[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 30 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Pages 1440-1441]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7109--Captive Nations Week, 1998

July 20, 1998

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Freedom, dignity, equality, and justice: these are words sacred to 
the American people. They define our lives as citizens of a democratic 
Nation, and they sum up our hopes for all the peoples of the world. More 
than 2 centuries ago, our founders articulated these fundamental human 
rights in the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the truth of 
human dignity and the idea that governments derive their power and 
legitimacy from the consent of the people they serve. We reaffirmed 
these convictions with the ratification of our Constitution and the Bill 
of Rights. And 50 years ago, more than four dozen nations joined us in 
championing these rights and liberties across the globe by adopting the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the United Nations General 
Assembly passed unanimously in December of 1948.
    Over the course of the last half-century, the Universal 
Declaration's call to ``expand the circle of full human dignity to all 
people'' has been a wellspring of inspiration. The Declaration has 
served as a framework for laws, constitutions, and other important 
efforts to safeguard basic liberties, as well as a yardstick for 
measuring progress. However, while democracy continues to grow and 
flourish around the world and millions enjoy fundamental human rights 
unencumbered by tyranny or restraint, the shadow of oppression still 
lingers.
    The last decade has seen a remarkable transformation. The courage, 
strength, and determination of men and women struggling for liberty have 
changed the political landscape of the world. Democracy has blossomed 
and deepened its roots in many countries, particularly in Central and 
Eastern Europe and the nations of the former Soviet Union. But, the 
process of building democracy and strengthening civil society in these 
nations is far from complete. Moreover, there are countries in Europe 
and elsewhere where democracy is actively being undermined by 
authoritarian rule and disrespect for the rule of law. In these regions 
around the world, people are denied the right to worship freely, speak 
their thoughts openly, or live without fear of sudden arrest, arbitrary 
imprisonment, or brutal treatment. The rulers of these captive nations, 
in denying the tide of freedom rising across the globe, have positioned 
themselves on the wrong side of history.
    This year marks the 40th observance of Captive Nations Week. For 
four decades these proclamations have served to express

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America's solidarity with people suffering under communist and other 
oppressive rule around the world. It is important that we continue to 
mark this annual observance as a reminder that building and nurturing 
democracy is an enduring struggle while there are still people in 
various parts of the world who are captives of tyranny.
    The Congress, by Joint Resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 
212), has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation 
designating the third week in July of each year as ``Captive Nations 
Week.''
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim July 19 through July 25, 1998, as 
Captive Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United States to 
observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to 
rededicate ourselves to supporting the cause of freedom, human rights, 
and self-determination for all the peoples of the world.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day 
of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-eight, and 
of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
twenty-third.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., July 22, 
1998]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on July 
23.