Administration of William J. Clinton, 1997 / Dec. 22 2099

Croats, and Serbs. Well, they’re still here, guished military officials and officials from and they’re still Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. the White House; and a truly astonishing del- And to tell you the truth, I know the tuba egation from Congress, of both Democrats players from the violinists, but I can’t tell the and Republicans together. Muslims from the Croats from the Serbs. We have Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska; The harmony of their disparate voices—the Senator Joe Biden of Delaware; Senator Joe harmony of their disparate voices—is what Lieberman of Connecticut; Senator Dan I hear. It reminds me of Bosnia’s best past, Coats of Indiana; Representative John Kasich and it should be the clarion call to your fu- of Ohio; Representative Jack Murtha of ture. Pennsylvania; Representative Ike Skelton of Here at the dawn of the new millennium, Missouri; Representative Elijah Cummings let us recall that the century we are leaving of Maryland; Representative Mac Collins of began with the sound of gunfire in Sarajevo. Georgia—anybody from Georgia? [Cheers] And let us vow to start the new century with Representative John Boehner of Ohio and the music of peace in Sarajevo. Representative Steve Buyer of Indiana—any- To the people of Bosnia I say, you have body here from Indiana? [Cheers] I’m proud seen what war has wrought; now you know of all of them. what peace can bring. So seize the chance And let me say, we came here for two rea- before you. You can do nothing to change sons today. We came here, first of all, to say the past, but if you can let it go, you can thank you to all of you, to say what you are do everything to build a future. The world doing for your country is a good and noble is watching, and the world is with you. But thing. You are doing it well, and we are grate- the choice is yours. May you make the right ful. We know it’s tough to be away from one. home at Christmas time. We know it’s hard Thank you, and God bless you. to be away from your families. But you are doing something profoundly important. NOTE: The President spoke at 11:55 a.m. at the The second reason we came here was so National Theater. In his remarks, he referred to that we could go to Sarajevo and see the lead- Farouk Sabanovic, and Masha Mishdin, who intro- duced the President; Alija Izetbegovic, Presidency ers of the Muslims, the Croatians, and the Chairman, and Kresimir Zubak, Presidency Mem- Serbs, and tell them that they made an agree- ber, National Government, Bosnia-Herzegovina; ment at Dayton that we are doing our dead- former Senator Bob Dole and his wife, Elizabeth, level best to help them enforce, and they president, American Red Cross; Gen. Henry H. promised that they would live and work to- Shelton, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. gether and build one country without ethnic Wesley K. Clark, Supreme Allied Commander, prejudice or unfairness to any group, that we Europe; and Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, Commander, would not only end a war, that they would U.S. Army, Europe. The President also referred build a peace together, and that we in the to the NATO-led Implementation Force in Bosnia United States were determined not only to (IFOR) and the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Bosnia (SFOR). do our part but we expected them to do theirs. And these good people in Bosnia, these little children, who have suffered so Remarks to the Troops in Tuzla, much, they deserve leaders who honor the Bosnia-Herzegovina commitments they made at Dayton and build December 22, 1997 a better, brighter future. And we wanted to do that with one voice, The President. Thank you for your laid- without regard to party. So I want to say a back welcome. [Laughter] Thank you, Gen- special word of thanks to Senator Bob Dole eral Ellis. Ladies and gentlemen, I have and Mrs. Elizabeth Dole for coming. And come here with a great delegation of Ameri- I would like to give—Senators talk like this cans, including the Secretary of State, the all the time; I don’t quite know how to do Secretary of the Army, the Chairman of the it, but I think this is called yielding a portion Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Supreme Allied of my time. I’d like for Bob Dole to come Commander in Europe; many other distin- up here and say a few words.

