[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.