THE SPEAKER

PRESIDENT MACRON

MR. SPEAKER, MR. VICE PRESIDENT, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES…

MR. SPEAKER, MR. VICE PRESIDENT, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS AN HONOR FOR FRANCE, FOR THE FRENCH PEOPLE, AND FOR ME TO BE RECEIVED IN THE SANCTUARY OF DEMOCRACY WHERE SO MUCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN WRITTEN. WE'RE SURROUNDED TODAY WITH PORTRAITS AND SYMBOLS BEEN WRITTEN. WHICH REMINDS US THAT FRANCE HAS PARTICIPATED WITH HEART IN HAND IN THE STORY OF THIS GREAT NATION. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE HAVE FAULT SHOULDER TO SHOULDER MANY BATTLES, STARTING WITH THOSE THAT GAVE BISHT -- GIRTH TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SINCE--BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SINCE THEN WE HAVE SHARED A COMMON HUMANITY. OUR TWO NATIONS ARE ROOTED IN THE SAME SOIL, GROUNDED IN THE SAME IDEALS OF THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTIONS. WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR THE UNIVERSAL IDEALS OF LIBERTY, TOLERANCE, AND EQUAL RIGHTS. AND YET THIS IS ALSO HUMAN, GUTSY, THROUGHOUT HISTORY. IN 1778, THE FRENCH AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MET IN PARIS. JOHN ADAMS TELLS THE STORY THAT AFTER THEY SHOOK HANDS THEY EMBRACED THE SHOULDER BY HUGGING ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR ARMS AND KISSING EACH OTHER'S CHEEKS. I CAN REMIND YOU SOMETHING. THIS MORNING, I STAND IN THE PROTECTIVE GAZE OF LAFAYETTE RISE BEHIND ME. AS A BRAVE YOUNG MAN HE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE GEORGE WASHINGTON AND FORGED A TIGHT RELATIONSHIP FUELED BY RESPECT AND AFFECTION. LAFAYETTE USED TO CALL HIMSELF THE SON OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IN 1792, GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAME A SON OF AMERICA AND FRANCE WHEN OUR FIRST REPUBLIC AWARDED CITIZENSHIP TO HIM. DNCHDNCH FRENCH REPUBLIC AWARDED CITIZENSHIP TO HIM. HERE WE STAND IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL CITY WITH PLANS CONCEIVED BY A FRENCH ARCHITECT. THE MIRACLE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE IS THAT WE HAVE NEVER LOST THE SPECIAL BOND DEEPLY ROOTED NOT ONLY IN OUR HISTORY BUT ALSO IN OUR FLESH. THIS IS WHY I INVITED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR THE FIRST BASTILLE DAY PARADE ON THE PRESIDENCY ON THE FOURTH OF JULY LAST YEAR. TODAY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION TO OFFER FRANCE HIS FIRST STATE VISIT TO WASHINGTON HAS RESONANCE BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE CONTINUE UTE OF OUR SHARED HISTORY IN A TROUBLED WORLD. AND LET ME THANK YOUR PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY FOR THIS WONDERFUL INVITATION TO MY WIFE AND MYSELF. I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL AND I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR WELCOMING ME ON THIS OCCASION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, FOR YOUR INVITATION. I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS UNIQUE GESTURE, THANK YOU, SIR. THE STRENGTH OF OUR BONDS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SHARED IDEALS. THIS IS WHAT UNITED US IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST IMPERIALISM DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. THEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NAZISM THANK DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THIS IS WHAT UNITED US AGAIN DURING THE ERA OF THE STALINIST THREATS AND NOW WE LEAN ON THAT STRENGTH TO FIGHT AGAINST TERRORIST GROUPS. LET US FOR A MOMENT TRANSPORT OURSELVES TO THE PAST. IMAGINE THIS IS JULY 4, 1916, BACK THEN THE UNITED STATES HAD NOT ENTERED WORLD WAR I. AND YET A YOUNG AMERICAN ENLISTED IN THE RANKS OF OUR FOREIGN LEGION BECAUSE HE LOVED FRANCE AND HE LOVED THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. THIS YOUNG AMERICAN WOULD FIGHT AND DIE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, NOT FAR FROM MY HOMETOWN AFTER HAVING WRITTEN THESE WORDS. I HAVE RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH. THE NAME OF THIS YOUNG AMERICAN ALAN CIGER, A STATUE STANDS IN HIS HONOR IN PARIS. SINCE 1776, WE, THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH PEOPLE, HAVE HAD A RENDEZVOUS WITH FREEDOM. AND WITH IT COMES SACRIFICES. THAT IS WHY WE'RE VERY HONORED BY THE PRESENCE TODAY OF ROBERT JACKSON, A WORLD WAR II VETERAN. HE TOOK PART IN THE D-DAY LANDING. HE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM 74 YEARS AGO. SIR, ON BEHALF OF FRANCE, THANK YOU. I BOW TO YOUR COURAGE AND ROBERT JACKSON, A WORLD WAR II VETERAN. HE TOOK PART IN THE YOUR DEVOTION. IN RECENT YEARS OUR NATIONS HAVE SUFFERED WRENCHING LOSSES SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR VALUES AND OUR TASTE FOR FREEDOM. BECAUSE THESE VALUES ARE THE