United States and the Community share common respect for democracy, the promotion of human rights under the rule of law, and the observance of democratic practices; and Whereas the election of representatives to the European Parliament by universal suffrage is a concrete manifestation of the Community's commitment to democratic ideals; and Whereas a Parliament elected by universal suffrage will enable the citizens of the Community to participate more fully, through their elected representatives, in strengthening their common futures; and Whereas June 7 through 10, 1979, marked the first time that the citizens of the Community have chosen by direct universal suffrage their representatives to the European Parliament: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That, the Congress welcomes the first directly elected Parliament of the European Community into the family of freely elected representative bodies. SEC. 2. The Congress recognizes the election of the Parliament to be an event of great historical significance to the evolution of European unification and integration and to the growth of representative democracy. SEC. 3. The Congress congratulates the newly elected Parliamentarians and expresses the conviction that, as they assume their responsibilities, they will pursue policies aimed at strengthening the Community and ties between it and the United States.