Remarks by the President and President Menem at Wreath-Laying Ceremony


THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)

For Immediate Release October 16, 1997



REMARKS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON
AND PRESIDENT MENEM
AT WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY


Plaza San Martin
Buenos Aires, Argentina


9:15 A.M. (L)

PRESIDENT MENEM: My friend, the President of the United States of America, Mr. William Clinton, and the members of his important delegation; members of the diplomatic corps, national authorities, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. President, I thank you in the name of the people and the government of Argentina, and from the bottom of my heart for this homage that you are paying, as well as the members of your delegation, to the builder of our nation, to the liberator General San Martin.

San Martin was an indefatigable fighter, and he created with his valiant grenadiers the movement that crossing the Andes mountain range gave liberty to Chile, to Peru, and to Ecuador, as well, of course, as to his country, Argentina. General San Martin was born in Argentina.

When he was only eight years old he moved to Spain. He studied there. He studied everything that was related to war and to peace. and he had occasion of fighting against the most powerful army of that time, the French army, commanded by Napoleon. It was his baptism of fire, and he was then fighting an army that was considered to be invincible. Back in Argentina, he starts his glorious liberating mission.

You see here, Mr. President, members of all the armed forces of Argentina. The spirit of San Martin is alive in all of them. But in keeping with the changes of the world of today, they are ready for any emergency that would lead them to battle. But more than that, they have shown Argentina's vocation for peace and these men are actively participating in U.N. peacekeeping missions in close cooperation with the United States

of America.

On this day, Mr. President, when we pay tribute to our liberator, General San Martin, we are at the same time paying tribute to these men who are working in the world to further

peace. This General San Martin we're paying tribute to was the man who said that he would never take his sword out to cause bloodshed to his brothers.

Once again, Mr. President, I would like to bid you, your charming wife, and the U.S. delegation the warmest of welcomes to Argentina and the city of Buenos Aires.

Thank you. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Mr. President, Mr. Mayor, distinguished members of the Argentine government; to the people of Argentina. It is a great honor for me, distinguished members of our Cabinet and the United States Congress, to stand on behalf of the American people before the tomb of a true hero of the Americas, General Jose Francisco de San Martin.

I thank you, Mr. President, and all the people here for the warm welcome we have received. Mr. Mayor, I thank you for the key to the city. And I thank our friends in the press corps for showing me how to hold the key to the city. (Laughter.)

Before the monument to San Martin, it is well to remember that as we enter a new era and a new century, all our nations have become so far, began with courageous visionaries, who dared to dream of independence at the dawn of our national histories.

General San Martin often has been compared to George Washington, our first President, and the commander of our forces in the Revolutionary War. Each man rose to the defense of his native land, though the risks were great and the odds of success were long. Both inspired confidence with their simple manners, modesty, and quiet but unbending determination. Both fought for liberty, not conquest. And after their victories breathed life into our fragile new nations, they refused the temptation of despotic rule, preferring instead to embrace the role of citizen.

In 1819 a United States diplomat wrote to his superior of San Martin, "I think him the greatest man I have seen in South America." General San Martin was a proud of Argentinean, but also a citizen of the world, who gladly lent his aid to other nations, seeking their freedom as well. And thus he became liberator and Captain General of the Republic of Chile, Generalissimo of the Republic of Peru. Even when he retired to France, the Belgians sought his leadership in their quest for independence.

Today, at long last, the democracies of the Americas are living up to the legacy of San Martin. They respect each other's independence, stand ready to help each other and other countries beyond the hemisphere to prevent war, preserve peace, and prosper.

In these endeavors Argentina stands out. As guarantor of the Rio Protocol, you are joining Chile, Brazil and the United States in helping Ecuador and Peru pursue lasting peace. Your sons and daughters in the Argentine Armed Forces take on some of the most demanding missions of goodwill, helping wartorn lands around the world turn from conflict to cooperation. As close to home as Guatemala and Haiti, as far away as Bosnia, Cyprus, and Mozambique, Argentina has answered the call to peace.

Some of your peacekeepers are with us here today. The United States, others who have worked with you, and most of all, the people you have helped around the world are in your debt. And on all their behalf, I thank you. (Applause.)

In recognition of your country's extraordinary contributions to international peacekeeping, I have notified our Congress of my intention to designate Argentina as a major non-NATO ally under our laws. Our alliance of values goes beyond our efforts against threat to peace and security, but it begins there.

It also includes a commitment to freedom and democracy, a conviction that open markets are engines for progress, a determination to give all our people a chance to contribute and be rewarded for their efforts in the future we are building, a passionate belief in the potential of every child, and the right of all children to a good education, a profound concern for the environment that we hold in trust for future generations.

Near the end of his long life, General San Martin said, "All progress is the child of time." Here at his final resting place, I say to you, I believe he would applaud the progress Argentina and all the Americas have made, and the direction we are taking toward a new era of peace and prosperity.But I also believe he would remind us of the work still undone, the challenges still unmet. He would urge us to press on to make progress the child of this time.

Clearly, we have the chance and the responsibility to redeem the promise of San Martin, beyond even his visionary dreams. And so, Mr. President, with high hopes, strong resolve, and generous spirits, let us take our chance and do our duty together.

Thank you, and God bless the people of Argentina and the United States. (Applause.)



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