[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.