Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright
Remarks before International Cultural Leaders, Department of
State
Washington, D.C., March 15, 2000
As released by the Office of the Spokesman
U.S. Department of State
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Your Highness the Aga Khan, Ambassador Muasher,
Congressman Leach, distinguished colleagues and friends, welcome to the State
Department.
There's no better place, certainly in this building, to discuss culture than a room named for
Thomas Jefferson, who was only a great architect, writer and diplomat, but also spent so
much time in France.
I've been looking forward to this dinner for a long while. And I am very grateful to you all
for being here, especially those who have come from overseas. There is a wealth of talent
around the table tonight, and I look forward to exploiting it ruthlessly tonight having spent
a day being exploited on the Hill -- (inaudible) -- (laughter).
Culture and American foreign policy are not often used in the same sentence or even
paragraph, and what I really want to do is to try to change that. One of the great lessons
of the last decade is that despite globalization and the Internet, and CNN, the Euro and all
the forces that seem to be pulling us together, the competing of forces of national and
cultural identity simply will not be denied.
And our foreign policy can't be effective if it's oblivious to the fact that there are separate
ways of looking at things and on the need to respect other cultures but also to be
perceived as respecting other cultures. No country, I think, is more admired than
America. And I say that with some sense of chauvinism, but there is a strong human
tendency to couple admiration with some jealousy and some resentment and, in our case,
a widespread feeling that America is not only strong and successful but also too insensitive
in our attitudes about the heritage of others.
America's strength, though, is derived from its diversity. And I think there is no question in
my mind that we do respect other cultures, but we've not always been very good about
expressing that respect.
And this matters for some very practical reasons. Culture and cultural differences have a
major impact on many of the foreign policy challenges we confront whether it's trade and
biotechnology to ethnic strife and treatment of women. And I think we will – I know we
will accomplish much more if we're able to communicate better and if the words we
choose, and the strategies we adopt, and the approaches we take convey that cultural
sensitivity and due regard for the opinions and accomplishments of those we seek to
influence.
Tonight, my purpose is really to listen and learn. And the Aga Khan, for instance, has
dedicated much of his life to bridging differences between cultures and enhancing and
preserving rich cultural legacies. And others have been leaders in supporting cultural
exchange programs or preserving the written or physical record of great civilizations.
And I hope that as we talk tonight about how we in America can contribute more
effectively to these efforts, that your points will really help us in figuring out how to
integrate cultural concerns into our day-to-day conduct of US foreign policy.
And I know that we'll have a very stimulating discussion, and I'm anxious to hear your
ideas and comments. And my thanks and, again, I'm very grateful to everybody for
coming. And I'm hoping very much that we can have a structured informal discussion or
informal structured discussion because there is a lot to learn. And I hope you can really
open up and have all your ideas.
So with that, I think we can begin the dinner and then start talking. And I don't know,
maybe you are willing to get us started talking. Thank you for being terrific.
[End of Document]
Notice to the Press
Secretary Albright to Host International Cultural Leaders
Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will host a working dinner tonight
for an
Attending the dinner will be Her Majesty Queen Noor al-Hussein of Jordan,
His
Secretary Albright will open the dinner with remarks about the increasing
importance of
The Secretary's remarks, scheduled to begin at approximately 7:30 p.m.,
will be open
6:30 p.m.--Pick-Up Time for Cameras and Still Photographers C Street Lobby.
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
Press Statement
March 15, 2000
international group of cultural leaders, launching an effort to strengthen
cultural
diplomacy and make it more central to foreign policy development. The Secretary
will
solicit ideas from the group for initiatives that show America's respect
for diverse
cultures and discuss the global impact of American culture with them. She
and her
senior staff also will listen to their ideas for establishing public and
private partnerships
that help the Department launch new cultural programs.
Highness the Aga Khan, and leaders of American cultural institutions, heads
of major
foundations and cultural scholars.
culture to international issues, such as trade, ethnic conflict, biotechnology,
and violence
against women. She will highlight the need to respond to other countries'
fears that
global economic expansion threatens their cultures and traditions.
for press coverage. This event will take place in the Thomas Jefferson
Room, Eighth
Floor, Department of State.
7:00 p.m.Pick-up Time for Writers in the C Street Lobby.
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