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Scotland strengthens USA ties
20/08/2007
A delegation of senior US politicians was tonight presented with a specially designed Tartan as part of a week long official visit to Scotland.
The Friends of Scotland Congressional Caucus was launched in April 2006 to strengthen links between the US and Scotland. Its members include nearly 40 Congressmen, with membership now opened up to the Senate side of the House.
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani presented a bolt of cloth made from the newly designed Friends of Scotland Congressional Caucus tartan to a visiting group of members including Congressmen Mike McIntyre, Robert Aderholt, Roger Wicker and Joe Wilson.
She said:
"The Scottish government is committed to the promotion of Scotland in the US and elsewhere in the world. "Membership of the 'Friends of Scotland Caucus' continues to expand and has now been extended to Senators, along with nearly 40 influential Congressmen. This truly is a significant platform to promote Scotland at Capitol Hill, the centre of US political life, and I look forward to working with them to do just that.
"Each Congressman shares an affinity with our great nation. This visit allows us to showcase the best of Scotland and develop our links with the US to ensure Scotland's voice is heard on the world stage."
Congressman Mike McIntyre said:
"The Friends of Scotland Caucus was launched to serve as a stronger link between the US and Scotland. Almost two years later, it has become this and more. The Friends of Scotland Caucus adds new members of the US House each session. In addition, we are pursuing members of the US Senate to join us too, while working closely with the Scottish Affairs Office in the British Embassy in Washington, and the hundreds of Scottish associations found around the US"
The Friends of Scotland Caucus was formally launched during Tartan Week 2006 with Congressmen Mike McIntyre and John Duncan as its co-chairs. Since its creation membership has grown to around 40 members from throughout the US. Both Congressmen took forward the idea of the Caucus during their visit to Scotland in March 2005.
The Friends of Scotland Congressional Caucus tartan was designed by the Strathmore Woollen Company. It incorporates the six white and seven red stripes of the American flag with the white cross on a blue background of the Scottish saltire.