Office of the Press Secretary
(Warsaw, Poland)
______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 10, 1997
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON
IN TOAST REMARKS
Presidential Palace
Warsaw, Poland
PRESIDENT CLINTON: I and all of our American colleagues are honored
to be here in Warsaw today, grateful that you have received us so
warmly, proud to share in such an historic occasion for Poland, Europe
and the United States.
This week in Madrid, the old dividing lines of Europe were wiped
away forever, and in their place we are building a framework of a
Europe whole and free for the first time since nation states arose
on the continent.
NATO's decision to welcome Poland into the Alliance is both a
tribute and a challenge -- a tribute to the people of this great
nation who were the first to unleash the force of freedom from
behind the Iron Curtain; who pioneered the difficult transition to an
open society and an open market; who took the lead in reaching out to
your neighbors in the Baltics, Russia and the Ukraine, who sent your
troops to give the people of Bosnia a chance to rebuild their
broken land.
It is a challenge to all of us to ensure that this moment of
possibility fulfills its promise by meeting the solemn
responsibilities that NATO membership entails, by living up to the
shared ideals NATO represents, by continuing to support Europe's new
democracies in their quest to be full partners in an undivided Europe,
by making the defense of peace and freedom our common goal and
commitment. I am confident we will meet these challenges because the
love of liberty we share has been forged on the anvil of history.
In the park by the White House is a statue of Kosciusko, beloved son
of Poland, adopted son of the United States. Moved by the ideals of
our revolution, Kosciusko traveled to Philadelphia to enlist in
freedom's cause. He was the first foreign soldier in America's army.
He distinguished himself at Saratoga and West Point, where American
cadets later built a monument in tribute to his role in forging our
freedom. He returned to Poland to help defend his homeland against a
foreign invasion. And though he did not succeed, he inspired the
world with his courage and the force of his ideals.
Thomas Jefferson said of his Polish friend, "He was as pure a son
of liberty as I have ever known, and of that liberty which is to go
to all, not to the few and rich alone."
In the more than 200 years since Kosciusko, came to us, Poland
has given us many sons and daughters of liberty. I want to say
a special word about one -- adopted son of the United States and pure
son of liberty, the Chairman of our Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest
ranking American in the United States military, General John
Shalikashvili, who is here with us tonight. (Applause.)
He was born here in Poland. He witnessed the destruction of
Warsaw. He saw its heroic rise against tyranny. A child born of
war, he has given his entire life to the cause of peace. Our ability
to be here tonight celebrating NATO's enlargement is due in no small
measure to his visionary leadership in helping to create the
Partnership for Peace. The American people and the President in
particular, are very proud of the service of this son of Poland,
John Shalikashvili. Thank you, sir. (Applause.)
The Poles have a tradition of sending their finest sons to
fight for others' freedom. I have been told of the Polish phrase
that describes this tradition, a phrase that also represents our new
Alliance through NATO. It goes, "For your freedom and ours," -- I
believe: Za wolnosc wasza i nasza. (Applause.)
Nothing is more precious, nothing more noble, nothing more right.
It is the spirit of Poland, the spirit of America, the spirit of NATO,
to which this great nation is joining its strength -- fully, finally,
forever.
I now ask you to join me in raising a glass to the President,
the distinguished leaders here present, the people of Poland, the
enduring friendship between our nations and the future we will create
in the new century.
(A toast is offered.) (Applause.)
END