Events >> The Democracy Award >> 2002 Democracy Award
Program:

Welcome Remarks by Vin Weber, NED Chairman



Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs

Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States Presentation of Awards:

Senator William Frist, Introduction of Nadjet Bouda

Remarks of Nadjet Bouda

Senator William Frist, Introduction of Mariam Hussein Mohamed

Remarks of Mariam Hussein Mohamed

Senator Joseph Biden, Introduction of Muborak Tashpulatova

Remarks of Muborak Tashpulatova

Senator Joseph Biden, Introduction of Mehrangiz Kar

Remarks of Mehrangiz Kar

Recipients' Biographies

Concluding Remarks by Carl Gershman, President, NED
Remarks of Carl Gershman,
National Endowment for Democracy President

Thank you, Vin. I want to thank the First Lady for honoring us today with her presence. With her simple decency, her firm commitment to democratic principles, and her devotion to the idea that all Americans and all people everywhere, regardless of their religion or culture, should be provided through education with the intellectual tools of democratic citizenship, she has represented American values with dignity and grace. In this week of our nation's independence celebration, she makes us all especially proud to be Americans. I also want to thank Paula Dobriansky, who remains part of the NED family even as she now defends democratic values on the world stage from her distinguished position in the State Department. I also want to thank Senators Joe Biden and Bill Frist, both of whom exemplify the qualities of leadership, democratic commitment, and devotion to public service that make the Senate, and indeed our entire Congress, such an important branch of our pluralistic system of democratic government. Finally, I want to personally welcome Sandong Rinpoche, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Tibet's Government-in-Exile, and through him to extend our warmest greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

I want to say just one word in conclusion. Nadjet Bouda, Mariam Hussein Mohamed, Muborak Tashpulatova, and Merhangiz Kar are four extraordinary women, each of whom, in her own way, is advancing the cause of democracy, often under the most trying and difficult circumstances. They would be the first to acknowledge that there are countless others, men as well as women, whom we did not recognize today, who deserve to stand beside them, shoulder to shoulder, and be honored for their own commitment to freedom and democracy. These four are here not only as extraordinary women, but also as symbols of a movement that extends far beyond their own organizations and even their own countries, and offers us all hope for a better and more peaceful world. Our job is to provide as much help to all of these good people as we are capable of giving, and to provide it in a spirit of humility and solidarity, recognizing that ultimately they will be the agents of their own liberation. But we can help, and we should help, and we will. It is in that spirit that I want to thank all of you for being with us today. Congratulations to the awardees, and thanks to you all.

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