THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

(Athens, Greece)

For Immediate Release November 19, 1999

 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT CLINTON AT STATE DINNER IN HIS HONOR

Presidential Mansion

Athens, Greece

 9:45 P.M. (L)

 THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President; Prime Minister and Mrs. Simitis; Archbishop Christodoulos; Archbishop Demitrious; ladies and gentlemen. I would also like to say a special word of appreciation to your Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Philon, who is celebrating his 60th birthday tonight. (Applause.) With each passing day, that seems like a younger and younger age.

In 1822, the American President, James Monroe, reported to our Congress about the valiant efforts of the Greek people to regain their freedom. He said, "There is good cause to believe that Greece will again become an independent nation. That she may obtain that rank is the object of our most ardent wishes."

Of course, those ardent wishes were fulfilled: modern Greece was born, and the ancient Greek ideas of freedom and democracy that also inspired America's founders. In the almost 180 years since, Greece and the United States have forged a profound and enduring friendship, based on our common devotion to those ideals. And when those ideas have been threatened, we have fought side by side to defend them. Greece is one of only seven nations in the entire world that has stood with the United States in every major international conflict in this century, including World War II, in which your nation suffered more than virtually any other nation in the world.

As in all friendships, we have not always agreed, but we have never broken ranks, because of our shared devotion to democracy and freedom. If some engage us in passionate debate, it is well to remember how hard both our countries have fought for their right to do just that.

I am honored to be in Greece tonight, with my wife and daughter and our delegation -- not simply to honor your history and our past friendship, but to focus on your leadership today for peace and freedom and prosperity for the future, and on the partnership I hope we will have in the new century.

You are the economic powerhouse in the Balkans, with the highest growth rate in the EU and a booming stock market. You are the leader for stability, peace and prosperity in all of southeastern Europe, making a special contribution to the United Nations efforts in Bosnia and Kosovo. There is no better way to begin the new millennium than to see modern Greece help to complete the democratic revolution in Europe that ancient Greece began.

In addition to friendship and partnership, Greece has given America another precious gift -- some of her best people. The first Greek-Americans were Greek settlers in Boston in the 17th century, and then a group of orphans brought over during the Greek war of independence by American Philhelllenes. These children would later make extraordinary contributions to America: John Zachos became and educational pioneer among African-Americans after the Civil War; Michael Inogmous (phonetic) ran the leading school in America for the deaf and blind.

Ever since, Greeks have been coming to America, flourishing themselves and, in turn, helping America to flourish. People like the Skoros brothers, who started with one movie theater and ended up as owners of 20th Century Fox; Elia Kazan, who turned American movie-making into an art; Archbishop Iakovos, who marched with Martin Luther King and led the Greek Orthodox faithful for half a century.

And, of course, we have all eminent politicians -- Governor Michael Dukakis, Senator Paul Tsongas, Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator Paul Sarbanes -- America's most eloquent and effective advocate for Greece. And, Mr. President, as you saw tonight, beginning with my Chief of Staff, Mr. Podesta, Greek Americans are heavily over-represented in the White House.

I want to say a special word of thanks to all the distinguished Greek Americans who have come to Greece to be with us today, and the many Greek Americans who live here in Athens. And I want to pay special tribute to the countless Greek Americans whose names are not famous, but whose devotion to work and family, to church and community, have so enriched America.

America would literally not be what it is today without the contributions of Greek Americans, without their work, their values, their public service. We could not build the future we envision for Europe, for ourselves, without the partnership between our two countries and between our two peoples.

If we look to ancient Greece for inspiration, we look to modern Greece for leadership. Let me say, Mr. President, I listened to your remarks very carefully. And I think you know I have just returned from a trip to Turkey in which I, at every public opportunity, urged the leaders and the people of Turkey to seek reconciliation with the people and the leaders of Greece, and to resolve the differences between you. I am encouraged by the proximity talks which have just been announced on Cyprus, and I commit to you and to the people of Greece my best efforts to help you resolve those issues.

In that spirit, I ask you all to join me in a toast to the President, to Prime Minister and Mrs. Simitis, to the abiding partnership between Greece and the United States, and to the hope that our coming together will make it even stronger. Oli mazi.

(A toast was offered.) (Applause.)

END 9:59 P.M. (L)