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Skriven 2005-02-24 23:32:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0502241) for Thu, 2005 Feb 24
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President Addresses and Thanks Citizens of Slovakia
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 24, 2005

President Addresses and Thanks Citizens of Slovakia
Hviezdoslavovo Square
Bratislava, Slovakia



12:17 P.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all. Dobrì de•. (Applause.) Mr. President, Mr.
Chairman, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your strong leadership and
friendship. Mr. Mayor, distinguished guests, citizens of a free Slovakia.
(Applause.) Thank you for your hospitality. Laura and I are honored,
extremely honored to visit your great country. We bring greetings and we
bring the good wishes of the American people. (Applause.)

With us here today is a group of remarkable men and women from across
Central and Eastern Europe, who have fought freedom's fight in their
homelands and have earned the respect of the world. We welcome you. We
thank you for your example, for your courage and for your sacrifice.
(Applause.)

I'm proud to stand in this great square, which has seen momentous events in
the history of Slovakia and the history of freedom. Almost 17 years ago,
thousands of Slovaks gathered peacefully in front of this theater. They
came, not to welcome a visiting President, but to light candles, to sing
hymns, to pray for an end to tyranny and the restoration of religious
liberty. (Applause.)

From the hotel to our left, communist authorities watched thousands of
candles shining in the darkness -- and gave the order to extinguish them.
The authorities succeeded in crushing that protest. But with their candles
and prayers, the people of Bratislava lit a fire for freedom that day, a
fire that quickly spread across the land. (Applause.) And within 20 months,
the regime that drove Slovaks from this square would itself be driven from
power. By claiming your own freedom, you inspired a revolution that
liberated your nation and helped to transform a continent. (Applause.)

Since those days of peaceful protest, the Slovak people have made historic
progress. You regained your sovereignty and independence. You built a
successful democracy. You established a free economy. And last year, the
former member of the Warsaw Pact became a member of NATO, and took its
rightful place in the European Union. Every Slovak can be proud of these
achievements. And the American people are proud to call you allies and
friends and brothers in the cause of freedom. (Applause.)

I know that liberty -- the road to liberty and prosperity has not always
been straight or easy. But Americans respect your patience, your courage
and your determination to secure a better future for your children. As you
work to build a free and democratic Slovakia in the heart of Europe,
America stands with you. (Applause.)

Slovaks know the horror or tyranny, so you're working to bring hope of
freedom to people who have not known it. You've sent peacekeepers to
Kosovo, and election observers to Kiev. You've brought Iraqis to Bratislava
to see firsthand how a nation moves from dictatorship to democracy. Your
example is inspiring newly-liberated people. You're showing that a small
nation, built on a big idea, can spread liberty throughout the world.

At this moment, Slovak soldiers are serving courageously alongside U.S. and
coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some have given their lives in
freedom's cause. We honor their memory. We lift them up in our prayers.
Words can only go so far in capturing the grief of their families and their
countrymen. But by their sacrifice, they have helped purchase a future of
freedom for millions. Many of you can still recall the exhilaration of
voting for the first time after decades of tyranny. And as you watched
jubilant Iraqis dancing in the streets last month, holding up ink-stained
fingers, you remembered Velvet Days. For the Iraqi people, this is their
1989, and they will always remember who stood with them in their quest for
freedom. (Applause.)

In recent times, we have witnessed landmark events in the history of
liberty, a Rose Revolution in Georgia, an Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and
now, a Purple Revolution in Iraq. With their votes cast and counted, the
Iraqi people now begin a great and historic journey. They will from a new
government, draft a democratic constitution, and govern themselves as free
people. They're putting the days of tyranny and terror behind them and
building a free and peaceful society in the heart of the Middle East, and
the world's free nations will support them in their struggle. (Applause.)

The terrorist insurgents know what's at stake. They know they have no
future in a free Iraq. So they're trying desperately to undermine Iraq's
progress and throw the country in chaos. They want to return to the day
when Iraqis were governed by secret police and informers and fear. They
will not succeed. The Iraqi people will not permit a minority of assassins
to determine the destiny of their nation. We will fight to defend this
freedom and we will prevail. (Applause.)

Victory in this struggle will not come easily or quickly, but we have
reason to hope. Iraqis have demonstrated their courage and their
determination to live in freedom, and that has inspired the world. It is
the same determination we saw in Kiev's Independent Square, in Tbilisi's
Freedom Square, and in this square almost 17 years ago. (Applause.)

We must be equally determined and also patient. The advance of freedom is
the concentrated work of generations. It took almost a decade after the
Velvet Revolution for democracy to fully take root in this country. And the
democratic revolutions that swept this region over 15 years ago are now
reaching Georgia and Ukraine. In 10 days, Moldova has the opportunity to
place its democratic credentials beyond doubt as its people head to the
polls. And inevitably, the people of Belarus will someday proudly belong to
the country of democracies. Eventually, the call of liberty comes to every
mind and every soul. And one day, freedom's promise will reach every people
and every nation. (Applause.)

Slovakia has taken great risks for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. You
have proved yourself a trusted friend and a reliable ally. That is why I
recently announced a new solidarity initiative for nations like Slovakia
that are standing with America in the war on terror. We will help you to
improve your military forces so we can strengthen our ability to work
together in the cause of freedom. We're working with your government to
make it easier for Slovaks to travel to the United States of America.
(Applause.) Hundreds of thousands of our citizens can trace their roots
back to this country. Slovak immigrants helped build America and shape its
character. We want to deepen the ties of friendship between our people,
ties based on common values, a love of freedom, and shared belief in the
dignity and matchless value of every human being. (Applause.)

The Velvet Generation that fought for these values is growing older. Many
of the young students and workers who led freedom's struggle here now
struggle to support families and their children. For some, the days of
protest and revolution are a distant memory. Today, a new generation that
never experienced oppression is coming of age. It is important to pass on
to them the lessons of that period. They must learn that freedom is
precious, and cannot be taken for granted; that evil is real, and must be
confronted; that lasting prosperity requires freedom of speech, freedom to
worship, freedom of association; and that to secure liberty at home, it
must be defended abroad. (Applause.)

By your efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq and across the world, you are
teaching young Slovaks these important lessons. And you're teaching the
world an important lesson, as well: that the seeds of freedom do not sprout
only where they are sown; carried by mighty winds, they cross borders and
oceans and continents and take root in distant lands.

I've come here to thank you for your contributions to freedom's cause, and
to tell you that the American people appreciate your courage and value your
friendship. On behalf of all Americans, dakujem, and may God bless you all.

END 12:39 P.M. (Local)

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