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Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for the Baltic Nations-United States Charter of Partnership January 16, 1998

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Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for the Baltic Nations-United States Charter of Partnership January 16, 1998 Jan. 15 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 than anything elseÐthe proper, wise deploy- and gangs and drugs off the streets, and more ment of police resources in a community fashion police officers on the streets. But if we keep to prevent crime and to catch criminals. going we'll get the job done. Since the crime bill passed, we've come a I'd also like to say, we all know that we have long way toward putting our goal of 100,000 an unresolved problem with crime by young police on the street. You heard the mayor say people, juveniles. While that rate seems to be how many there were in New York City. We dropping now, it has not gone down nearly as have to finish the job, however. We're about much as the overall crime rate. And I'm con- two-thirds of the way there, since 1994. We've vinced we have to do more to deal with these funded about 67,000 police officers. young people in the hours where most of this Today I'm pleased to announce that we are crime is committed, which is after school but going to help New York City hire and deploy before their folks get home. We're committed 1,600 more community police officers. With the to working hard with our cities to help to deal new police officers, we now helped to fund with that. more than 70,000 of the 100,000 community So today is a good day. Hundreds of more police across America. And I want you to know police officers from New York CityÐit means we intend to keep going until we've got all a lower crime rate for a city that has proved 100,000 on the beat. We want to get it done that the police can do the job, given the kind ahead of schedule. In the big cities like New of community support we need and the kind York where the problems of crime and drugs of farsighted policies that I think we have to and guns once seemed absolutely insurmount- pursue together as Americans. able, real progress has been made. So thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Commis- Now, there's still a lot to do. The mayor sioner. Thanks to the Members of Congress. talked about the drug problem. Our budget And my thanks to the people in the police de- coming up has more funds for drug education, partment. drug prevention, and drug treatment. I issued Thank you very much. an Executive order just a couple of days ago relating to drug treatment in the State peniten- tiaries of the country. NOTE: The President spoke at 5:05 p.m. in the The New York Times reported today that press room in Port Authority Building #14 at John some cities, particularly smaller cities, are still F. Kennedy International Airport. In his remarks, struggling, cities that never felt the kind of prob- he referred to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Police lems you came to take for granted or at leastÐ Commissioner Howard Safir of New York City, not for grantedÐat least a part of your daily and Thomas J. Scotto, president, National Associa- life before, and perhaps aren't as well equipped tion of Police Organizations. He also referred to as you are to handle them. We have more to his memorandum of January 12 on ending drug do to clean up our cities, to get more guns use and drug availability for offenders. Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for the Baltic Nations-United States Charter of Partnership January 16, 1998 The President. President Meri; President President Brazauskas, and President Ulmanis to Brazauskas; President Ulmanis; members of the Washington to reaffirm our common vision of Estonian, Lithuanian, and Latvian delegations; a Europe whole and free, where Estonia, Lith- Secretary Albright; Mr. Berger; Members of uania, and Latvia play their full and rightful Congress; Senator Dole; Mr. Brzezinski; and all roles, and to sign a charter of partnership to friends of the Baltic nations who are here. build that Europe together. The Vice President and I and our administra- To the three Presidents, let me say thank tion were honored to welcome President Meri, you. Thank you for the key role you have played 68 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:13 Jul 12, 2000 Jkt 010199 PO 00001 Frm 00068 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\PUBPAP\PAP_TXT txed01 PsN: txed01 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 / Jan. 16 in making this moment possible, holding to the better information-sharing and more joint oper- difficult path of political and economic reform, ations. leading Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania back to And this year the United States, in a unique the community of free nations where they be- public/private partnership with the Soros Open long. This charter of partnership underscores Society Institute, will be creating a Baltic-Amer- how far your nations have come. Almost exactly ican partnership fund to promote the develop- 7 years ago today, Baltic citizens were facing ment of civic organizations. Nothing is more down tanks in the struggle to reclaim their inde- crucial to democracy's success than a vibrant pendence. Today, your democracies have taken network of local groups committed to their com- root. You stand among Europe's fastest growing munities and their nation. I want to thank economies. Your nations are a source of stability George Soros for his visionary generosity. within your region and beyond, through the I also want to say a special thanks to the Partnership For Peace, the Baltic Peacekeeping Baltic-American communities. For 50 years, Battalion, and your contributions in Bosnia. Lithuanian-, Latvian-, and Estonian-Americans America has been proud to support this kept alive the dream of Baltic freedom. Now, progress through our SEED assistance program, on the verge of a new century, they are working more than 500 Peace Corps volunteers, and in here at home and with their Baltic brothers many other ways. We share a stake in your and sisters to make sure the hard-won blessings success. And with this charter, we set out a of liberty will never be lost again. framework to achieve our common goals. It af- President Meri, President Brazauskas, Presi- firms our commitment to promoting harmony dent Ulmanis, we recall the August day in 1989 and human dignity within our societies; it when hundreds of thousands of people linked stresses our interest in close cooperation among hands from Tallinn to Riga to Vilnius, forming the Baltic States and with all their neighbors; a human chain as strong as the values for which it launches new working groups on economic it stood. Today, that Baltic chain extends across development to spur greater trade, investment, the Atlantic Ocean. America's hands and hearts and growth, complementing the efforts of our and hopes are joined as one with yours. Working European friends; and it furthers America's together, we can build a new Europe of democ- commitment to help Estonia, Lithuania, and racy, prosperity, and peace, where security is Latvia to deepen their integration and prepare the province of every nation and the future be- for membership in the European Union and longs to the free. NATO. Thank you very much. Of course, there can be no guarantees of ad- President Guntis Ulmanis of Latvia. Dear mission to the alliance. Only NATO's leaders, President, ladies and gentlemen, today is a operating by consensus, can offer membership happy day as we are signing the U.S.A.-Baltic to an aspiring state. But America's security is charter. This charter will serve as a key for tied to Europe, and Europe will never be fully the next century. It makes us allies. Our signa- secure if Baltic security is in doubt. NATO's tures write the strategic philosophy for the next door is and will remain open to every partner century. They mark strong Atlanticism and also nation, and America is determined to create the the formation of a new Europe. The Baltic re- conditions under which Estonia, Lithuania, and gion is a success story for all who shape it by Latvia can one day walk through that door. their everyday work. The hopes that fuel the goals of this charter I call on President Clinton and his administra- must be matched by our will to achieve them. tion to get actively involved in the formation That's why we're forming a new partnership of its future. The symbolic meaning of the char- commission which Deputy Secretary of State ter has been expressed in its first words, which Strobe Talbott will chair. I'm pleased to report speak about our common vision of the future. that the charter is making a difference already. It has been created by people of our countries Yesterday our nations signed treaties to elimi- in continuous work by mutual enrichment. I am nate double taxation, which will encourage proud of my people and its strengths. I am American business to play an even greater role proud of my friends who I am happy to wel- in Baltic prosperity. We're also expanding our come here. common efforts to combat organized crime with Thank you. 69 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:13 Jul 12, 2000 Jkt 010199 PO 00001 Frm 00069 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\PUBPAP\PAP_TXT txed01 PsN: txed01 Jan. 16 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 President Algirdas Brazauskas of Lithuania. as a beacon of hope throughout the long, dark, Dear Presidents, ladies and gentlemen, today and cold years of the Soviet occupation.
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