For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 17, 2004
Captive Nations Week, 2004
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Each year during Captive Nations Week, the United States reaffirms
our commitment to building a world where human rights, democracy, and
freedom are respected and protected by the rule of law. As Americans,
we believe the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity must be upheld
without regard to race, gender, creed, or nationality. We stand in
solidarity with those living under repressive regimes who seek
democracy and peaceful changes in their homelands.
Throughout our Nation's history, our brave men and women in uniform
have fought for the freedom of those suffering under authoritarian
governments. From Nazi Germany to Bosnia, and Afghanistan to Iraq,
American service members have fought to remove brutal leaders. The
American people and their generous contributions have helped to rebuild
traumatized nations and given the oppressed hope for the future. More
than a year ago, American service members and our coalition partners
freed the Iraqi people from a dictatorship that routinely tortured and
executed innocent civilians. Since then, Americans have helped the
Iraqi people establish institutions for the protection of human rights,
based on democratic principles, to ensure that freedom will endure in
the new Iraq.
Earlier this summer, as our Nation paid respect to President Ronald
Reagan, we recognized his contributions to ending the Cold War and
advancing freedom around the world. In his first Inaugural Address,
President Reagan said: "Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or
no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and
moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in
today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do
have." These words carry forward today as we continue to push for
democratic freedoms and human rights around the world.
The Congress, by Joint Resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat.
212), has authorized and requested the President to issue a
proclamation designating the third week in July of each year as
"Captive Nations Week."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim July 18 through July 24, 2004, as
Captive Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United States to
observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to
reaffirm their commitment to all those seeking liberty, justice, and
self-determination.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day
of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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