Speeches

Address by Ambassador Jacobson to the People of Turkmenistan On the Occasion of American Independence Day

July 4, 2004

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to the people of Turkmenistan on the occasion of Independence Day. The Fourth of July marks the 228th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when a group of Colonial Americans committed their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor" to the independence of a new democratic nation.

These days, however, the Fourth of July is more than a celebration of independence. It is rather a celebration of the ideals that bind us together as Americans. The belief in government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The belief in individual rights and freedoms, and in individual responsibilities. Being an American isn't about a person's ethnicity, religion, mother tongue, or even birthplace. We are a nation of immigrants, who share the beliefs of our forefathers that the hard work of individuals, and their full participation in the political process, can make a nation great.

All of us at the American Embassy in Ashgabat are enormously proud of our cooperation with Turkmenistan over the last year. Our cooperative engagement with Turkmenistan spans a broad number of areas, including security, education, culture, economics, health, and civil society. Over the past year, we've sent almost 200 Turkmen security and law enforcement officials abroad for training and provided 50 vehicles and other equipment to help secure borders and fight crime. We've sent over 100 students and professionals on exchange programs to the United States to enhance mutual understanding. We've assisted over 600 Turkmen entrepreneurs to create and develop their business and helped a cadre of accountants to obtain international certification. We've provided training to over 100 doctors and nurses in preventive medicine. Our 78 Peace Corps volunteers, working throughout Turkmenistan, have shared their English language and health expertise with thousands of Turkmenistan's residents. We've provided grants and technical assistance to civil society organizations, and look forward to seeing the number of these organizations grow. We have organized film festivals, concerts, and speaker programs. None of this cooperation would be possible without the strong support and cooperation of the government of Turkmenistan. And none would be possible without the talent and energy of the people of Turkmenistan. We are grateful for both.

We are also grateful that Turkmenistan has been an active partner in the War against terrorism. We have been very pleased to witness several positive developments in Turkmenistan over the past year, including the lifting of exit visas and the beginning of registration of minority religious groups. We hope to see a continuation of this positive trend.

It is a pleasure to be able to celebrate the Fourth of July here in Turkmenistan. We look forward to our future cooperation, and to further development of the ties of friendship between our two nations.