Speeches, Remarks, & Interviews
Ambassador Bradtke's July Fourth Remarks
Remarks as delivered
by Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke
4th of July Celebration
July 3, 2008
Thank you members of the Marine Security Guard Detachment Zagreb.
I hvala članovima orkestara Hrvatske vojske i Hrvatske ratne mornarice
Poštovani predsjedniče Sabora,
dragi uzvanici i gosti
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dobro došli and welcome.
I am pleased that you are with us today for the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Today is not just the day when Americans celebrate a rebellion of 13 colonies against a distant British King.
Today is also the day when Americans celebrate a revolution, the day when we remember the beginning of a radical experiment in the way men were governed, and the day when we renew our commitment to achieving the ideals of liberty and equality that were the basis of this new form of government.
Two centuries later, that experiment continues, and Americans continue to strive to reach those ideals.
And, this year, as we have seen in our primary elections, all Americans, whether Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, can be proud that we have taken a further step towards realizing that revolutionary promise of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.”
Ovaj Dan Nezavisnosti takodjer obilježava moju drugu godinu službovanja u Zagrebu.
Počašćen sam što se ovdje nalazim u tako povijesnom trenutku u hrvatsko američkim odnosima.
U travnju je, uz snažnu potporu Sjedinjenih američkih država, Hrvatska pozvana u NATO savez.
Da citiram predsjednika Busha na trgu sv. Marka
” dakle, u slućaju prijetnje Hrvatskoj, nitko Vam nikada neće oduzeti slobodu”.
Ali sa slobodom dolazi i odgovornost.
Mi pozdravljamo Hrvatsku spremnost da i drugima pomogne živjeti u slobodi i sigurnosti.
Pozdravljamo Hrvatsku vodeću ulogu i primjer u jugo istočnoj Europi.
Takodjer pozdravljamo hrvatski doprinos kao nestalne članice vijeća sigurnosti Ujedinjenih Naroda u traženju riješenja svjetskih problema.
In the coming year, there will be new challenges for Croatia and the United States in realizing the full potential of our bilateral relations.
As President Bush discussed with President Mesic and Prime Minister Sanader during his visit. And, as Foreign Minister Jandroković discussed just two days ago in Washington, with Secretary Rice:
We need to deepen and broaden our relationship.
We need to increase trade and investment.
We need to make it easier to visit and study in each other’s countries.
Over the next year, I am confident we can make further progress in all these areas, and that we can bring the benefits of closer relations between our two governments to the individual citizens of both our countries.
I look forward to working with all of you to meet these challenges.
Hvala što ste došli, and please enjoy the remainder of the evening.