The full text of the historic speech of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to the U.S. Congress, interrupted 18 times by applause and several standing ovations . Everyone, Democrats and Republicans, praised the speech of our president. The content comes in a noble and proud history, while the opposition partisan controversy fall into the most ignoble oblivion.
With Daw for the image and the video of the speech.
"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President to the House of Representatives, Members of Congress, is to me an extraordinary honor to be invited to speak before you in a place that is of the great temples of democracy. I speak on behalf and on behalf of a country against United States of America has a deep friendship that the United States and is bound by centuries-old ties.
An important part of American citizens of Italian origin. For them, America was a land of opportunity that welcomed them generously, and they contributed their talents and their work to make America great. And I'm proud to see how many citizens of Italian origin are now members of the Parliament of the largest democracy in the world. For the generation of Italians, the United States is the beacon of freedom and civil and economic progress.
I will always be grateful to the United States for having saved the my country from fascism and Nazism at the cost of so many young American lives. I will always be grateful to the United States in the long decades of the Cold War have defended Europe from the Soviet threat. devoting so much of people and financial resources in this victorious struggle against communism, the United States enabled us to allocate precious resources to the European recovery and development of our economy.
I will always be grateful to the United States for helping my country to overcome poverty and achieve growth and prosperity after the Second World War thanks to the generosity of the Marshall Plan.
And today I am still grateful to the United States who continue to pay a high price in terms of human lives in the fight against terrorism, for our common security and defense of human rights around the world.
When I see your flag, I never tire of repeating, I see only the flag of a great democracy and a great country, but I see above all a symbol, a universal message of democracy and freedom.
Mr President, these feelings have inspired all of my political activity and action of the governments that I had the honor of leading.
The United States has always relied on a solid and loyal ally, ready to take responsibility to be at your side to defense of freedom. Wherever we have demonstrated real commitment has been required. We are deeply proud.
Some 40,000 Italian troops are intended solely for peacekeeping missions.
In Afghanistan we now have the command of NATO's ISAF mission.
In Iraq we are engaged in bringing peace and democracy building.
In the Balkans we have taken command of the missions in Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina.
We are also in the Middle East, Sudan and other parts of the world, where they have open wounds must be healed.
Mr President, before the barbaric attacks of 11 September, the certainty of living in Western countries own safety. They lived in the certainty that nothing, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, could interfere with their civil and democratic life.
In 2001, the second early days of my government, I was to chair the G8 summit in Genoa.
After the conclusion of the summit, the final dinner was a dinner between friends.
, I sat a little 'back from the table almost as an outside observer, to enjoy the friendly dialogue that took place between leaders of the largest industrialized countries in the world.
President Bush was chatting amiably with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima were a distant memory. Mr Blair joked with the Chancellor Schroeder. And then the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin was also talking with President Bush.
The tragedy of World War II and the Cold War, lasted for so many years, was forgotten. I felt within me a great happiness. I thought the world had really changed and how it was different and peaceful world that we handed to our children. For them it was open a new era of lasting peace.
But a few months later the unthinkable happened.
September 11 marked the beginning of a completely different war than those who have plunged humanity in centuries past. Not a conflict between states, not a clash of civilizations, because it is not an attack on Islam to the West. The moderate Islamic ally of Western democracies is itself a target of terrorists. This is an attack by radical fundamentalism, which uses terrorism against the advance of democracy in the world and against the dialogue among civilizations.
Western democracies are facing an assault by extremist organizations that strike at the innocent and threaten the fundamental values \u200b\u200bthat underpin our civilization.
Democratic governments have to meet a daunting task: to defend the security of their citizens and ensure their "freedom from fear." This is
the new frontier of freedom.
Mr President, I am deeply convinced that to defend this frontier as well as the generous commitment of your great country, the need for a grand alliance of all democracies. It is only by joining the efforts of democracies on all continents able to free the world from the threat of international terrorism and the fear of aggression by the forces of evil.
The battle for freedom from fear is a battle not only for the benefit of the citizens who live in a democracy. E 'above all a battle for the benefit of those who today live under authoritarian regimes and illiberal. History has
demonstrated that the aspiration to democracy is universal and that freedom and democracy are contagious. When people are exposed to the wind of democracy, they inevitably demand their rights to freedom from their rulers. You well know that your country is the main promoter of this wind of freedom.
