Vice President Cheney - Eastern European Visit (many many photos): 05.03.06 - 05.07.06

www.yahoo.com/news www.whitehouse.gov/news ^ | 13th May 2006 | Snugs

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Vice President Dick Cheney recently visited Eastern Europe the following are links to his speeches and a photo essay of the trip.

I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NO PHOTOS OR GRAPHICS ARE POSTED UNTIL I GIVE THE ALL CLEAR SO THAT WE KEEP A CHRONLOGICAL RECORD OF THE TRIP.

QUOTE OF THE VISIT
Vice President's Remarks at the 2006 Vilnius Conference
Reval Hotel Lietuva
Vilnius, Lithuania

America and all of Europe also want to see Russia in the category of healthy, vibrant democracies. Yet in Russia today, opponents of reform are seeking to reverse the gains of the last decade. In many areas of civil society -- from religion and the news media, to advocacy groups and political parties -- the government has unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of her people. Other actions by the Russian government have been counterproductive, and could begin to affect relations with other countries. No legitimate interest is served when oil and gas become tools of intimidation or blackmail, either by supply manipulation or attempts to monopolize transportation. And no one can justify actions that undermine the territorial integrity of a neighbor, or interfere with democratic movements.

Russia has a choice to make. And there is no question that a return to democratic reform in Russia will generate further success for its people and greater respect among fellow nations. Democratization in Russia helped to end the Cold War, and the Russian people have made heroic progress in overcoming the miseries of the 20th century. They deserve now to live out their peaceful aspirations under a government that upholds freedom at home, and builds good relations abroad.

None of us believes that Russia is fated to become an enemy. A Russia that increasingly shares the values of this community can be a strategic partner and a trusted friend as we work toward common goals. In that spirit, the leading industrialized nations will engage Russia at the Group of Eight Summit in St. Petersburg this summer. We will make the case, clearly and confidently, that Russia has nothing to fear and everything to gain from having strong, stable democracies on its borders, and that by aligning with the West, Russia joins all of us on a course to prosperity and greatness. The vision we affirm today is of a community of sovereign democracies that transcend old grievances, that honor the many links of culture and history among us, that trade in freedom, respect each other as great nations, and strive together for a century of peace.

Our cooperation is vital, because democracies have great duties in today's world. The challenges of a new era require concerted action by nations and peoples who believe liberty is worth defending. For the sake of our security, we must act decisively against known dangers. And to secure freedom and peace for generations to come, we must be true to the democratic dreams of others, and remember our brothers and sisters who have kept their hopes in exile.

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PHOTOS OF THE TRIP
This one because this was the main purpose of trip

Vice President Dick Cheney delivers the keynote speech at the Vilnius Conference 2006 in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday May 4, 2006. The conference brings together delegations from the Baltic and Black Sea regions that are committed to the advancement of democracy and dedicated to working together to reinforce common values and regional interests.

I also had to include this as a photo of the trip because it is so Dick Cheney; not worrying that he may be photographed in an unfavourable manner. He obviously was trying to judge whether he needed the brolly or not but it is such a funny expression it just had to be amongst one of the photos of the trip.

Vice President Dick Cheney looks at the rain while visiting the southern Croatian Adriatic resort of Dubrovnik May 6, 2006

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Cheney Ping

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Officials from the United States and Lithuania line up on the tarmac to greet Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne Cheney upon their arrival Wednesday, May 3, 2006 to Vilnius, Lithuania. The Vice President's visit to Vilnius is the first stop in a three-nation, six-day trip that includes bilateral meetings with leaders of the Baltic and Black Sea regions at the Vilnius Conference 2006.

Vice President Dick Cheney with his wife Lynne walk to their car after being greeted at the airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday May 3, 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney , left, and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus shake hands prior to their meeting at the presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, May 3, 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney , right, and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus arrive in the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, May 3, 2006

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Vice President Cheney and Lithuanian President Valdus Adamkus Make Remarks in the Blue Hall of The Palace of the President of Lithuania, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Vice President Dick Cheney, left, listens to Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus during a bilateral meeting in the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday May 3, 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney , center left, speaks to Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, center right, during their meeting in the presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, May 3, 2006

After signing the guest book at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Vice President Dick Cheney shakes hands with Lithuanian President Valdus Adamkus, Wednesday May 3, 2006. The two leaders participated in a bilateral meeting to discuss regional issues prior to the beginning of the Vilnius Conference 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney and Lithuanian President Valdus Adamkus walk together after the conclusion of a bilateral meeting Wednesday, May 3, 2006 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Vice President was welcomed to the Presidential Palace to discuss regional issues prior to Thursday's Vilnius Conference 2006, a summit gathering leaders of the Baltic and Black Sea regions

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Vice President Dick Cheney and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko greet one another before beginning a breakfast meeting, Thursday, May 4, 2006 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Both leaders have come to Vilnius to participate in the Vilnius Conference 2006, a summit of leaders of the Baltic and Black Sea regions

Vice President's Remarks at a Breakfast Meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko at the Vilnius Conference 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney (L) attends a breakfast meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R) during a breakfast meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, May 4, 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne listen during the introductions prior to delivering a speech during the Vilnius Conference 2006 in Vilnius, Lithuania Thursday May 4, 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney , right, talks with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana prior to his speech during the Vilnius Conference 2006 in Vilnius, Lithuania Thursday May 4, 2006

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Vice President Dick Cheney is seen as Estonian President Arnold Ruutel, left, looks on, prior to Cheney's speech

Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the opening of the 2006 Vilnius Conference 'Common Vision for Common Neighborhood' in Vilnius, Lithuania Thursday May 4, 2006 Vice President's Remarks at the 2006 Vilnius Conference

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