    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [July 10, 1997]
    [Page 941]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 941]]

    Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland
    in Warsaw
    July 10, 1997

        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.
        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.
        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.
        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.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 8:30 p.m. at the Presidential
    Palace. A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the
    tape was incomplete.