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Statement to the Vilnius Group's Celebration of a Europe Whole and Free
Wednesday, December 4, 2002
House Policy Chairman Christopher Cox
I am honored to serve as a cosponsor of tonight's reception that celebrates the realization of bringing together a Europe whole and free. NATO's induction of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic into the Alliance and its recent decision to welcome seven more members are historic and dramatic recognitions of the long struggle by Central and Eastern Europeans to free themselves from Communist rule, bring about democratic change, and unite their nations with those of Western Europe.
In my 14 years in Congress, I have seen epic change in Europe. Ordinary people acted extraordinarily and removed Stalinist dictators from power. Patriots, poets, and musicians led millions of Europeans to freedom. The self-determination of free people was realized, and political, economic, and social reform took root. Communism died and democracy flourished.
The future has never looked brighter for the people of Central and Eastern Europe. The U.S. Congress will remain a steadfast partner in supporting and assisting Central and Eastern Europe to ensure that the political, economic, and legal reforms are made irreversible.
For my part, I intend to continue to support legislation that will consolidate the dynamic gains of the past decade and finish the job of bringing democracy and freedom to Europe’s remaining holdouts. In concert with our European allies, we can complete the job of creating a truly whole and free Europe.
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