[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 10 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Pages 384-385]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the Community at the Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras

March 9, 1999

    President Flores, Colonel Ramirez, General Wilhelm, Colonel Rosner, 
members of the Honduran and American militaries, to the people of 
Honduras, the American delegation and Members of Congress who came here 
with me, ladies and gentleman. Yesterday in Nicaragua, today in 
Honduras, we see that this disaster has taught us that what happens to 
one in the Americas affects us all. It reminds us that in good times and 
bad, todos somos Americanos.
    Mr. President, I thank you for your kind words about the First Lady. 
I spoke with Hillary last night, and she asked me to give you her best. 
She remembers so well her trip here, and she wishes you well.
    Mr. President, as our military leaders know, at this Honduran air 
base, our Armed Forces trained together for this sort of disaster just a 
few months before the storm. When the real test came, they passed with 
flying colors.
    This long runway, turned into a lifeline, connected the countries 
all over the world. Over 47 million pounds of supplies came through 
here. Helicopters performed daring rescues and delivered food; engineers 
repaired roads; medical teams gave treatment and comfort; relief workers 
provided clean water, built schools and shelters, and restored faith in 
the future that nearly washed away.
    Operation Fuerte Apoyo turned into one of the largest humanitarian 
missions performed by the United States military since the Berlin 
airlift 50 years ago. To all who were a part of it, I thank you for your 
courage, your confidence, your compassion.
    I believe the United States must do more. I have asked Congress for 
$956 million to support the reconstruction effort in Central America. We 
expect almost a third of that to come to Honduras to improve public 
health, to build homes and schools, to rebuild roads so farmers can move 
their produce to market, and to prepare for future hurricanes. It will 
also forgive and defer Honduran debt, and it will be targeted to local 
communities to make sure the people who need it get the assistance.
    I would also like to announce $56 million to expand our New Horizons 
program which brings civilian guardsmen and reservists to the region for 
2 weeks of training and relief work.
    Mr. President, I know Hondurans are determined not just to rebuild 
but actually to create something better out of this tragedy: to build a 
reconstruction that protects the environment so that people are not 
exposed to unnecessary risks in the next storm; to build a 
reconstruction that ensures that those who suffered most participate 
fully and benefit equally; to build a reconstruction that consolidates 
democracy by engaging local government, NGO's, and the private sector.
    I would like to especially thank the members of our Armed Forces for 
their hard work to advance these goals, for their enthusiasm and good 
cheer, even when you have to sleep in hootches in Tent City--
[laughter]--for your cooperation between the services and between our 
U.S. personnel and our Honduran hosts. You have shown the people of 
Central America the true colors of our men and women in uniform.
    Today I am proud to announce the award of Humanitarian Service 
Medals to all those members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in 
support of the relief effort in Central America. And to announce that I 
have just presented to Colonel Rosner a Joint Meritorious Unit Award to 
JTF Bravo for its sustained commitment to our mission in this region. 
Congratulations on a job well done.
    Later today I will see the Juan Molina Bridge in Tegucigalpa. It was 
built jointly with U.S. assistance and Honduran efforts.

[[Page 385]]

I can't think of a better symbol of JTF Bravo's efforts or our 
cooperation, building bridges between people and nations in Central 
America, with Central America itself the bridge between North and South 
America.
    In this tragedy's aftermath, Hondurans and Americans have given new 
meaning to the words written by Juan Molina in his poem ``Eagles and 
Condors'': Pueblos Americanos en este contiente debemos ser hermanos.
    Not far from here is Comayagua, the old capital of Honduras, built 
because it was near the center of Central America and of the entire New 
World. That city boasts a clock said to be the oldest in the Americas, 
made by Spanish-Moors in the 12th century. When that clock began 
ticking, about 900 years ago, the world was a smaller place in every 
way. Now that clock is ticking away the final hours and days of the 20th 
century, headed toward a new millennium. But one thing remains as true 
today as the day the clock was built: We humans still have the urge to 
chart a new course for the future and the obligation to make it a better 
one for our children.
    Thanks to your work here, a new and better world truly lies within 
our grasp. Thank you, and God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:45 a.m. in Hanger 1 at the Soto Cano Air 
Base, Honduras. In his remarks, he referred to President Carlos Roberto 
Flores of Honduras; Col. Alberto Ramirez-Mathia, Honduran Base 
Commander; Gen. Charles E. Wilhelm, USMC, Commander in Chief, U.S. 
Southern Command; and Col. Elliot J. Rosner, USA, Commander, Joint Task 
Force Bravo.