But there is another equally important reason to forge a common strategy by all democracies.
The United Nations forecasts that over the next 25 years the population will increase by another 2 billion people, but will be 2 billion people who are mostly born and will live in countries which are currently excluded from wealth.
On the one hand we will have 6 billion human beings living in poverty and on the other, fewer than 2 billion people living in wealth. This pressure to migrate will inevitably soar.
To avoid this, and even more, that hunger and desperation from generating hatred and being exploited by fundamentalists, there is no other alternative but to those countries out of poverty and start them toward wellness. E 'is our moral duty but also in our vital interest. This will only spread and strengthen democracy. All our efforts must therefore be directed to grow in these countries, institutions that ensure good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and a free market economy. Only democracy can indeed be free. It only guarantees the freedom that individuals can develop their talents, can make use of their energies, achieve their dreams and achieve prosperity.
There is therefore possible road ahead of us but to commit ourselves together to spread democracy around the world. The
My government has relentlessly sought to forge a grand alliance of all democracies. And that is why I supported conviction with the initiative of President Bush to establish a Democracy Fund within the United Nations.
For these reasons, I repeat, are convinced that the task that awaits us from now on is to promote in all countries the culture of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Mr. President, to conduct this mission successfully, it is essential that the links between European Union and the United States, between the two sides of the Atlantic remain strong and solid.
Because this belief that prompted me to start a firm and continuing diplomatic and political leverage with my European colleagues so that, at the Iraqi situation, the European Union did not weaken its ties with the United States of America.
For the same reason we can not ignore the danger that the identity of a united Europe is defined in opposition to America. The necessary political and institutional integration of Europe must not mean a "Fortress Europe", closed to the world of illusion that keep their wealth and their freedom.
A conception of European unity founded an unrealistic self-sufficiency would be morally suspect and politically dangerous.
Disagreement or, worse, opposition between the U.S. and Europe can not be justified and would undermine the security and prosperity of the world.
The West is and shall remain one: there can be two Wests. Europe needs America and America needs Europe. This is true politically, economically and militarily. E 'absolutely necessary, indeed essential to support and strengthen the Atlantic Alliance, the alliance for more than half a century has guaranteed peace in freedom.
From "defensive alliance" NATO is gradually becoming a security organization. While defensive alliances are exclusive, created to protect against threats from other blocs, organizations that protect the security must be inclusive, why are all the more effective the greater the number of countries that adhere to them.
E 'for these very reasons that I fought for you to give life to the NATO-Russia Council involving the Russian Federation in the security of the free world.
am proud to have worked together with President Bush and President Putin to make this happen and that this momentous decision, which confirmed the accession of Russia to the West and its values \u200b\u200bwould be consecrated in Italy, at the historic summit at Pratica di Mare.
That day in 2002 marked the end of mutual annihilation of two blocks in arms against a nightmare that lasted more than half a century.
NATO must remain the fundamental instrument to guarantee our safety.
why the new European defense capability should be complementary to NATO. Together, NATO and the European Union should be the instruments of democracy to ensure security in a globalizing world. I have always worked to achieve this goal and will continue to consider strategic. In this framework the United Nations must retrieve a key role through a process of reform that will make it more efficient to meet the new challenges of the millennium. Mr President, our values \u200b\u200bof democracy and freedom have led the West to ensure prosperity for our peoples that is unparalleled in human history.
History has shown that only democracy permits a sound market economy for political freedom and economic freedom are two sides of same coin.
We are aware that there are countries that are opening up a market economy, but where there is still no true democracy, nor a sufficient respect for human rights. This requires Countries more developed and democratic work with determination so that everywhere the opening to the free market is accompanied by the strengthening of democratic institutions and respect for human rights.
The market economy is always a powerful drive for the transformation of countries with autocratic or authoritarian regimes in real democracies.
action for the expansion of the market economy in the world is therefore an essential part of the action for the affirmation of our values, for the affirmation of freedom, for a safer, more equitable and prosperous .
Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Members Congress, the ties between the American people and the Italian people have deep roots. I'm sure that will continue to strengthen and that the United States will always find in a country with which to share the same vision of the world.
Let me conclude with you a brief history.
