2440 Nov. 22 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

American University in . They were resent all regions of the country; public and from Bulgaria and from other countries private schools; rural, urban, and suburban throughout this region. And they were pro- districts; and every grade from kindergarten foundly impressive to me in their intel- through high school. Teachers who pursue ligence, in their compassion, in their deter- these standards set a sterling example—for mination to build a brighter future. their students and for our country. So I would like to close my remarks tonight We all know that one of the most impor- with a word to the young people here. In tant factors behind a child’s educational suc- America, Thomas Jefferson was only 32 years cess is having a caring, competent, and com- old when he wrote the Declaration of Inde- mitted teacher. That’s why my administration pendence, and Martin Luther King was only has strongly supported the work of the Na- 26 years old when he led our crusade for tional Board for Professional Teaching civil rights for African-Americans. As I look Standards, which has now certified nearly out among you, I see a generation of Bul- 5,000 of our most talented teachers. With to- garians who have come of age knowing not day’s announcement, we are on the way to the unchanging conformity of communism meeting the challenge I have set: making but the constantly changing challenges of a sure we have a Board-certified teacher in democratic society. every school in the Nation by 2006. I know that it may seem hard now. But some day you will look back on this time and say, ‘‘When we were young, we brought Bul- Remarks at a State Dinner Hosted garia back to freedom. We brought Bulgaria by President Stoyanov in forward to prosperity, security, and unity in November 22, 1999 Europe.’’ And I am determined that you will also be able to say, ‘‘When we marched into President Stoyanov, Mrs. Stoyanov; Prime the new millennium, America stood with us, Minister and Mrs. Kostov; distinguished gov- and we changed the world.’’ ernment leaders; citizens of Bulgaria; our Thank you, and God bless you. American friends. Mr. President, let me begin by thanking you for your warm wel- NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 5:50 come. This is a day that I will remember for p.m. in Nevsky Square. In his remarks he referred the rest of my life. You gave my wife a memo- to President and Prime Minister rable day here not so long ago, and our of Bulgaria; Mayor Stefan Sofianski of Sofia; and President Slobodan Milosevic of the daughter and I had a wonderful time today Federal Republic of (Serbia and Mon- in so many ways, a few of which I would tenegro). The transcript released by the Office of like to mention. the Press Secretary also included the remarks of But first let me begin with the time Presi- President Stoyanov. dent Stoyanov came to the White House. Hillary and I welcomed him there a couple of years ago, and I was very interested in Statement on the National Board for this young President of Bulgaria, so I read Professional Teaching Standards up on him. Announcement of New Board- He was only a little younger than me. He Certified Teachers looks much younger, but he’s only a little. November 22, 1999 [Laughter] He studied the law. His wife stud- ied law. He’s a father who likes to jog. He Today the National Board for Professional likes to read. He grew up listening to rock Teaching Standards announced that 2,965 and roll, just like me. [Laughter] The only more teachers met the teaching profession’s difference I could find from our biographies highest standards and achieved National is that he liked John Lennon, and I liked Board certification. I want to congratulate Elvis. [Laughter] them and commend all who applied for cer- Earlier today on Nevsky Square I had the tification, for their personal commitment to opportunity to speak to a vast and immensely high-quality education. These teachers rep- impressive throng of Bulgarians about the