Toasts given by U.S. President Al Gore &
Prime Minister Vajpayee at the luncheon hosted by Vice President in honor
of Prime Minister Vajpayee
U.S. State Department
Washington D.C.
September 15, 2000
VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
Prime Minister Vajpayee, Members of the Indian delegation. Members of
Congress. Distinguished guests. Ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome. It is a true privilege and pleasure for me to host you, Mr. Prime
Minister, for today's luncheon.
In today's world, it is rare to find a leader who combines the qualities
of idealism and pragmatism, confidence and humility. In you, Mr. Prime
Minister, we find such a leader.
As a poet, you have inspired the imagination of your people with your
eloquence. As Prime Minister, you have challenged your people to act on
their imagination, to create a shared vision for a united, democratic,
prosperous and peaceful India, and then to make that vision a reality. You
are truly a leader in both word and deed.
President John Kennedy once said, in our country, "If more
politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the
world would be a little better place to live." I cannot translate
that into Hindi, but Mr. Prime Minister, you embody President Kennedy's
words. You know both poetry and politics, and through your inspired
leadership, you are indeed making the world a better place to live.
In your poem Oonchai -- or "height" in English -- you speak of
the importance of not losing touch with humanity as one rises in life.
Your poem ends with a stirring line, which I would like to quote:
"Never let me climb so high that I cannot bend down to embrace
another human." You have dedicated your life to this noble ambition.
I am confident that India is destined for great heights. One of the
World's great civilizations, India has emerged, of course, as one of it's
great democracies. India's history has been turbulent at times. But your
nation is on the way to overcoming these challenges by embracing change,
uniting all, and setting a course for the future.
The United States, Mr. Prime Minister, joins India as a partner on this
journey. Our two nations share a special bond. As the world's oldest
democracy and the world's largest democracy, we are, in your words,
"natural allies." Our cultures and customs differ, but we share
a strong commitment to democracy and equality for all. We are proof that
diversity is strength, and that freedom is power.
The success of the Indian-American community testifies to the potential
for our partnership. Many distinguished members of this Indian-American
community join us here today. Indian-Americans have excelled in all fields
of endeavor, from medicine to movies, science to airlines, and everything
in between. And they have been at the forefront of the information
revolution. Many Indian-Americans have found a home in Silicon Valley,
leading some of the most successful internet companies. They have made an
invaluable contribution to America's prosperity and democratic life.
As the world's two leading democracies, we bear a special responsibility
to take the lead in meeting the challenges that all democracies face. We
must work together to ensure democracy's promises are realized by all our
people, that all benefit from freedom. Quality education, public health, a
clean environment -- these are the goals we share and which together we
can achieve. Threats that undermine democracy -- such as terrorism and the
proliferation of dangerous weapons technologies -- are concerns we also
share, and will work together to address.
When you were sworn-in as India's sixteenth Prime Minister two years ago,
you said that you "have a pledge to redeem and a promise to
fulfill." On behalf of all Americans, I pledge to you America's
continued support, and promise you our lasting friendship.
Please join me now in raising our glasses in honor of Prime Minister
Vajpayee and to the friendship between our two great nations.
Prime
Minister Vajpayee’s speech at the lunch hosted by U.S. Vice President Al
Gore
U.S. State Department
Washington D.C.
September 15, 2000
Let me, on behalf of the
India delegation, thank you for the warm welcome that we have received in
the United States.
I also thank you, Mr.
Vice President for your generous hospitality today, despite the
responsibilities of your office and the obligations of your campaign.
Five decades ago as we
took our first steps into freedom, President Harry Truman had written in
his message of congratulations, "I earnestly hope that our friendship
will in the future, as in the past, continue to be expressed in close and
fruitful co-operation in international undertakings and in cordiality in
our relations with one another."
In October of 1949,
India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had stated, "it was
necessary, even desirable, and, perhaps, inevitable that India and the
United States should know each other more and co-operate with each other
more."
In March this year,
President Clinton and I outlined the vision of a closer and qualitatively
new relationship in the 21" century between the world's two largest
democracies. This morning he and I reaffirmed that vision.
The foundation of our
relationship is cast in our many shared values. It is reinforced by our
many common aspirations. And, from what I have experienced over the past
few days and yesterday at the Capitol Hill, this foundation rests on the
broad support of the people of our two societies.
Today, Indians and
Americans are driving innovation and defining partnerships in
areas that will increasingly determine the process of wealth
creation and global economic relations. It is our common responsibility to
show leadership and vision to foster an environment in which the natural
skills and talent that Americans and Indians have for the digital world
can thrive and prosper.
It is important not only
for our economic future, but also because it gives the chance to find new
ways of fighting hunger, disease, illiteracy and pollution.
As should have been
natural to us all along, we have in the recent years expanded and deepened
our co-operation in pursuit of our common vision of shaping a future of
peace, prosperity, democracy, pluralism and freedom.
There are many people in
India and the United States, who are devoting their resources, energy,
expertise, foresight and insight to build a closer relationship and
stronger partnership between India and the United States.
The transformation that
we are witnessing in Indo-US relations is in many ways a tribute to their
efforts and vision. The Indian-American community is an important part of
the process.
It is up to us, the
leaders of our two countries, to support arid consolidate this process. I
thank you Mr. Vice President for your contribution to the strengthening of
our ties.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I invite you to join me in raising a toast
to the good health and well-being of Vice President Albert Gore,
to the great people of the United States,
to the friendship between the peoples of India and the United States and;
to the vision that we share of our partnership for the larger cause of peace and prosperity in the world.