    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 25 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
    [Pages 1165-1166]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks to the People of Ljubljana

    June 21, 1999

        Thank you, Thank you. Dober dan! You have certainly provided for me
    a welcome to Slovenia I will never forget.
        Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Mayor Potocnik; to the young lady
    who introduced me, Irena Majcen; and to your famous Olympian Leon
    Stukelj; and to all the people of Slovenia, thank you very much.
        I would also like to thank the Big Band of RTV for playing my
    national anthem and yours. Let's give the band a hand, there. [Applause]
        I have wanted to visit your country for a long time. The whole world
    admires Slovenia's success in building freedom and prosperity, and now
    we look to you to play a crucial role as we build a better future for
    all of Europe. Your great Olympic champion Leon Stukelj has now lived
    100 years. He has lived throughout this century--the bloodiest and most
    turbulent in history, from the collapse of Austria-Hungary to the first
    Yugoslav State, from fascist invaders to Soviet forces to Tito's
    Yugoslavia. Think how many armies have marched through this square, how
    many flags have been raised over your city.
        Now, at last, the flag flying in this capital stands for
    independence and democracy and the better life you are building.
    Congratulations, and God bless you.
        All over the world, people seek the same kind of freedom and justice
    and peace that you have brought here--from Northern Ireland to the
    Middle East, to southern Africa,

    [[Page 1166]]

    and in central and southeastern Europe. But we know these gains are
    fragile, for freedom's enemies hope for our failure. Therefore, we must
    keep moving forward, to deepen democracy and widen opportunity, to build
    genuine communities and lasting peace.
        To succeed, we must begin with a simple truth: Racial and religious
    hatred has no place in a civilized society. That is why free nations
    stood against Mr. Milosevic's ethnic cleansing and killing in Kosovo.
    Now the Serb forces have left, the international security forces are
    moving in, and the Kosovars are going home. This is a great day for
    freedom.
        I thank Slovenia for standing with NATO and for providing vital aid
    to the refugees. For all you have done, I am very, very grateful. Thank
    you.
        Eight years ago Mr. Milosevic triggered a military assault on your
    nation. But you resisted. You secured your freedom, and you proclaimed:
    It will never be the same again. Now, all the people--all the people of
    every part of Europe must be able to say the same thing. Democracy,
    tolerance, and human rights must prevail everywhere. For no nation is
    safe, no prosperity is stable, if conflict and refugees and crime and
    terrorism can be pushed across borders.
        We must build a Europe with no frontline states, a Europe undivided,
    democratic, and at peace for the first time in history. And Slovenia can
    lead the way. And America will help.
        Today America and Slovenia have reached agreements to encourage more
    American companies to do business here, to expand trade and to do other
    things which will help your economy. And let me say to people all over
    the world who will see this on television, do not be deterred by the
    rain. [Laughter] This a wonderful country. Come here and help them build
    a future.
        We also want to build Slovenia's security. You have stood with us in
    Kosovo. You have made progress in creating a modern military. You have
    established a demining trust to remove landmines and aid their victims.
    You have been a good partner, and you are an excellent candidate for
    NATO.
        Let me also say that we want Serbia to be a part of the new Europe,
    but Serbia must reject the murderous rule of Mr. Milosevic and choose
    the path that Slovenia has chosen, where people reach across the old
    divides and find strength in their differences and their common
    humanity.
        A decade ago, just as Mr. Milosevic was launching his campaign of
    ethnic terror, Slovenia chose a new national anthem, with a verse from
    your great poet and patriot France Preseren.
        Your anthem--your anthem tells what Europe's future should be. The
    anthem praises those who work for the day when all will be free; when
    nations live as neighbors, not enemies; when war is banished from the
    world. Your vision is our vision.
        Let us pursue it together, for all of Europe, so that for all your
    peoples, it will never be the same again.
        Thank you, and God bless you.
        On behalf of our delegation, my wife, my daughter, all of us, thank
    you for making us feel welcome. We never will forget this. I hope you
    won't either.
        God bless you, and thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:22 p.m. in Congress Square. In his
    remarks, he referred to President Milan Kucan and Prime Minister Janez
    Drnovsek of Slovenia; Mayor Viktorija Potocnik of Ljubljana; and
    President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
    (Serbia and Montenegro). The President also referred to RTV, Radio and
    Television of Slovenia.