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“SENATOR TORRICELLI HONORS DEPARTING SWEDISH AMBASSADOR” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S7617-S7618 on July 16, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATOR TORRICELLI HONORS DEPARTING SWEDISH AMBASSADOR
Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the monumental service and dedication of one of Sweden's finest Ambassadors ever to have served in the United States, Mr. Henrik Liljegren. After 4\1/2\ years in Washington, Ambassador Liljegren is being reassigned to Istanbul, Turkey, and I want to take this opportunity to express my admiration for, and gratitude to, this skilled diplomat.
Ambassador Liljegren has spent his time in Washington carefully fostering a new level of understanding between our two countries. The end of the cold war has created new perspectives for Sweden's foreign policy, and new opportunities for Sweden and the United States to further their relationship. Ambassador Liljegren is well respected for his willingness to promote closer ties between the people of our two great nations.
His strategy for strengthening United States-Swedish ties has been multifaceted and creative. For example, he recently testified before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to help determine whether or not neutral countries had profited from their policies during the Second World War. Ambassador Liljegren was aware of the State Department's Eizenstat Report, which was stern in its condemnation of neutral states during this period, and was forthcoming in explaining his country's policies vis-a-vis the Third Reich. His testimony was influential in drawing attention to the systematic effort on the part of the Swedish Foreign Ministry to assist the Jews during World War II.
On behalf of my colleagues in the Senate and the entire Nation, I want to again express our gratitude for Ambassador Liljegren's service, and wish him the best of luck as he continues his career in Turkey.
TRIBUTE TO STEPHANIE A. FRANK AND ERICK N. VIORRITTO, RECIPIENTS OF THE
1997 WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Stephanie A. Frank of Dover, NH, and Erick N. Viorritto of Manchester, NH, on being selected as the Granite State winners of the 1997 White House Presidential Scholars Program sponsored by General Motors and Saturn. Stephanie and Erick were chosen on the basis of academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in their school and community. Each student also selected the teacher who has had the most impact on his or her accomplishments.
Stephanie and Erick, along with their parents and honored teachers, spent a week in Washington, and attended the Presidential Scholar Medallion ceremony hosted by President Clinton. Stephanie, a graduate of Dover High School in Dover, NH, brought her teacher Mr. Christopher Lawrence to accompany her on the trip, while Erick, a graduate of Manchester's West High School in Manchester, NH, brought his teacher Mr. Gaston P. Normand, Jr., for the festivities.
Founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House Presidential Scholars Program honors the Nation's most accomplished students. This year, 141 high school seniors were chosen from among 2,600 eligible candidates on the basis of academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in their school and community.
As a former high school teacher myself, I commend Stephanie and Erick for their hard work and outstanding achievements. Congratulations to Stephanie and Erick on this distinguished honor. It is an honor to represent these outstanding students in the U.S. Senate.
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