[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
[January 11, 1999]
[Pages 31-32]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the State Dinner Honoring President Carlos Menem of Argentina
January 11, 1999

    Good evening. Welcome to the White House and to this wonderful 
dinner. As you can see, we had so many people who wanted to be here, who 
love Argentina and respect you, Mr. President, that we're in more than 
one room tonight. But we're all happy to be here, and Hillary and I 
welcome you all.
    Mr. President, we hope that we have, in some small way, repaid the 
hospitality you showed us during our unforgettable visit to Argentina in 
October of 1997. At our dinner in Buenos Aires, I cited the memory of 
Domingo Sarmiento, who loved the United States but who complained that 
we ate our meals far too fast, often in 5 minutes or less. [Laughter] 
Tonight I hope our guests from Argentina will see that we value 
constructive criticism. This will be a long, leisurely meal. [Laughter]
    The friendship between our two peoples reaches back to our earliest 
days as sister republics. In fact, our first envoy to Buenos Aires was 
sent well before there was a nation called Argentina. In 1810, as Joel 
Poinsett was leaving to take up his post in Argentina, he was instructed 
by the State Department to ``promote the most friendly relations'' 
between us, and remember that all nations lie under--and I quote--``a 
common obligation to maintain that system of peace, justice, and good 
will which is the only source of happiness for nations.''
    Mr. President, those words are still a good description of our warm, 
rich, friendly relations. We share aspirations old and new, to deepen 
democracy, to strengthen justice, to educate our children, to preserve 
and enhance what we have inherited from our descendants, and to give 
other peoples a chance to live as peacefully and as prosperously as 
possible at the dawn of this new century.
    Now, there are certain disputes we will never resolve, like which 
country has the better beef or whose cooks have better mastered the 
ancient art of barbecue. [Laughter] But as we approach the 200th 
anniversary of our official relationships, our friendship has never been 
stronger. We have a common enthusiasm for the future and a common 
parallel in our history: two nations generously blessed, blessed by 
nature, blessed by hard-working immigrants eager to build a better life.
    Mr. President, I know how much this legacy means to you personally. 
It says a great deal about Argentina that a child of Syrian immigrants 
would grow up to be its President. It is remarkable to consider how far 
you have come and how far the nation has come under your leadership in 
the last 9 years.
    Over the last decade, the world has undergone a remarkable 
transformation. Nowhere has it been more dramatic or complete than in 
the Americas, where Argentina has led by its example at home and its 
commitment abroad to freedom and democracy, to peace and prosperity. A 
great deal of the credit for South America's achievements and for its 
promise belongs with the man we honor this evening.
    Borges once wrote a poem about our great 18th century theologian 
Jonathan Edwards. It included this line: ``Today is tomorrow and 
yesterday.'' Tonight let us remember the best days of our past and plan 
even better days yet to

[[Page 32]]

come. But first, let us enjoy an unhurried dinner together. [Laughter]
    I ask you to join me in a toast to the President and to the people 
of Argentina.

Note: The President spoke at 8:33 p.m. on the State Floor at the White 
House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of President Menem.