    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [July 25, 1999]
    [Pages 1322-1323]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the American Embassy Community in Rabat, Morocco
    July 25, 1999

        Thank you very much. First, thank you for your warm welcome. To
    those of you who brought the children here today, thank you, especially
    for bringing them. I would like to thank Congressman Gilman and Congressman Martin Frost, who is with him from Texas, for joining us. I thank
    Secretary Christopher and Secretary
    Baker for dropping everything at a
    moment's notice to make this trip, to manifest their respect for King
    Hassan and the friendship between the United
    States and Morocco.
        I'd like to say a special word of thanks to President Bush, who came here, again, on a moment's notice and had to
    leave early because he now has to go down to Casablanca to take a plane
    to Belgium to meet another appointment. But I'm very grateful to him for
    making this trip.
        I'd like to thank all the people from the State Department and the
    National Security Council, represented by Mr. Berger up here, for putting this trip together in a hurry. And
    Ambassador Gabriel, thank you and
    Kathleen and the other members of our
    Embassy community for making us so welcome.
        I'd also like to say that the First Lady would very much like to be here to thank you for
    making her trips to Morocco so successful. And Chelsea is here, and Hillary's mother is here, who, as I'm sure you know, has been here at
    least twice, maybe more, since I've been here. I think she's thinking of
    moving to Morocco. [Laughter]
        We are all profoundly grateful for the friendship between Morocco
    and the United States and for the personal kindness and friendship that
    His Majesty, King Hassan, displayed to me, to
    my family, to many of us on this podium, and to President Bush and to so many others over the years. So this is an
    important day for us. And Hillary
    would be here, but she and Chelsea and my
    mother-in-law have gone to visit with the
    mother and the sisters of the new King, and
    that is why they are not here. But they asked me to give you their best
    and to thank you.
        Now, let me say, especially to the Moroccans who work for the
    American Embassy here, I know this is a difficult day for many of you.
    King Hassan was the only King most Moroccans
    ever knew, and I hope it is some measure of comfort to the people of
    this nation that, among the throngs, the millions of his fellow citizens
    who came out to honor his passing today, were leaders from every part of
    the world, from every political and religious background, united in
    their support for Morocco and their respect for the life that he lived.
        King Hassan knew every American President
    since John Kennedy. He, himself, endured great turbulence and personal
    risk. The thing that always impressed me about him is he was never
    embittered by the dangers that he faced and, over time, he grew in
    wisdom, stature, and standing in the world; and as he grew, so did
    Morocco. I'm told he was known as the great survivor and, of course, we
    all know those survivor stories. We had another laugh about them on the
    plane over and shook our head in amazement.
        But I think that, in effect, to call King Hassan a survivor is not to do justice to him. Because when we
    think of a survivor, we think about someone who is very clever, all
    right, but just--

    [[Page 1323]]

    just enough to escape the slings and arrows that fortune places in our
    path, just enough to survive, and His Majesty King Hassan did more than
    that. I think of him instead as a pathfinder, a leader who survived,
    yes, but who survived to expand the possibilities of the Moroccan people
    and all the people of this region.
        He showed it is possible to be commander
    of the faithful and a champion of tolerance and a bridge between faiths.
    He showed it is possible to represent continuity and stability and to
    build the society that is more and more democratic and open--open to
    competing ideas and other people. He showed it is possible to promote
    Islam's holy sites in Jerusalem and to reach out to Israel and the dream
    of peace, dignity, and security for all God's children in this region.
    He was a leader of the Arab world and a friend of America.
        With our modern world still so bedeviled by ancient animosities of
    race and religion, King Hassan believed that
    there is no inevitable clash of civilizations but, instead, a clash
    between those brave enough to seek a future of peace, prosperity, and
    harmony and those who fear it. He was brave enough to seek that kind of
    world. He belonged to a generation of brave leaders--King Hussein of
    Jordan, Yitzhak Rabin of Israel, Sheik Isa of Bahrain--a generation that
    brought this region to the turning point we now face. The opportunity
    for lasting peace is now at hand.
        I met with your new King this afternoon.
    I spoke with him also shortly after I learned that his father had passed away. I have confidence in him. We spoke
    about the challenges ahead. We spoke about my family's gratitude for all
    the trips that they have taken to Morocco and the kindnesses that His
    Majesty extended to them. King Hassan made her feel not only at home but a part of his family, and I
    told King Mohammed that now we would be proud to have him feel a part of
    our family.
        The people of Morocco should know they are in the thoughts and
    prayers of the American people today, and that our partnership can only
    grow stronger. You know, sometimes we come together to mourn the death
    of a friend and we are heavy with sorrow because we think about what
    might have been. Today we pay tribute to the long life of a wise
    King and a good man. And we think about what
    still might be because of the life he lived. We are grateful for that
    life, and we pray for the future that he worked for. We pray for the
    future partnership and peace of the peoples of this region; and we hope
    our prayers will be answered, for we remember the words of the prophet
    that rewards for prayers by people assembled are twice those said at
    home.
        Thank you for assembling for our country every day. God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:05 p.m. in the Hilton Hotel. In his
    remarks, he referred to former Secretaries of State Warren M.
    Christopher and James A. Baker III; former President George Bush;
    Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel and his wife, Kathleen; the First Lady's
    mother, Dorothy Rodham; and King Mohammed VI, successor to King Hassan
    II.