Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / June 2 1267 continent came across the Atlantic to popu- Remarks to the Sponsors of the late places they called New , New Eng- International Prize land, New , New , Nova in Scotia, New Sweden, in short, a new Europe. Without the longing for a new Europe, there June 2, 2000 never would have been an America in the Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor, Mr. first place. President, the rector of the university, and Now, as the longing for a new Europe the Charlemagne Prize Foundation mem- takes root on the soil of the old continent, bers. I have given my speech today, so I we should never let a sense of history’s inevi- would just like to make a couple of com- tability cloud our wonder at how astonish- ments. First, let me say that I have wanted ingly Europeans changed the rest of the to come to this great city since I was a young world through enterprise, imagination, and man, over 35 years ago, when I first began their ability to grow, qualities that always will to study the history of Europe. And so today define Europe’s identity far more accurately was, for me, a personal dream come true. than any mapmaker ever will. And I only regret that I didn’t get to spend In the years ahead, as pilgrims of peace more time in the cathedral. [Laughter] But come here to Aachen, I hope they will reflect the mayor says I can come back. [Laughter] on the similarity of the two monuments en- Let me also say how very impressed I am shrined here. First, the magnificent cathedral by the modern things about this city, as well, holding Charlemagne’s mortal remains, beginning with the mayor and the enlight- begun in his lifetime, added to throughout ened speech that he gave and the energy and the Middle Ages, repaired in the 20th cen- friendliness of the people. I have enjoyed it tury, when our failure to keep the peace re- very much. I would like to say just a word about the quired it. And second, the peace and unity Charlemagne Prize, itself. Fifty years ago, that three generations have been building for when this prize was created, the city fathers five decades now in Europe, a work far from were true visionaries. They refused to give complete, perhaps never to be completed but into the despair that enveloped so much of completely worthy of our best labors and Europe. Today, after I gave my speech, so dreams. Let us keep building this cathedral, many people came up to me and said, the cathedral of European unity, on the foun- ‘‘You’re so optimistic.’’ And I thought I was dation of our alliance for freedom. Because being faithful to the founders of the prize. I have tried to lay a stone or two in my time, And I find it foolish to have any other attitude I am honored and humbled to accept this toward life. prize. If you look back over the last 50 years, Thank you very much. I think it is remarkable how far we have come. And yes, there are great challenges, NOTE: The President spoke at 12:45 p.m. in the but there’s no reason to believe that good Katschof Courtyard at the Aachen Cathedral. In people can’t do what needs to be done. his remarks, he referred to Chancellor Gerhard Let me say with regard to the prize, since Schroeder of ; Lord Mayor Jurgen Lin- it is really about European unity and, for me, den of Aachen; President Johannes Rau of Ger- transatlantic unity, I thought that the best ´ many; President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Re- thing I could do would be to donate the prize public; King Juan Carlos of Spain; President Tarja money to a student exchange program that Halonen of Finland; and President Slobodan would promote unity in a more immediate Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia sense among people still young enough to (Serbia and Montenegro). make the most of it. And so the exchange 1268 June 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 program that I am going to give the prize May 31 money to joins Aachen and its sister city, Ar- In the morning, the President attended the lington, Virginia, which is just across the river U.S.- summit meeting in the from the White House. And there they are. Throne Room at Queluz Palace in Lisbon. I see them. So I hope that some good will come of June 1 it and that young people from this commu- In the morning, the President met with nity and Arlington will gain a deeper insight Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel in the into our respective nations and a greater un- 20th Floor Suite at the Dom Pedro Hotel derstanding of the future that they will have in Lisbon. to build. In the afternoon, the President traveled to This has been a wonderful day for me. Berlin, Germany. In the evening, he met Thank you very much. with Christian Democratic Union leader An- gela Merkel in Room 686 at the Intercon NOTE: The President spoke at 2:10 p.m. in the Hotel. Council Chamber at City Hall. In his remarks, The President announced his intention to he referred to Lord Mayor Jurgen Linden of nominate John Train to be a member of the Aachen; President Johannes Rau of Germany; and Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Rector Burkhard Rauhut, Aachen Technical Uni- Board. versity. June 2 In the morning, the President traveled to Aachen, Germany, and in the evening, he re- turned to Berlin, Germany. Digest of Other The White House announced that the White House Announcements President will meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Washington, DC, on June 6.

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest an- nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue. Nominations Submitted to the Senate May 28 The President returned from Camp David, NOTE: No nominations were submitted to the MD, to Washington, DC. Senate during the period covered by this issue.

May 29 In the morning, the President traveled to Arlington, VA, and in the afternoon, he re- Checklist turned to Washington, DC. of White House Press Releases In the evening, the President traveled to Lisbon, , arriving the following morning. The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as May 30 items nor covered by entries in the Digest of In the morning, the President participated Other White House Announcements. in a wreath laying ceremony at the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. In the afternoon, he Released May 29 met with President Jorge Sampaio of Por- tugal in the President’s Office at Palacio de Announcement: Official Delegation Accom- Belem. panying the President to Portugal