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[Former Senator Bob Dole made brief re- a church. And Hillary and Chelsea went over marks.] there, and I got out, and I went over and The President. Thank you, Senator Dole. shook hands with them. And they said, ‘‘We Thank you for not reading my speech. are really proud to be here because we are [Laughter] I like the one you gave. doing a good thing.’’ You are doing a good Let me first of all say that I’m delighted thing, and I hope you are proud to be here. to be here with the Iron Soldiers of the 1st America is proud of you. Armored Division, with the 2nd Armored I also want to tell you that I have enjoyed Calvary and all of the other units of Task sort of sampling your life, walking in the Force Eagle. But I also want the people back mud—[laughter]—imagining what it would home to know, through our friends in the be like to spend 6 months in those beautiful press who are here, that there are a lot of tents. [Laughter] I like those Kevlar seats in National Guardsmen and Reservists here. the Humvee. [Laughter] I have heard all And I thank all of you. about the wonderful cuisine. We’re going to Now, Hillary and I, along with the phone have dinner, and who knows, maybe I’ll even time that you all get—I hope you enjoy that get near-beer and vegetable lasagna. [Laugh- hour on the telephone. I know you’re all sit- ter] ting there thinking, am I going to use it all We’re having a good time, and we’re all at one time or am I going to divide it up? cheering. But I want you to be serious with Am I going to call four people or just one? me just for a minute. And when you go to Decisions, decisions! bed tonight, and you wonder what you’re We were able to bring some school sup- doing here, I want you to think about this. plies over here with us, some toys as well. These people, for nearly 4 years in this coun- And I know you’re going to be able to distrib- try, fought the bloodiest war in Europe since ute those to children here who are needy and the end of World War II. Massive numbers deserving. I want to thank especially Lieuten- of people displaced from their homes, huge ant Colonel Mark Little, who started the pro- number of children made orphans, lots of gram to take care of these children who have young people walking around without limbs, been so hurt in this war and who’s given horrible things happened to people. And be- thousands of Americans the chance to serve cause of what you and our other allies did— through it. our NATO allies and our allies from Russia, A few moments ago we gave some of those from Poland, from other non-NATO coun- presents to some Bosnian children, and I tries—you know that the country has stayed wish all of you could have been there with on the path of peace instead of going back me. I wish all of you could have been with into bloodshed. Without you, that would not Hillary and Chelsea and me earlier today have happened. Without you, the warring when we sat around a table in a coffee shop parties never would have disengaged, and in Sarajevo and talked to a dozen young peo- more than—listen to this—more than ple, Muslims, Serbs, Croats, all from Bosnia. 370,000 of them were combatant troops. And I said, ‘‘You know, I’m going to see our They’ve gone back to civilian life now. With- soldiers today, and if we could do one more out you, there would still be mortars and can- thing for your country, what would you like nons firing. Now, more than 6,500 heavy us to do?’’ And every one of them, it was weapons have been destroyed and the rest like a chorus, they said, ‘‘Stay. Stay just a put under international supervision. Because little longer. We can’t—we’re not ready yet, of you, free and fair elections have been held. but the young people want peace. We don’t There is freedom of movement; police re- understand why we’re supposed to hate each form has begun. A lot of the airwaves now other. We don’t want that kind of future. are filled with information instead of vicious, Please stay.’’ partisan hatred. And then we walked outside this coffee Bosnia is no longer the powder keg at the shop in Sarajevo and there were three Amer- heart of Europe because of you. And I cannot ican soldiers who happened to be from Vir- thank you enough. Your children and your ginia across the street, standing in front of grandchildren will look back on this moment

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and know that you have done something not said, ‘‘Look, it’s worked.’’ He said, ‘‘I didn’t only of surpassing importance but something necessarily agree with everything you did, that is profoundly good. but on the whole this thing has worked. And We gave you a mission, and you delivered. this is like being in a football game, and we’re So when you go to bed tonight, thank God ahead. It’s the fourth quarter. Who wants to that you were given the chance to do some- walk off the field and forfeit the game? We thing like this. A lot of people live their whole ought to stay here, finish the game, and take lives and never ever, ever are able to give home the win for the world and for free- something so profoundly important to others dom.’’ And that’s exactly what I intend to do, as the gift you have given to the children thanks to what you have proven that America of Bosnia. Thank you, and God bless you for can stand for and that we can accomplish. it. And again I say, thank you very, very much. Let me also say that even though this has One other thing, just for my information. been a remarkably nonviolent mission, it has How many of you here are on your second not been free of risks. I was thinking today tour here? [Cheers] I met a young man today, coming here to Tuzla that in August a couple I said, ‘‘How long have you been in the of years ago, when we were working on the Army?’’ He said, ‘‘I’ve been in the Army 5 peace process, we lost three remarkable peo- years.’’ And he said, ‘‘The last time I saw you, ple, Bob Frasure, Joe Kruzel, and Nelson I was in Haiti.’’ He said in 5 years he’s done Drew, who were part of our team trying to two tours in Haiti and one tour in Bosnia. make a peace agreement. And their vehicle Just sort of laying around, you know. [Laugh- crumbled on a weak road, and they were ter] killed in a horrible accident. We had a couple I don’t think many Americans understand of other accidents on the road. We lost one exactly how deep the burdens are on our men soldier who was killed when he walked over and women in uniform today. Because we to a mine and just kneeled down and started have downsized the military in the aftermath dealing with it. of the cold war, when we take on these re- But the most important thing I was think- sponsibilities, it is very hard for a lot of peo- ing about today, from a purely personal point ple. We rotate these missions a little more of view, is that it wasn’t so very long ago that rapidly than we would like to. We draw out my good friend, the Secretary of Commerce, Reservists and Guardsmen more often than Ron Brown, was here in Tuzla. He spent the we would like to. But you have always done last day of his life here before his plane what you were asked to do. And you have crashed. And I want to tell you, I’ve seen always delivered for America. the pictures. He had a very happy last day So on this Christmas season I ask the because he was here with the men and American people, who will see this on tele- women of the United States Armed Forces, vision tonight or tomorrow, to remember glorying in and participating in this mission. what we owe to the soldiers, the sailors, the I also want to say to you that in spite of airmen, the marines of the Armed Forces at all you have done, I think it is imperative home and around the world, in the Persian that we not stop until the peace here has Gulf, on the DMZ in Korea, here in Bosnia. a life of its own, until it can endure without Our Nation is at peace and our people are us. We have worked too hard to let this go. secure because of you. Our country can grow I thank the Members of Congress from stronger and more prosperous. Our people both parties who have come here out of con- can live out their dreams. Our children can cern for you and your work. I want to say sleep well because of you. Your sacrifice a special work of thanks again to Senator makes this possible. Dole. He said something to me on the phone I think that one of the things that you may the other day; he says so many things that wonder is whether people back home know are funny and pithy that if I start stealing you’re here and appreciate what you’re his lines without attribution, I’ll get in trou- doing. Since you’ve done it so well, there ble. So I want to tell you—he said this to aren’t any visible problems, and you make me. We were talking about Bosnia, and he it look easy.

