[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 28 (Monday, July 14, 1997)]
[Pages 1053-1054]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland 
in Warsaw

July 10, 1997

    I and all of our American colleagues are honored to be here in 
Warsaw today, grateful that you have received us so warmly, proud to 
share in such an historic occasion for Poland, Europe, and the United 
States.
    This week in Madrid, the old dividing lines of Europe were wiped 
away forever, and in their place we are building a framework of a Europe 
whole and free for the first time since nation states arose on the 
Continent.
    NATO's decision to welcome Poland into the alliance is both a 
tribute and a challenge: a tribute to the people of this great nation 
who were the first to unleash the force of freedom from behind the Iron 
Curtain; who pioneered the difficult transition to an open society and 
an open market; who took the lead in reaching out to your neighbors in 
the Baltics, Russia, and the Ukraine, who sent your troops to give the 
people of Bosnia a chance to rebuild their broken land.
    It is a challenge to all of us to ensure that this moment of 
possibility fulfills its promise by meeting the solemn responsibilities 
that NATO membership entails, by living up to the shared ideals NATO 
represents, by continuing to support Europe's new democracies in their 
quest to be full partners in an undivided Europe, by making the defense 
of peace and freedom our common goal and commitment. I am confident we 
will meet these challenges because the love of liberty we share has been 
forged on the anvil of history.
    In the park by the White House is a statue of Kosciusko, beloved son 
of Poland, adopted son of the United States. Moved by the ideals of our 
revolution, Kosciusko traveled to Philadelphia to enlist in freedom's 
cause. He was the first foreign soldier in America's army. He 
distinguished himself at Saratoga and West Point where American cadets 
later built a monument in tribute to his role in forging our freedom. He 
returned to Poland to help defend his homeland against a foreign 
invasion. And though he did not succeed, he inspired the world with his 
courage and the force of his ideals.
    Thomas Jefferson said of his Polish friend, ``He was as pure a son 
of liberty as I have ever known and of that liberty which is to go to 
all, not to the few and rich alone.''
    In the more than 200 years since Kosciusko came to us, Poland has 
given us many sons and daughters of liberty. I want to say a special 
word about one--adopted son of the United States and pure son of 
liberty, the Chairman of our Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking 
American in the United States military, General John Shalikashvili, who 
is here with us tonight.
    He was born here in Poland. He witnessed the destruction of Warsaw. 
He saw its heroic

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rise against tyranny. A child born of war, he has given his entire life 
to the cause of peace. Our ability to be here tonight celebrating NATO's 
enlargement is due in no small measure to his visionary leadership in 
helping to create the Partnership For Peace. The American people and the 
President in particular, are very proud of the service of this son of 
Poland, John Shalikashvili. Thank you, sir.
    The Poles have a tradition of sending their finest sons to fight for 
others' freedom. I have been told of the Polish phrase that describes 
this tradition, a phrase that also represents our new alliance through 
NATO. It goes, ``For your freedom and ours,'' I believe: Za wolnosc 
wasza i nasza.
    Nothing is more precious, nothing more noble, nothing more right. It 
is the spirit of Poland, the spirit of America, the spirit of NATO, to 
which this great nation is joining its strength fully, finally, forever.
    I now ask you to join me in raising a glass to the President, the 
distinguished leaders here present, the people of Poland, the enduring 
friendship between our nations and the future we will create in the new 
century.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 8:30 p.m. at the Presidential 
Palace. A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the 
tape was incomplete.