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Notes for the Independence Day Speech 2005

English Pages, 30. 6. 2005

Dear Mr. Ambassador, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear American friends,

let me congratulate you on the occasion of the 229th Independence Day of your great country, the United States of America. We are honored to share this special day with you and to do so in the year when we – both our nations – celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and of the liberation of our country. The United States of America was a decisive factor in both events and – as I have had a chance to say on numerous occasions this year, especially on the 6th of May in Pilsen – I can assure you that we know and will not forget what your country did for us at that time.

Mr. Ambassador, between our two 4th of July meetings here, in this beautiful garden, your country reelected your President for his second term and thus gave him a chance to complete his courageous and radical mission to spread freedom and less oppressive state both at home and abroad. We wish him, all of you and also ourselves a lot of success in this endeavor.

In the same period our country had not one, but three governments. In spite of this, it remains a politically stable, economically growing and in international politics a consistent and – to our friends – loyal partner.

In our foreign policy, we keep stressing the importance of the transatlantic cooperation and will not let anyone to weaken it. We are, Mr. Ambassador, also fully involved in the European integration process and want to be active in shaping its future. The current debate about the already rejected European constitution gives us – and all other fellow Europeans – a new opportunity to think about what we really want to have in Europe, what kind of an intergovernmental structure, what degree of centralization, how much of national sovereignty, and about many other similar issues. We are convinced that we all – including our friends in the United States of America – will benefit from a free, unrestricted and unbiased discussion about these topics.

Mr. Ambassador, I wish the American people peace, prosperity and another successful year.

Václav Klaus, Prague, June 30, 2005