    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 25 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
    [Pages 1166-1167]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by President Milan Kucan of Slovenia
    in Ljubljana

    June 21, 1999

        Mr. President, Mrs. Kucan, Mr. Prime Minister, distinguished
    government officials, and citizens of Slovenia: It is a great honor for
    me, for Hillary, for Secretary Albright, indeed, for our entire American
    delegation to share this historic day with you.
        Today we added a new chapter to the long story of our friendship. As
    you heard from the President, it is a friendship that goes back even
    before the history of the United States, when President Thomas
    Jefferson, the author

    [[Page 1167]]

    of our Declaration of Independence, was looking for examples of
    democracy around the world, places where the people ruled.
        The President gave you a--what I would call a delicate version of
    the example provided by the Corinthians to Thomas Jefferson. You see,
    Thomas Jefferson loved the fact that before assuming their titles, the
    old dukes of Corinthia were ceremoniously slapped by a local present to
    symbolize the right of the people to rebuff their leaders. Thomas
    Jefferson liked that. So did all future generations of Americans.
    [Laughter] Except they wait until after you're in office to do it.
    [Laughter]
        Well, democracy is going strong again in Slovenia, and still your
    efforts inspire Americans. We are grateful for the many contributions of
    Slovenians to the strength and texture of our country, and we are
    grateful for the partnership that unites us today.
        This spring, as both the President and the Prime Minister have said,
    that partnership met a great test. For the fourth time in this decade,
    Mr. Milosevic and Serbia launched a brutal campaign of violence,
    threatening the progress the people of this region have worked so hard
    to achieve. As you know from the daily television reports, the full
    horror of that campaign is only now becoming clear.
        I would like to thank the President and the Prime Minister for all
    that you have done to protect democracy and the tolerance it needs to
    thrive. Now that ethnic cleansing has been defeated in Kosovo, we must
    build something better in its place throughout Europe, and especially in
    southeastern Europe.
        You know, every leader likes to talk of the future, but today in
    your Congress Square I saw the future in the faces of the young people
    who braved the rains to express their support for our shared dreams. I
    saw those who will lead a free Slovenia into the new millennium.
        Your history is enshrined in this magnificent castle we enjoy this
    evening, but your future is in those young people. And it is in good
    hands.
        So I ask you now to rededicate yourselves to the dreams which
    brought the people out in the rain today. We owe it to them, to our
    forebears, and to generations yet unborn.
        Please join me in a toast to the President, to the Prime Minister,
    and the people of this wonderful country.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:40 p.m. in the Dining Hall at Brdo
    Castle. In his remarks, he referred to Stefka Kucan, wife of President
    Kucan; and Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek of Slovenia. A tape was not
    available for verification of the content of these remarks.