SENATE RESOLUTION

                                                                  1993-8605

By Senators M. Rasmussen, Bluechel, Gaspard, Snyder, Skratek and Spanel

            WHEREAS, There exists a long history of warm relations between the people of Washington and Russia, of personal friendships, and family ties; and

            WHEREAS, Many Washingtonians and Russians have visited one another's countries, as individuals and delegations, and this citizen diplomacy has resulted in school, hospital, and cultural exchanges, business, trade, and numerous sister city relationships; and

            WHEREAS, Ambassador Lukin was a pioneer in establishing direct relations between the Russian federation and the state of Washington as Chairman of the Russian Federation Committee on International Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations; and

            WHEREAS, Washington is greatly honored that Russia chose to open a Consulate General in our state; and

            WHEREAS, We recognize that the Consulate General in Seattle is the first diplomatic office opened in the United States by Independent Democratic Russia; and

            WHEREAS, Governors from the Russian Far East and other elected officials have visited Washington to develop closer economic and business relations; and

            WHEREAS, The Pacific Northwest and the Russian Far East are neighbors in the Pacific Rim with a shared economic future; and

            WHEREAS, The people of Russia and Washington have much in common, wide open spaces, frontier spirit, diversity of people, and the desire to work together;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That Washington welcomes Ambassador Lukin, the members of his delegation and family, Consul General Vlaskin and the officers and staff of the Consulate General in Seattle; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we look forward to the months and years ahead as the people of Russia and Washington continue to build a firm foundation of business and personal ties to create a better future for our children; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit copies of this resolution to Ambassador Lukin and Consul General Vlaskin.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1993-8605,

adopted by the Senate January 28, 1993.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate