[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 39475-39476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19907]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 141 / Thursday, July 23, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

 ___________________________________________________________________

 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 39475]]

                Proclamation 7109 of July 20, 1998

                
Captive Nations Week, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Freedom, dignity, equality, and justice: these are 
                words sacred to the American people. They define our 
                lives as citizens of a democratic Nation, and they sum 
                up our hopes for all the peoples of the world. More 
                than 2 centuries ago, our founders articulated these 
                fundamental human rights in the Declaration of 
                Independence, proclaiming the truth of human dignity 
                and the idea that governments derive their power and 
                legitimacy from the consent of the people they serve. 
                We reaffirmed these convictions with the ratification 
                of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And 50 
                years ago, more than four dozen nations joined us in 
                championing these rights and liberties across the globe 
                by adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
                which the United Nations General Assembly passed 
                unanimously in December of 1948.

                Over the course of the last half-century, the Universal 
                Declaration's call to ``expand the circle of full human 
                dignity to all people'' has been a wellspring of 
                inspiration. The Declaration has served as a framework 
                for laws, constitutions, and other important efforts to 
                safeguard basic liberties, as well as a yardstick for 
                measuring progress. However, while democracy continues 
                to grow and flourish around the world and millions 
                enjoy fundamental human rights unencumbered by tyranny 
                or restraint, the shadow of oppression still lingers.

                The last decade has seen a remarkable transformation. 
                The courage, strength, and determination of men and 
                women struggling for liberty have changed the political 
                landscape of the world. Democracy has blossomed and 
                deepened its roots in many countries, particularly in 
                Central and Eastern Europe and the nations of the 
                former Soviet Union. But, the process of building 
                democracy and strengthening civil society in these 
                nations is far from complete. Moreover, there are 
                countries in Europe and elsewhere where democracy is 
                actively being undermined by authoritarian rule and 
                disrespect for the rule of law. In these regions around 
                the world, people are denied the right to worship 
                freely, speak their thoughts openly, or live without 
                fear of sudden arrest, arbitrary imprisonment, or 
                brutal treatment. The rulers of these captive nations, 
                in denying the tide of freedom rising across the globe, 
                have positioned themselves on the wrong side of 
                history.

                This year marks the 40th observance of Captive Nations 
                Week. For four decades these proclamations have served 
                to express America's solidarity with people suffering 
                under communist and other oppressive rule around the 
                world. It is important that we continue to mark this 
                annual observance as a reminder that building and 
                nurturing democracy is an enduring struggle while there 
                are still people in various parts of the world who are 
                captives of tyranny.

                The Congress, by Joint Resolution approved July 17, 
                1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the 
                President to issue a proclamation designating the third 
                week in July of each year as ``Captive Nations Week.''

[[Page 39476]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 19 
                through July 25, 1998, as Captive Nations Week. I call 
                upon the people of the United States to observe this 
                week with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to 
                rededicate ourselves to supporting the cause of 
                freedom, human rights, and self-determination for all 
                the peoples of the world.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-third.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 98-19907
Filed 7-22-98; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P