Captive Nations Week, 2006

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8036 of July 13, 2006

Captive Nations Week, 2006

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The best hope for peace is the expansion of freedom
throughout the world. During Captive Nations Week, we
reaffirm our commitment to advancing liberty,
protecting human rights, and helping people realize the
great promise of democracy.

In proclaiming the first Captive Nations Week in 1959,
President Dwight Eisenhower said that ``the citizens of
the United States are linked by bonds of family and
principle to those who love freedom and justice on
every continent.'' Over the past five decades, the
force of human freedom has overcome hatred and
resentment and overthrown tyrants in nations around the
globe. Freedom is on the march, and today more people
live in liberty than ever before.

The advance of freedom is the story of our time, and we
have witnessed remarkable democratic progress in recent
years. The people of Afghanistan elected their first
democratic parliament in more than a generation. The
people of Kyrgyzstan drove a corrupt regime from power
and voted for democratic change. Ending 16 years of
civil war and interim governments, the people of
Liberia were able to go to the polls, electing Africa's
first female president. The courageous citizens of Iraq
reached yet another important milestone in their
journey towards democracy by forming a national unity
government based upon the constitution they approved
last October. In Lebanon, citizens recovered their
independence and chose their members of parliament in
free elections. That newfound independence has come
under attack in recent days from terrorists and their
state sponsors, who see freedom and democracy as a
threat. The United States and its allies will stand
with those in Lebanon who continue to struggle for
their independence and sovereignty and who refuse to
give over their country to extremism and terror.

At this critical time in the history of freedom, no
nation can evade the demands of human dignity. In
countries like Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Burma,
Syria, Zimbabwe, and Cuba, governments must become
accountable to their citizens and embrace democracy.
The desire for freedom is written in every human heart,
and we can be confident that in this century freedom
will continue to prevail.

This week is also an opportunity to honor those who
have stood against oppression and advanced the
fundamental right of all to live in liberty. The
courage and sacrifice of these men and women reflect
the fact that tyranny can never destroy the desire to
be free. Inspired by their example, we will carry on
their work to help others realize the universal gift of
liberty and to spread the light of democracy to every
corner of 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 16
through July 22, 2006, as Captive

Nations Week. I call upon the people of the United
States to reaffirm their commitment to all those
seeking liberty, justice, and self-determination.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two
thousand six, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

(Presidential Sig.)B