The story of a boy who at the end of his high school was led by his father to visit the cemetery where they rest for brave young soldiers, young men who had crossed the ocean to restore dignity and freedom to an oppressed people. In showing him those crosses, that father had to swear that boy would never forget the ultimate sacrifice those young American soldiers had the his freedom. She made him swear that he kept eternal gratitude for their country. That father was my father, that boy was me. That sacrifice and that oath I have never forgotten and will not ever forget it. Thank you .
An important part of American citizens of Italian origin. For them, America was a land of opportunity that welcomed them generously, and they contributed their talents and their work to make America great. And I'm proud to see how many citizens of Italian origin are now members of the Parliament of the largest democracy in the world. For the generation of Italians, the United States is the beacon of freedom and civil and economic progress.
I will always be grateful to the United States for having saved the my country from fascism and Nazism at the cost of so many young American lives. I will always be grateful to the United States in the long decades of the Cold War have defended Europe from the Soviet threat. devoting so much of people and financial resources in this victorious struggle against communism, the United States enabled us to allocate precious resources to the European recovery and development of our economy.
I will always be grateful to the United States for helping my country to overcome poverty and achieve growth and prosperity after the Second World War thanks to the generosity of the Marshall Plan.
And today I am still grateful to the United States who continue to pay a high price in terms of human lives in the fight against terrorism, for our common security and defense of human rights around the world.
When I see your flag, I never tire of repeating, I see only the flag of a great democracy and a great country, but I see above all a symbol, a universal message of democracy and freedom.
Mr President, these feelings have inspired all of my political activity and action of the governments that I had the honor of leading.
The United States has always relied on a solid and loyal ally, ready to take responsibility to be at your side to defense of freedom. Wherever we have demonstrated real commitment has been required. We are deeply proud.
Some 40,000 Italian troops are intended solely for peacekeeping missions.
In Afghanistan we now have the command of NATO's ISAF mission.
In Iraq we are engaged in bringing peace and democracy building.
In the Balkans we have taken command of the missions in Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina.
We are also in the Middle East, Sudan and other parts of the world, where they have open wounds must be healed.
Mr President, before the barbaric attacks of 11 September, the certainty of living in Western countries own safety. They lived in the certainty that nothing, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, could interfere with their civil and democratic life.
In 2001, the second early days of my government, I was to chair the G8 summit in Genoa.
After the conclusion of the summit, the final dinner was a dinner between friends.
, I sat a little 'back from the table almost as an outside observer, to enjoy the friendly dialogue that took place between leaders of the largest industrialized countries in the world.
President Bush was chatting amiably with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima were a distant memory. Mr Blair joked with the Chancellor Schroeder. And then the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin was also talking with President Bush.
The tragedy of World War II and the Cold War, lasted for so many years, was forgotten. I felt within me a great happiness. I thought the world had really changed and how it was different and peaceful world that we handed to our children. For them it was open a new era of lasting peace.
But a few months later the unthinkable happened.
September 11 marked the beginning of a completely different war than those who have plunged humanity in centuries past. Not a conflict between states, not a clash of civilizations, because it is not an attack on Islam to the West. The moderate Islamic ally of Western democracies is itself a target of terrorists. This is an attack by radical fundamentalism, which uses terrorism against the advance of democracy in the world and against the dialogue among civilizations.
Western democracies are facing an assault by extremist organizations that strike at the innocent and threaten the fundamental values \u200b\u200bthat underpin our civilization.
Democratic governments have to meet a daunting task: to defend the security of their citizens and ensure their "freedom from fear." This is
the new frontier of freedom.
Mr President, I am deeply convinced that to defend this frontier as well as the generous commitment of your great country, the need for a grand alliance of all democracies. It is only by joining the efforts of democracies on all continents able to free the world from the threat of international terrorism and the fear of aggression by the forces of evil.
The battle for freedom from fear is a battle not only for the benefit of the citizens who live in a democracy. E 'above all a battle for the benefit of those who today live under authoritarian regimes and illiberal. History has
demonstrated that the aspiration to democracy is universal and that freedom and democracy are contagious. When people are exposed to the wind of democracy, they inevitably demand their rights to freedom from their rulers. You well know that your country is the main promoter of this wind of freedom.
But there is another equally important reason to forge a common strategy by all democracies.
The United Nations forecasts that over the next 25 years the population will increase by another 2 billion people, but will be 2 billion people who are mostly born and will live in countries which are currently excluded from wealth.
