    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 15, 1999]
    [Pages 2098-2099]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Receiving the Order of the State of the Turkish Republic
    Award in Ankara
    November 15, 1999

        First of all, let me thank you for this beautiful Order of State
    award. You know, in my country, they give you these awards normally when
    you're one step away from death. [Laughter] It's quite a wonderful thing
    to receive one when at least you still feel quite normal. [Laughter] And
    particularly, an award that symbolizes our shared values and the long
    friendship between our two countries, one that goes back in many ways to
    the beginning of our country and, clearly, for the last 50 years, back
    to the beginning of the Truman Doctrine and the commitment of the United
    States to the security and integrity of Turkey.
        In these last 50 years, we have been partners from Korea to Kosovo,
    against aggression and oppression, and as we look ahead to the future,
    we will have many opportunities for richer and deeper partnerships.
        I would just briefly observe that it is an irony of history that we
    are on the edge of a new millennium--which will be shaped by
    unbelievable advances in technology, an explosion in information, and
    great leaps forward in science--but the biggest problem the world has is
    that

    [[Page 2099]]

    everywhere people are too much in the grip of the oldest difficulty of
    human societies: We still are prone to fear people who are different
    than ourselves.
        And so, all across the world, we see ethnic, racial, religious
    conflicts. We see people remembering old reasons for geopolitical
    difficulties, when new opportunities for cooperation are staring them
    right in the face. And it is for those of us who are moving into this
    new millennium to leave our children a more unified vision of human
    society and of human cooperation across national lines, one that gives
    all children, without regard to their station or birth, a chance to live
    up to their dreams--boys and girls alike; Muslims, Jews, Christians
    alike; people who come from any part of the world.
        I hope that we can be faithful, Turkey and the United States, to the
    ideals and dreams of our founders and, together, leave that legacy of a
    unifying vision of human life.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 7:50 p.m. in the Reception
    Hall at the Presidential Palace. The transcript released by the Office
    of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of President Suleyman
    Demirel of Turkey.