Toasts at the State
Dinner for General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev of the
The President. Mr. General Secretary
and Mrs. Gorbachev, Foreign Minister Shevardnadze, honored guests: In our
public statements and in our meetings together, Mr. General Secretary, we've
always paid each other the compliment of candor. So, let us continue to do so.
By now, Mr. General Secretary, you may have concluded that while we have
fundamental disagreements about how human communities should govern themselves,
it's possible, all the same, for us to work together.
As
we complete the first full day of this historic meeting, let us look back
together at the developments of the past 2 years and the significance of what
is taking place. For we find ourselves involved in a dramatic march of events
that has captured the attention of our two peoples and the entire world. Since
you and I first met in
But
our relationship -- the
A
century-and-a-half ago, the brilliant French observer, de Tocqueville, foresaw
that our two countries would be the major countries of the world. History,
geography, the blessings of resources, and the hard work of our peoples have
made it so. And between us, there has also been a profound competition of
political and economic philosophy, making us the protagonists in a drama with
the greatest importance for the future of all mankind. Man's most fundamental
beliefs about the relationship of the citizen to the state and of man to his
creator lie at the core of the competition between our two countries. History
has indeed endowed our relationship with a profound meaning.
Certainly
we will not settle those issues this week. But the tasks before us require a
full awareness of those issues and of a responsibility that is binding on us
both. I speak of a responsibility we dare not compromise or shirk. I speak of
the responsibility to settle our differences in peace. Already, by virtue of
hard work and hard bargaining, we've accomplished much, and our negotiators
deserve great credit. But we cannot afford to rest. There is more work to be
done, and time and history are marching on.
So,
I offer a toast, a commitment on behalf of the American people of seriousness,
goodwill, and hope for the future. General Secretary and Mrs. Gorbachev: To
your health. Za vashe zdorovye.
The General Secretary. I take power into my
hands now, while the President is busy. [Laughter] Esteemed Mr. President, esteemed Mrs. Reagan, ladies and gentlemen,
comrades: Last summer it took a daring American girl by the name of Lynn Cox a
mere 2 hours to swim the distance separating our two countries. On television
we saw how sincere and cordial the meeting was between our people and the
Americans when she stepped onto the Soviet shore. By her courage she showed how
close to each other our two peoples live.
Without
minimizing the great political and ideological distances between us, we want to
seek and find avenues of rapprochement in areas where this is of vital importance
for our two countries and for all humankind. That is precisely what we are here
for. In my 1986 New Year's Eve address on American television, I spoke of our
hopes for a better future. By that time, Mr. President, you and I had already
had 2 days of face-to-face talks in
A
boundless world stretches far and wide beyond the walls of this house. And you
and I, if you will, are accountable to it and to the peoples of our two
countries, to our allies and friends and to all our contemporaries. The Russian
word, perestroika, can be applied to the process now underway all over the
world of rethinking the realities of a nuclear and space age. It must now be
clear to all that the problems of today's world will not be solved through old
approaches. The goal we are setting today is to build a nuclear-free world. The
road leading to it is difficult and thorny, but with new thinking it is
attainable. As you can see, here, too, changes are necessary -- changes in the
minds and changes in actions.
The
great age of geographical discoveries amounted to more than one caravel or one
newly found continent. Our journey toward a nuclear-free world cannot amount to
reaching one or two islands named INF and shorter range INF. It is my hope that
we shall promptly move further ahead toward the goal of reducing and then
eliminating strategic offensive arms which make up the main and decisive
portion of the nuclear arsenal.
As
the clock of life brings us closer and closer to the 21st century, we are duty
bound to remember that each one of us, within the limits of our capability and
ability, personifies the link between the transient and the eternal. As our
famous poet Afanasiy Fet, said, ``Although man is not eternal, what is
human is eternal.'' It is in the name of eternal humanity that we have today
performed our momentous deed.
And
my first salute is to that event. It will be cherished by our two peoples. So,
I address these words of congratulation to the Soviet and American people whose
will is embodied in the agreement. I want to emphasize that this is the fruit
of the efforts not only of us both but also of our allies and representatives
of all countries and all public movements whose effort and contribution
rightfully make them parties to this historic event.
It
would be fair today to pay tribute to the efforts of those who were directly
involved in preparing the treaty. May I wish good health to you, Mr. President,
and to Mrs. Reagan; happiness and well-being to all those present here tonight;
peace and prosperity to the peoples of our two countries.
Note: The President
spoke at