On the one hand we will have 6 billion human beings living in poverty and on the other, fewer than 2 billion people living in wealth. This pressure to migrate will inevitably soar.
To avoid this, and even more, that hunger and desperation from generating hatred and being exploited by fundamentalists, there is no other alternative but to those countries out of poverty and start them toward wellness. E 'is our moral duty but also in our vital interest. This will only spread and strengthen democracy. All our efforts must therefore be directed to grow in these countries, institutions that ensure good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and a free market economy. Only democracy can indeed be free. It only guarantees the freedom that individuals can develop their talents, can make use of their energies, achieve their dreams and achieve prosperity.
There is therefore possible road ahead of us but to commit ourselves together to spread democracy around the world. The
My government has relentlessly sought to forge a grand alliance of all democracies. And that is why I supported conviction with the initiative of President Bush to establish a Democracy Fund within the United Nations.
For these reasons, I repeat, are convinced that the task that awaits us from now on is to promote in all countries the culture of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Mr. President, to conduct this mission successfully, it is essential that the links between European Union and the United States, between the two sides of the Atlantic remain strong and solid.
Because this belief that prompted me to start a firm and continuing diplomatic and political leverage with my European colleagues so that, at the Iraqi situation, the European Union did not weaken its ties with the United States of America.
For the same reason we can not ignore the danger that the identity of a united Europe is defined in opposition to America. The necessary political and institutional integration of Europe must not mean a "Fortress Europe", closed to the world of illusion that keep their wealth and their freedom.
A conception of European unity founded an unrealistic self-sufficiency would be morally suspect and politically dangerous.
Disagreement or, worse, opposition between the U.S. and Europe can not be justified and would undermine the security and prosperity of the world.
The West is and shall remain one: there can be two Wests. Europe needs America and America needs Europe. This is true politically, economically and militarily. E 'absolutely necessary, indeed essential to support and strengthen the Atlantic Alliance, the alliance for more than half a century has guaranteed peace in freedom.
From "defensive alliance" NATO is gradually becoming a security organization. While defensive alliances are exclusive, created to protect against threats from other blocs, organizations that protect the security must be inclusive, why are all the more effective the greater the number of countries that adhere to them.
E 'for these very reasons that I fought for you to give life to the NATO-Russia Council involving the Russian Federation in the security of the free world.
am proud to have worked together with President Bush and President Putin to make this happen and that this momentous decision, which confirmed the accession of Russia to the West and its values \u200b\u200bwould be consecrated in Italy, at the historic summit at Pratica di Mare.
That day in 2002 marked the end of mutual annihilation of two blocks in arms against a nightmare that lasted more than half a century.
NATO must remain the fundamental instrument to guarantee our safety.
why the new European defense capability should be complementary to NATO. Together, NATO and the European Union should be the instruments of democracy to ensure security in a globalizing world. I have always worked to achieve this goal and will continue to consider strategic. In this framework the United Nations must retrieve a key role through a process of reform that will make it more efficient to meet the new challenges of the millennium. Mr President, our values \u200b\u200bof democracy and freedom have led the West to ensure prosperity for our peoples that is unparalleled in human history.
History has shown that only democracy permits a sound market economy for political freedom and economic freedom are two sides of same coin.
We are aware that there are countries that are opening up a market economy, but where there is still no true democracy, nor a sufficient respect for human rights. This requires Countries more developed and democratic work with determination so that everywhere the opening to the free market is accompanied by the strengthening of democratic institutions and respect for human rights.
The market economy is always a powerful drive for the transformation of countries with autocratic or authoritarian regimes in real democracies.
action for the expansion of the market economy in the world is therefore an essential part of the action for the affirmation of our values, for the affirmation of freedom, for a safer, more equitable and prosperous .
Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Members Congress, the ties between the American people and the Italian people have deep roots. I'm sure that will continue to strengthen and that the United States will always find in a country with which to share the same vision of the world.
Let me conclude with you a brief history.
The story of a boy who at the end of his high school was led by his father to visit the cemetery where they rest for brave young soldiers, young men who had crossed the ocean to restore dignity and freedom to an oppressed people. In showing him those crosses, that father had to swear that boy would never forget the ultimate sacrifice those young American soldiers had the his freedom. She made him swear that he kept eternal gratitude for their country. That father was my father, that boy was me. That sacrifice and that oath I have never forgotten and will not ever forget it. Thank you .
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