Ambassador's Remarks and Public Events

Indepedence Day Remarks by US Ambassador Ross Wilson

Ankara, Turkey
July 3, 2008

Sayın Bakanlar, Sayın Büyükelçiler, Baylar ve Bayanlar, aziz arkadaşlar. Hoş geldiniz ve iyi akşamlar. Amerika’nın Bağımsızlık Günü kutlamasına katıldığınız için çok teşekkür ederim.

Ministers, distinguished ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends. Welcome and good evening. Thank you for joining this celebration of America’s Independence Day.

I want to thank the many organizations whose generous contributions made possible this reception and others in Istanbul, Adana and Izmir. We have many special guests, but I would like to note two from the United States.

One is Marine Corps General James Cartwright, the Vice Chairman of our Joint Chiefs of Staff, who held very useful talks with his Turkish counterpart, General Ergin Saygun.

The other is Olympic athelete Buzz Schneider, who starred on the US Olympic ice hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union and went on to win a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid. Mr. Scheieder is here as a hockey coach to young Turks, and I hope he helps them develop into champions, too.

Minister Babacan, thank you for honoring us with your presence. For me, your being here both reflects and gives encouragement to the close, enduring and improving ties that exist between our governments, our countries and our peoples.

On the 150th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence, President Coolidge remarked that “governments do not make ideals, but ideals make governments.” For me, this gets to the essence of what America is all about and distinguishes us from other nations.

The ideals of our Declaration of Independence have inspired my countrymen and millions around the world to strive to realize the promise of freedom and democracy.

“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness.... That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

As Americans, Turks and other free peoples around the world struggle with day-to-day issues and the sometimes difficult challenges of making democracy work, these words remain an inspiration. As our great nations stay firm with these values and a common commitment to defend our way of life, Turkish-American friendship and alliance will be strong, and we can be confident about our future together.

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