    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [July 10, 1997]
    [Pages 939-940]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Citizens of Warsaw, Poland
    July 10, 1997

        Thank you. Mr. President, Mr. Mayor, Major Kuklelka, Lieutenant
    Blazeusz, to the people of Warsaw and the people of Poland. I am proud
    to speak to you and to welcome you, along with the people of Hungary and
    the Czech Republic, as the next members of NATO and the next allies of
    the United States of America.
        If my interpreter will forgive me, I want to depart from the text to
    say that our American delegation are all proud to be here. But there are
    two here for whom this day has special meaning, and I would like to ask
    them to stand. The first is our Secretary of State, who was born in the
    Czech Republic and driven out by the troubles that so grieved the Poles
    in the last 50 years, Madeleine Albright. The second is one of the most
    distinguished Members of the United States Congress--both of her
    grandfathers were Polish immigrants--Senator Barbara Mikulski, from
    Maryland.
        We gather to celebrate this moment of promises kept and of promise
    redeemed. Here, in the twilight of the 20th century, we set our sights
    on a new century, a century in which finally we fulfill Poland's destiny
    as a free nation at the heart of a free Europe, a new Europe undivided,
    democratic, and at peace.
        Three years ago this week, I came to this great city and made this
    pledge: Nothing about you without you. Nic o was bez was. Now Poland is
    joining NATO. Poland is taking its place in the community of
    democracies. Never again will your fate be decided by others. Never
    again will the birthright of freedom be denied you. Poland is coming
    home.
        Freedom burned brightly in Poland 200 years ago. Then you gave
    Europe its first written constitution and the world's second written
    constitution, after America's own. That solemn pact gave strength and
    hope to your ancestors, even as Poland fell victim again and again to
    tyranny. But this week, its words and those who revered them speak to us
    across the centuries: ``We do solemnly establish this constitution,
    willing to profit by the present circumstances of Europe and by the
    favorable moment which has restored us to ourselves.''
        People of Poland, this favorable moment has restored you to
    yourselves. It is a moment that you have made. Just as freedom was born
    here 200 years ago, it was reborn here 8 years ago when you changed the
    course of history. And now, together, we have restored Poland to Europe
    and to the destiny you deserve. From this day forward, what Poland
    builds in peace, Poland will keep in security.
        To the citizens of my own country I say, this land where I speak has
    known the worst wars of the 20th century. By expanding NATO, we will
    help to prevent another war involving Poland, another war in Europe,
    another war that also claims the lives of Americans.
        We come to this moment grateful for its blessings but conscious of
    the grave responsibility it carries. Through the power of its example
    and the example of its power, our NATO alliance has kept Western Europe,
    Canada, and

    [[Page 940]]

    the United States secure for nearly half a century. Not once has a NATO
    member been attacked. Not once has NATO ever lashed out in aggression.
        Now we must adapt our alliance to a new time. Our common enemy of
    Communist oppression has vanished, but common dangers have not. Too many
    people still fear change because they have not yet felt its benefits.
    They remain vulnerable to the poisoned appeal of extreme nationalism to
    ethnic, racial, and religious hatreds. Rogue states seek to undermine
    the community of democracies. Terrorists, international criminals, drug
    traffickers show no regard for borders. These are our common dangers,
    and we must defeat them together.
        NATO is doing its part, taking in new members, taking on new
    missions, working with new partners. Like Poland, we have reached out to
    Ukraine to help forge stability in Europe, and we are working with a new
    Russia as our partner in building a Europe in which every nation is free
    and every free nation joins in securing peace and stability for all.
        Now, as your President has said, you must continue to do your part.
    Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic will now become full members of
    our alliance, with the full responsibilities of membership: the
    responsibility to nurture and strengthen and defend your democracies
    because, as we in America know, after more than 200 years the struggle
    for democracy is never over, it must be fought every day; the
    responsibility to continue the remarkable transformation of your
    economies because, having known poverty, you know the true value of the
    prosperity you have only begun to achieve; the responsibility to reach
    out to all your neighbors, to the East as well as the West, including
    the people of Russia--you must continue to build in tolerance what
    others destroyed in hate; the responsibility to meet NATO's high
    military standards and to help to bear its cost, because true security
    requires strength and readiness. We know you are ready to share the
    burdens of defending freedom because you know the price of losing
    freedom.
        Other nations are counting on you to show the contributions new
    members can make. You did not walk through NATO's door to see it shut
    behind you; that door will stay open. Eight years ago you led the way to
    freedom. Now we ask you to be pathfinders again.
        People of Warsaw, people of Poland, the American people know from
    the hard lessons of this century that your fate and our future are
    joined. After World War I, America turned away from the world, and
    freedom's flickering torch was engulfed by Europe's darkened night.
    After World War II, we and our allies continued to hold liberty's beacon
    high, but it could only light half the Continent.
        Now we come here to celebrate history's most precious gift: a second
    chance, a second chance to redeem the sacrifice of those who fought for
    our liberty from the beaches of Normandy to the streets of Warsaw, a
    second chance finally to unite Europe not by the force of arms but by
    the power of peace.
        One week ago was the Fourth of July, America's Independence Day.
    More than 200 years ago, you sent your sons to help to secure our
    future. America has never forgotten. Now, together, we will work to
    secure the future of an undivided Europe for your freedom and ours.
        That is the promise that brings us together today. That is the
    promise that will keep us together in a new Europe for a new century.
    That is our promise to all the young people here today and to
    generations yet to come: security for 100 years. Sto lat. Democracy for
    100 years. Freedom for 100 years.
        God bless America, and God bless Poland. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:30 p.m. at Castle Square in Warsaw. In
    his remarks, he referred to President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland;
    Mayor Marcin Swiecicki of Warsaw; Maj. Bolesaw Kuklelka, Polish World
    War II veteran; and 2d Lt. Piotr Blazeusz, Polish Air Force officer who
    studied in the United States.