By Joan Crigger and Kay Scrimger
June 19, 2006

The International Affairs Committee met June 2, and approved resolutions on Sudan, nuclear weapons, and the Western Hemisphere trade initiative. Wichita (KS) Mayor Carlos Mayans served as Acting Chair in place of Virginia Beach Meyera E. Oberndorf, Chair of the committee.

Four speakers addressed the committee:

Anthony Welcher, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State, described key international issues at the State Department, including avian flu, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and Iraq.

He explained the many ways his office can assist mayors, including passport and visa support and country briefings when they are on official travel, and encouraged them to contact him as needed.

Director Naofumi Hida of the Japan Local Government Center in New York City explained that his office “promotes and supports the principle of internationalization” and seeks “to foster, develop, and nurture international understanding between Japan and other nations and to exchange ideas that relate to government administration and management.”

Hida thanked Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran for the “longtime warm support and consideration” of the Conference of Mayors. To the mayors, he said, “Our interests and yours are the same—helping to better the lives of our city residents.”

Benjamin Duchek, Director of the Las Vegas World Affairs Council, explained the work of his organization, “a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to enhancing international education.” He encouraged the committee to continue to educate citizens about international issues.

Surrey, British Columbia Mayor Dianne Watts described her city “the second largest and busiest crossing in Canada,” and the symbiotic U.S.-Canadian relationship in trade and job creation, energy, and the war on terror.

Watts said, “The Government of Canada will continue to work constructively with the U.S. on ways to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative,” and commended the committee for its consideration of this issue.

Resolutions Passed by the Committee and Adopted at the Conference’s Business Session:

Responding effectively and immediately to the human rights tragedy in Sudan;

Calling on Russia and China to declare explicitly that U.S. cities are no longer targets for nuclear attack; and

Facilitating cross-border travel within the Western Hemisphere.

A resolution opposing a fence in selected areas along the U.S.-Mexican border passed the committee but was tabled in the business session.