HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
By U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Richard M. Miles
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| Ambassador Richard M. Miles, U.S. Charge d’Affaires |
This is how Americans greet each other when celebrating the anniversary of our Independence. Each year we mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, which established the United States of America out of thirteen British colonies on the North American continent.
In honor of the 233rd Anniversary of America’s Independence, I want to share my perspective on how our past history influences our increasingly dynamic relationship with the government and people of Turkmenistan.
When the founding fathers of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence, they established a set of principles for the new country. In that document, they also called for the establishment of a democratic form of government that would be accountable to its people.
However, at its birth, the United States was not a perfect democracy. Many Americans were denied full rights. In 1776, African-Americans had no political rights. They were trapped in a system of slavery that seemed perpetual and impossible to change. Women were second class citizens with far fewer rights than their husbands or brothers in a social structure that also seemed to be immovable. Goals of equality seemed far out of reach.
But the Declaration of Independence spoke of the equality of all. The Declaration provided a broad outline and a first step towards a system of government that adapted and grew more inclusive and more democratic with time.
During my own lifetime, I have seen changes. I saw how African-Americans were once denied the right to vote. And now I have seen an African-American, Barack Hussein Obama, become the President of the United States. In the past, I saw how rare it was for women to continue in professional careers or to be appointed to high positions. Today, I am working under the third woman to hold the post of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton – a woman who nearly became the first female President of the United States.
We have seen that with time, a country can succeed in fulfilling its values and meeting its obligations to its citizens. This has led to Americans’ faith in progress and in the future. It also explains why the United States is supportive of countries around the world that wish to advance, modernize, and become more effective and accountable to their citizens. For this reason, the United States supports President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s reform goals and vision to see Turkmenistan meet international standards in all fields. For this reason we share important common ground with the government and people of Turkmenistan.
During my short time in Turkmenistan, our bilateral relationship has continued to grow. Most recently, Deputy Chairman and Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov visited Washington for productive talks on a wide range of topics. This reflects our growing cooperation in all sectors from legal reform to the energy sector, from education to border security. We look forward to continued and increasing cooperation in all fields.
In a broader sense, the election of Barack Hussein Obama as President of the United States, last November, represents a new step in our relationship with the rest of the world, and in particular, the Muslim world. President Obama has extended the hand of friendship and dialogue to countries in the region and elsewhere. He seeks to find common ground and partnership with any country that shares a vision of progress and cooperation for the future. We hope and trust that such a shared vision will continue between the United States and Turkmenistan.
