[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 48 (Monday, December 2, 2002)]
[Pages 2082-2083]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Receiving the Order of Vytautas the Great in Vilnius, 
Lithuania

November 23, 2002

    Mr. President, thank you very much. It's an honor to receive this 
award. And it's an honor to be the first United States President to come 
to Lithuania. Laura and I are honored to be here.
    I want to thank the members of the Government who are here as well, 
the Prime Minister, the Speaker, other members of your Cabinet.
    This is a great day for Lithuania. It shows the Lithuanians' 
commitment to freedom, to religious tolerance. It shows the Lithuanians' 
courage is being rewarded by membership in one of the greatest alliances 
ever formed.
    The NATO Alliance will be stronger with Lithuania's presence. Not 
only will you help militarily, but as importantly, your presence will 
help lift, invigorate the spirit of the European North Atlantic 
Alliance. After all, Lithuania represents to me the courage of people 
standing in the face of tyranny and demanding freedom.
    There are thousands of Americans today who rejoice at the fact that 
Lithuania will be joining with America in the NATO Alliance. I'm proud 
of your accomplishments, and my country is proud to call you friend. May 
God bless the people of Lithuania.

Note: The President spoke at 8:24 a.m. at the Prezidentura. In his 
remarks, he referred to President Valdas Adamkus and Prime Minister 
Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas of Lithuania. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of these remarks.

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