    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [June 21, 1999]
    [Pages 988-989]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the People of Ljubljana
    June 21, 1999

        Thank you, Thank you. Dober dan! You have certainly provided for me
    a welcome to Slovenia I will never forget.
        Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Mayor Potocnik; to the
    young lady who introduced me, Irena Majcen; and
    to your famous Olympian Leon Stukelj; and to
    all the people of Slovenia, thank you very much.
        I would also like to thank the Big Band of RTV for playing my
    national anthem and yours. Let's give the band a hand, there. [Applause]
        I have wanted to visit your country for a long time. The whole world
    admires Slovenia's success in building freedom and prosperity, and now
    we look to you to play a crucial role as we build a better future for
    all of Europe. Your great Olympic champion Leon Stukelj has now lived 100 years. He has lived throughout this
    century, the bloodiest and most turbulent in history, from the collapse
    of Austria-Hungary to the first Yugoslav State, from fascist invaders to
    Soviet forces to Tito's Yugoslavia. Think how many armies have marched
    through this square, how many flags have been raised over your city.
        Now, at last, the flag flying in this capital stands for
    independence and democracy and the better life you are building.
    Congratulations, and God bless you.
        All over the world, people seek the same kind of freedom and justice
    and peace that you have brought here--from Northern Ireland to the
    Middle East, to southern Africa, and in central and southeastern Europe.
    But we know these gains are fragile, for freedom's enemies hope for our
    failure. Therefore, we must keep moving forward to deepen democracy and
    widen opportunity, to build genuine communities and lasting peace.
        To succeed, we must begin with a simple truth: Racial and religious
    hatred has no place in a civilized society. That is why free nations
    stood against Mr. Milosevic's ethnic
    cleansing and killing in Kosovo. Now the Serb forces have left, the
    international security forces are moving in, and the Kosovars are going
    home. This is a great day for freedom.
        I thank Slovenia for standing with NATO and for providing vital aid
    to the refugees. For all you have done, I am very, very grateful. Thank
    you.
        Eight years ago Mr. Milosevic
    triggered a military assault on your nation. But you resisted. You
    secured your freedom, and you proclaimed: It will never be the same
    again. Now, all the people--all the people of every part of Europe must
    be able to say the same thing. Democracy, tolerance, and human rights
    must prevail everywhere. For no nation is safe, no prosperity is stable
    if conflict and refugees and crime and terrorism can be pushed across
    borders.
        We must build a Europe with no frontline states, a Europe undivided,
    democratic, and at peace for the first time in history. And Slovenia can
    lead the way. And America will help.

    [[Page 989]]

        Today America and Slovenia have reached agreements to encourage more
    American companies to do business here, to expand trade, and to do other
    things which will help your economy. And let me say to people all over
    the world who will see this on television, do not be deterred by the
    rain. [Laughter] This a wonderful country. Come here and help them build
    a future.
        We also want to build Slovenia's security. You have stood with us in
    Kosovo. You have made progress in creating a modern military. You have
    established a demining trust to remove landmines and aid their victims.
    You have been a good partner, and you are an excellent candidate for
    NATO.
        Let me also say that we want Serbia to be a part of the new Europe.
    But Serbia must reject the murderous rule of Mr. Milosevic and choose the path that Slovenia has chosen, where
    people reach across the old divides and find strength in their
    differences and their common humanity.
        A decade ago, just as Mr. Milosevic
    was launching his campaign of ethnic terror, Slovenia chose a new
    national anthem, with a verse from your great poet and patriot France
    Preseren. Your anthem--your anthem tells what Europe's future should be.
    The anthem praises those who work for the day when all will be free;
    when nations live as neighbors, not enemies; when war is banished from
    the world.
        Your vision is our vision. Let us pursue it together, for all of
    Europe, so that for all your peoples, it will never be the same again.
        Thank you, and God bless you.
        On behalf of our delegation, my wife, my daughter, all of us, thank
    you for making us feel welcome. We never will forget this. I hope you
    won't either.
        God bless you, and thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:22 p.m. in Congress Square. In his
    remarks, he referred to President Milan Kucan and Prime Minister Janez
    Drnovsek of Slovenia; Mayor Viktorija Potocnik of Ljubljana; 1924
    Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Leon Stukelj; and President Slobodan
    Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).
    The President also referred to RTV, Radio and Television of Slovenia.