For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 23, 2001
Remarks by the President with Greek Community Leaders
The Indian Treaty Room
4:10 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Your Eminence, thank
you very much, sir. It's always an honor to be in your
presence. I think the last time we were together was at the
church service right after I had the honor of being sworn in as the
President. And I appreciate so very much you being there.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Niotis;
Ambassador Philon; Ambassador Marcoullis; Director Tenet; distinguished
guests from Greece, as well as from America, welcome. It's a
beautiful room to hold an important ceremony.
I want to thank you all for
coming. I particularly want to thank Congressman Mike
Bilirakis, as well as Senator Olympia Snowe, who is not with us
today. I know where she is because I flew her up to Maine
earlier. (Laughter.) I want to thank you both for
organizing the events. And it's interesting to note that I
have been in your state and her state within the last
week. All is well. (Laughter.)
When I became President I inherited the
responsibility to safeguard one of America's oldest and most sacred
friendships -- that of the government and people of the United States
with the government and people of Greece. We must keep that
relationship vibrant, as it has been for 180 years.
It was 180 years ago that Greece proclaimed
its independence, yet another example of Greece's contribution to the
cause of human liberty. Few nations in the history of the world have
done more to contribute to democratic self-government.
A Chinese scholar, hoping to foster an
appreciation of Western thought in his country, recently translated the
works of Homer into Chinese. He mastered ancient Greek in
order to produce the most accurate translation possible, and explained
it this way: If one wants to understand Western
civilization, one has to search back to its roots. And the
roots lead to ancient Greece.
Greek ideals had an enormous influence on the
American founders. James Madison, the father of the Constitution,
wrote this: Among the confederacies of antiquity, the most
considerable was that of the Grecian republics.
We respect the ancient influence of Greece,
and we value its modern friendships. Greece and America have
been allies in the great 20th century struggles against Nazism, Soviet
Communism, and Iraqi aggression. Our two nations are bound
by history, by trade, by mutual respect, by common ideals, and one of
the world's most important alliances.
We in the United States consider Greece to be
a friend, a strong ally, and a powerful force for good in the
world. And all the world will see this in vivid display when
Athens hosts the Olympics of 2004. We're all looking forward
to the great event.
I'm very pleased with the strong and expanding
relationship between the United States and Greece. Our trade
has increased by 16 percent in the last year. Tourism and
high-level contacts between the United States and Greece have also
increased.
I want you to know that the United States
stands ready to help Greece and Turkey as they work to improve their
relations. I'm also committed to a just and lasting
settlement of the Cyprus dispute. My administration fully
supports the U.N. Secretary General's efforts to bring peace and
prosperity to all Cypriots. Our goal is an early resumption
of the U.N. process.
The greatest gifts of Greece, however, to this
country are the emigrants it's sent, men and women who enrich our
nation with their spirit. They're the models of community and
enterprise, of family, of education and public service. And
we honor Greek independence. And as we honor Greek
independence, I also want to honor the Greek contribution to our
national character.
So it's my pleasure to welcome you, Your
Eminence, our distinguished guests, to this celebration of Greek
Independence Day. God bless. (Applause.)
END
4:20 P.M. EST
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