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I got a fascinating letter the other day from May all who celebrate Christmas this year the mother of a soldier stationed in Camp rejoice in the special gifts of light that it Eagle, Specialist Christina Campbell. And brings: the love that warms our hearts, the the mother said, ‘‘So as you get busy spread- faith that lights our journey, and the hope ing holiday cheer, don’t forget the peace- that promises us a bright future. Hillary and keepers and those they hold dear.’’ And Spe- I wish you joy and peace during this Christ- cialist Campbell actually wrote a poem. So mas season and much happiness in the New I want to tell you, I took just a little bit out Year. of it, because I want you to know that at Bill Clinton this Christmas you are in the hearts of the American people. And her words are your words. Listen to these, she says, ‘‘No, this Message on the Observance of is not our soil, and it’s not our own fight. Kwanzaa, 1997 But if you’ve seen what I have, then you December 22, 1997 know that it’s right.’’ God bless you all, and God bless America. Warm greetings to everyone observing Kwanzaa. NOTE: The President spoke at 5:30 p.m. at Club As America embarks on a season of re- 21. In his remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. Larry newal and reconciliation, the principles of R. Ellis, USA, commander, 1st Armored Division. Kwanzaa—unity, self-determination, collec- tive work and responsibility, cooperative eco- Message on the Observance of nomics, purpose, creativity, and faith—ring Christmas, 1997 true not only for African Americans, but also December 22, 1997 for all Americans. By emphasizing the impor- tance of family in our lives and the blessings Warm greetings to everyone celebrating that come with a true commitment to com- Christmas. munity, opportunity, and responsibility, the At this time of year, when the nights grow celebration of Kwanzaa can help us to enter longer and often colder, our lives are bright- the future as a stronger nation and a more ened and our hearts warmed by the lights compassionate and united people. of Christmas. So much light surrounds our The symbols and ceremony of Kwanzaa, memories and celebration of Christmas: can- evoking the rich history and heritage of Afri- dlelight in the windows, colored lights twin- can Americans, remind us that our nation kling on the tree, children’s faces lit with a draws much of its strength from our diversity. joy that is reflected in their parents’ eyes. As millions of Americans observe Kwanzaa The beloved Christmas story itself is a story this year, let us renew our commitment to of light, for, as the Gospel of John tells us, realizing America’s promise as a land where Jesus came into the world as ‘‘the true Light’’ all people are free to pursue our common that illumines all humankind. dreams—to live in peace, to provide for our Almost 2,000 years later, that Light still families, and to give our children the oppor- shines amid the dark places of our world. It tunity for a better life. is reflected in the lives of so many quiet and Hillary joins me in sending best wishes for generous people who strive daily to make life a joyous Kwanzaa. better for others—feeding the hungry, caring Bill Clinton for the ill and elderly, cherishing and nurtur- ing children. It radiates from the hearts of those who work for peace and justice in their Statement on the Death of Esther communities, our nation, and the world. It Peterson shines in the efforts of men and women striv- December 22, 1997 ing to break down the walls of fear, igno- rance, and prejudice that cast shadows across Hillary and I were saddened to learn of too many lives and prevent us from becoming the death of Esther Peterson. She was the the people God intended us to be. mother of the modern consumer movement,

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