Posted on 05/13/2006 9:38:32 AM PDT by snugs
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.
Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne wave as they board an Air Force 2 plane at the end of their visit to Dubrovnik on Sunday May 7, 2006. Cheney on Sunday endorsed the NATO membership aspirations of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia, saying they and other nations like them can 'help us rededicate ourselves to the basic and fundamental values of freedom and democracy.'
Vice President Dick Cheney looks at a book in the duty free shop at Shannon International Airport in Shannon, Ireland, Sunday, May 7, 2006. Vice President Cheney is returning to the U.S. Sunday and was shopping as Air Force 2 was refueled.
Vice President Dick Cheney , right, and his wife Lynne, left, walk through the duty free shop at Shannon International Airport in Shannon, Ireland, Sunday, May 7, 2006. Vice President Cheney is returning to the U.S. Sunday and was shopping as Air Force 2 was refueled
My pleasure
It was a labour of love :o)
Sorry truthy - added
Thank you
You have gone to a ton of work, snugs! Thanks so much for your effort, and for the ping, I enjoyed looking at them.
He has put on some weight, and so has Lynne. Oh well, no room to crow from this side. :-{
When you start looking for the photos, it is the odd one that you find such as this one that really makes the project interesting and pleasing.
What's up with all these pictures? I mean do we really need to see them walking down each and every step of the ariplane?
Nice pictures and I appreciate the posting of them, but it sure uses alot of bandwidth.
Thanks
:0)
Have put up a thread regarding the VP's recent Eastern Europe trip. Thought you might appreciate a ping.
Thanks snugs.
Thanks snugs! Great to see you playing around on a Saturday.
ROFLOL
Pres. Adamkus has a kindly and very genteel look about him, and I'm struck at the beauty and elegance in the palace in Kazakhstan .. it's beautiful. One just doesn't think of this part of the world as being this culturally and financially rich .. but the outreach of the US is making a difference, and VP Cheney contributes so much to this effort. I'm sure many critical relationships were encouraged and solidified with this trip.
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