[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[October 28, 1998]
[Pages 1904-1905]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the State Dinner Honoring President Andres Pastrana of 
Colombia
October 28, 1998

    Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Mr. President, Mrs. Pastrana, 
members of the Colombian delegation, distinguished guests, it's a great 
pleasure to welcome all of you to the White House for this dinner in 
honor of the President and the First Lady of Colombia.
    Today President Pastrana and I worked hard to advance the 
partnership between Colombia

[[Page 1905]]

and the United States. Tonight we celebrate our friendship, among 
friends. It is a long friendship, indeed, going back to our struggles 
for independence, including, as President Pastrana discussed today, an 
alliance in war as well as peace.
    After all these years, the United States remains captivated by 
Colombia, by the power of Colombian art, the force of Colombian 
literature, and I might add, the strength of Colombian coffee. 
[Laughter] Indeed, if ever a prize is given to any of the people who 
negotiated the peace treaty at Wye, something will have to be given to 
Colombia, for without the coffee it would not have occurred. [Laughter]
    The United States is grateful for the many contributions Colombians 
make to our national life, as students, teachers, athletes, and every 
occupation between.
    Mr. President, your election this summer marks the beginning of a 
new era in your country's history and in our long relationship. Bravely, 
you have placed Colombia on the path to peace. You have taken hard steps 
toward renewed prosperity. We look forward to walking with you into the 
21st century. We still have much to learn from and to give to each 
other.
    We live in a hemisphere on a planet growing ever smaller. In our 
independence, every day we grow more interdependent. If we would be 
strong, we must lift others. If we would fulfill our own promise, we 
must help others live their dreams. We must, in short, go forward 
together.
    In the last phrase of what has famously become known in the United 
States as my favorite novel, ``One Hundred Years of Solitude,'' our 
guest and friend tonight, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, says, ``Races 
condemned to 100 years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on 
Earth.'' In the 21st century let us move away from isolation, solitude, 
loneliness, to build 100 years of an American family together.
    Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to join me in a toast to the 
President and First Lady of Colombia and to the people of their great 
land.

Note: The President spoke at 8:50 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Nohra Pastrana, wife of President 
Pastrana. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
also included the remarks of President Pastrana.