[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[October 16, 1997]
[Pages 1376-1377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 16, 1997

    Mr. President, Mr. Mayor, distinguished members of the Argentine 
Government, to the people of Argentina. It is a great honor for me, 
distinguished members of our Cabinet and the United States Congress, to 
stand on behalf of the American people before the tomb of a true hero of 
the Americas, General Jose Francisco de San Martin.
    I thank you, Mr. President, and all the people here for the warm 
welcome we have received. Mr. Mayor, I thank you for the key to the 
city. And I thank our friends in the press corps for showing me how to 
hold the key to the city. [Laughter]
    Before the monument to San Martin, it is well to remember that as we 
enter a new era and a new century, all our nations have become so far 
began with courageous visionaries, who dared to dream of independence at 
the dawn of our national histories. General San Martin often has been 
compared to George Washington, our first President and the commander of 
our forces in the Revolutionary War. Each man rose to the defense of his 
native land, though the risks were great and the odds of success were 
long. Both inspired confidence with their simple manners, modesty, and 
quiet but unbending determination. Both fought for liberty, not 
conquest. And after their victories breathed life into our fragile new 
nations, they refused the temptation of despotic rule, preferring 
instead to embrace the role of citizen.
    In 1819 a United States diplomat wrote to his superior of San 
Martin, ``I think him the greatest man I have seen in South America.'' 
General San Martin was a proud Argentinean but also a citizen of the 
world, who gladly lent his aid to other nations seeking their freedom as 
well, and thus he became liberator and captain general of the Republic 
of Chile, generalissimo of the Republic of Peru. Even when he retired to 
France, the Belgians sought his leadership in their quest for 
independence.
    Today, at long last, the democracies of the Americas are living up 
to the legacy of San Martin. They respect each other's independence, 
stand ready to help each other and other countries beyond the hemisphere 
to prevent war, preserve peace, and prosper. In these endeavors, 
Argentina stands out. As guarantor of the Rio protocol, you are joining 
Chile, Brazil, and the United States in helping Ecuador and Peru pursue 
lasting peace. Your sons and daughters in the Argentine Armed Forces 
take on some of the most demanding missions of good will, helping war-
torn lands around the world turn from conflict to cooperation. As close 
to home as Guatemala and Haiti, as far away as Bosnia, Cyprus, and 
Mozambique, Argentina has answered the call to peace. Some of your 
peacekeepers are with us here today. The United States, others who have 
worked with you, and most of all, the people you have helped around the 
world are in your debt, and on all their behalf, I thank you. In 
recognition of your country's extraordinary contributions to 
international peacekeeping, I have notified our Congress of my intention 
to designate Argentina as a major non-NATO ally under our laws.

[[Page 1377]]

    Our alliance of values goes beyond our efforts against threats to 
peace and security, but it begins there. It also includes a commitment 
to freedom and democracy, a conviction that open markets are engines for 
progress, a determination to give all our people a chance to contribute 
and be rewarded for their efforts in the future we are building, a 
passionate belief in the potential of every child and the right of all 
children to a good education, a profound concern for the environment 
that we hold in trust for future generations.
    Near the end of his long life, General San Martin said, ``All 
progress is the child of time.'' Here at his final resting place, I say 
to you, I believe he would applaud the progress Argentina and all the 
Americas have made and the direction we are taking toward a new era of 
peace and prosperity. But I also believe he would remind us of the work 
still undone, the challenges still unmet. He would urge us to press on 
to make progress the child of this time.
    Clearly, we have the chance and the responsibility to redeem the 
promise of San Martin, beyond even his visionary dreams. And so, Mr. 
President, with high hopes, strong resolve, and generous spirits, let us 
take our chance and do our duty together.
    Thank you, and God bless the people of Argentina and the United 
States.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 9:20 a.m. in the Plaza San 
Martin. In his remarks, he referred to President Carlos Saul Menem of 
Argentina and Mayor Fernando de la Rua of Buenos Aires.