HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

249

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

AUTHORIZING AND REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE HAWAII SISTER-STATE COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF rabat-salÉ-zemmour-zaËr OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii maintains a heritage of international participation and cultural sensitivity unparalleled in other states due to its multicultural population since the reign of the Hawaiian monarchy in the early 19th century; and

 

     WHEREAS, since 1981, the Legislature has instituted sister-state relationships as a means of asserting its active participation in international matters; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii currently maintains 15 sister-state relationships; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds it advantageous to continue to pursue sister-state relationships, for both cultural and economic development reasons, with attention focused on fostering the most productive ties; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii initiated informal relations with the Moroccan state of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër, as both states hosted a World Youth Congress assembly administered by Peace Child International of the United Kingdom; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature extends its gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for graciously hosting Hawaii's designated representative to Morocco at the Moroccan-hosted Second World Youth Congress in August, 2003; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature notes many other connections between our states, including the semester-long visit of Mr. Driss Semlani, a teacher from El Malek Assaadi High School in Kenitra, Morocco, to Hawaii in the spring of 2002 as part of the New Initiative Teacher Exchange program, an initiative of the United States Department of State and the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mr. Jan Rumi, who attended the Second World Youth Congress in 2003 as an adult observer, is now serving as the Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Morocco located in Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, the state of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër maintains a population of about 2,000,000 residents, three-fourths of whom live in urban areas on the eastern Atlantic coast, including the city of Rabat, the seat of the Kingdom of Morocco; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the negotiations have been completed between the United States government and the Kingdom of Morocco and a free trade agreement has been secured as part of the Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative of President George W. Bush; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes this relationship would be mutually beneficial and sustainable, advancing its goals for international peace and brotherhood; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is authorized and requested to take all necessary actions to establish a sister-state relationship through the Hawaii Sister-State Committee between Hawaii and the state of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër, Kingdom of Morocco, to include economic, social, governmental, educational, and cultural exchange; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër be offered the privileges and honors that Hawaii extends to its sister-states and provinces; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and the Hawaii Sister-State Committee are requested to report to the Legislature on the progress made with respect to this Concurrent Resolution no later than 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Secretary of State and the Embassy in Rabat are requested to assist in the matters proposed by this Concurrent Resolution; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the business community of Hawaii is also requested to assist in the matters proposed by this Concurrent Resolution, as in all matters concerning sister-state relations; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of State, King of Morocco, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, United States Ambassador-designee to the Kingdom of Morocco, Moroccan Ambassador to the United States, Congressional delegation from Hawaii, Governor of Hawaii, Governor of the state of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër, Chairperson of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee, President of the University of Hawaii, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Morocco in Hawaii.

Report Title: 

Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër, Kingdom of Morocco Sister-State Relationship