[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 46 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Pages 1586-1587]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom To Secretary 
General Lord Robertson of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

November 12, 2003

    Good morning. I'm proud to welcome members of the diplomatic corps 
and my administration, and of course Lord Robertson, the Secretary 
General of NATO, to the

[[Page 1587]]

White House. I've been honored to host Lord Robertson here at the White 
House many times over the past 3 years. I'm grateful that he's come once 
more before he leaves his post.
    The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civil 
award, given to individuals of exceptional merit and integrity. For Lord 
Robertson, it is a fitting tribute to his long and distinguished career 
of service to his nation, to our alliance, and to the world.
    NATO is the most successful alliance in history, and Lord Robertson 
has led NATO during some of the most challenging years of its history. 
Not long ago, some questioned whether NATO could or should survive the 
end of the cold war. Then the Alliance proved its enduring worth by 
stopping ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and keeping the peace in Kosovo. 
Some wonder whether NATO could adopt to the new threats of the 21st 
century. Today, NATO forces are fighting terror in Afghanistan and 
supporting a multinational division in Iraq.
    Today in Iraq, a member of NATO, Italy, lost some proud sons in the 
service of freedom and peace. The United States sends our deepest 
condolences to the families who died--of the soldiers and policemen who 
died. We appreciate their sacrifices. I appreciate the steadfast 
leadership of Prime Minister Berlusconi, who refuses to yield in the 
face of terror.
    Lord Robertson is a patient leader. He's a determined leader, and 
over the past 4 years his skills and talents have made many achievements 
possible. Lord Robertson oversaw the largest expansion in NATO's 
history, a major milestone in the fulfillment of our shared vision of a 
Europe whole, free, and at peace. He helped open a new chapter in NATO's 
relationship with Russia through the creation of the Russian-NATO 
Council. He ensured that NATO would honor its commitment to come to the 
defense of fellow NATO member Turkey. And he pursued an ambitious agenda 
of transformation to make NATO forces lighter, faster, and better able 
to respond to complex and ever-changing threats.
    America owes a special debt to Lord Robertson. When our Nation was 
attacked on September the 11th, 2001, Lord Robertson led NATO to invoke, 
for the first time in its history, Article V, which states that an 
attack against one NATO Ally is an attack against all. Americans will 
never forget that vital support from our closest allies on one of the 
darkest days of our history.
    Our alliance continues to face and to meet the threats to peace and 
prosperity and freedom. Lord Robertson's leadership has been crucial to 
meeting these challenges. His tenure at the helm of this institution 
shows the power of collective defense when free nations act to serve 
great causes and free nations act to produce results. Lord Robertson's 
efforts and vision leave behind a legacy of effective multilateralism 
that will benefit this Alliance for years to come.
    When NATO was founded over half a century ago, President Harry 
Truman said this: ``By this treaty, we are not only seeking to establish 
freedom, freedom from aggression and from the use of force in the North 
Atlantic community, but we're also actively striving to promote and 
preserve peace throughout the world.'' We honor Lord Robertson here 
today for his dedication to the high ideals of the NATO Alliance, the 
promise of peace throughout the world.
    I'm going to ask the military aide now to read the honor. It is my 
honor to welcome this good man, to present the Medal of Freedom to the 
Right Honorable Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.

Note: The President spoke at 11:54 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Silvio 
Berlusconi of Italy. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary General Lord Robertson.