VERY ONES THOSE TERRORISTS HATE. TRAGICALLY ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, MANY AMERICANS HAD AN UNEXPECTED RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS MY COUNTRY AND EUROPE ALSO EXPERIENCED TERRIBLE TERRORIST ATTACKS. AND WE SHALL NEVER FORGET 2001, MANY AMERICANS HAD AN UNEXPECTED RENDEZVOUS THE VICTIMS NOR THE INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE AFTERMATH. IT IS A HORRIFIC PRICE TO PAY FOR FREEDOM, FOR DEMOCRACY. THAT IS WHY WE STAND TOGETHER IN SYRIA TODAY TO FIGHT TOGETHER AGAINST THIS TERRORIST GROUPS WE SEEK -- WHO SEEK TO DESTROY EVERYTHING FOR WHICH WE STAND. . WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED COUNTLESS RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS ATTACHMENT TO FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. AS EMBLAZONED IN THE FLAGS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARIES -- LIVE FREE OR DIE. THANKFULLY, FREEDOM IS ALSO THE SOURCE OF ALL THAT IS WORTH LIVING FOR. FREEDOM IS A CALL TO THINK AND TO LOVE. IT IS A CALL TO OUR WILL. THAT IS WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES WERE ABLE TO FORGE UNBREAKABLE BOUNDS FROM THE GRIPS OF PAINFUL MEMORIES. THE MOST INDESTRUCTIBLE, THE MOST POWERFUL, THE KNOTS BETWEEN US IS THE ONE THAT TIES OUR PEOPLE. THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF DEMOCRACY. INDEED, OUR TWO SOCIETIES HAVE STOOD UP TO ADVANCE THE HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL. THEY HAVE ENGAGED IN A CONTINUAL DIALOGUE TO IMPACT THIS UNFINISHED BUSINESS. IN THIS CAPITOL ROTUNDA, THE BIRTH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, ASSASSINATED 50 YEARS AGO, REMINDS US OF THE INSPIRATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS, ARTISTS, WRITERS, WILL HAVE BECOME PART OF OUR COMMON HERITAGE. WE CELEBRATE THEM. WE HAVE SHARED THE HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS. FRANCE'S SIMON BECAME A FIGURE IN GENDER EQUALITY IN AMERICA IN THE 1970'S. WOMEN'S RIGHTS HAVE LONG BEEN A FUNDAMENTAL DRIVER FOR OUR SOCIETIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC. THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE ME TOO MOVEMENT HAS SUCH A DEEP RESONANCE IN FRANCE. DEMOCRACY IS MADE OF DAY-TO-DAY CONVERSATIONS. IT IS EASIER AND DEEPER WHEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK A LANGUAGE, THE HEART ALSO BEATS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM NEW ORLEANS TO SEATTLE. I WANT THIS HEART TO BEAT EVEN HARDER IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DEMOCRACY RELIES ALSO ON THE FACULTY OF FREELY DESCRIBING THE PRESENT AND THE CAPACITY TO ADVANCE THE FUTURE. THIS IS WHAT CULTURE BRINGS. THOUSANDS OF EXAMPLES COME TO MIND WHEN WE THINK OF THE EXCHANGES BETWEEN OUR CULTURES ACROSS THE CENTURIES. FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON, WHO WAS AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE, AND BUILT HIS HOUSE IN MONTICELLO. BASED ON THE BUILDING HE LOVED IN PARIS. TO HEMINGWAY'S NOVEL, CELEBRATING THE CAPITAL CITY OF FRANCE. FROM OUR 19TH CENTURY FRENCH WRITER BRINGING TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE THE DREAM OF MOUNTAINS. TO NOVELS IN THE DEEP SOUTH. FIRST READ IN FRANCE WHERE THEY QUICKLY GAINED LITERARY PRAISE. FROM JAZZ, COMING FROM LOUISIANA AND THE BLUES FROM MISSISSIPPI, FINDING IN FRANCE AN ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC. TO THE AMERICAN ASSASSINATION -- FOR THE FRENCH MODERN CONTEMPORARY ARTS. THESE EXCHANGES ARE VIBRANT IN SO MANY FIELDS. FROM CINEMA TO FASHION, FROM DESIGN TO HIGH CUISINE, FROM SPORTS TO VISUAL ARTS. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AS WELL AS BUSINESS AND INNOVATION ARE ALSO A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR SHARED JOURNEY. THE UNITED STATES IS FRANCE'S FIRST SCIENTIFIC PARTNER. OUR ECONOMIC TIES CREATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC. THIS STORY OF FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES IS A STORY OF DIALOGUE MADE OF COMMON DREAMS, OF COMMON STRUGGLE FOR DIGNITY AND PROGRESS. IT IS THE BEST ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND VALUES. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP. THIS IS US. BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THE WARNING OF PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT. FREEDOM IS NEVER MORE THAN ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION . WE PASS IT TO OUR CHILDREN, IT MUST BE FOUGHT FOR, PROTECTED, HANDED ON FOR THEM TO DO THE SAME. THIS IS AN URGENT REMINDER, INDEED, BECAUSE NOW, GOING BEYOND OUR BILATERAL TIES, BEYOND OUR VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP, EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES MUST FACE TOGETHER THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES OF THE CENTURY. AND WE CANNOT TAKE FOR GRANTED OUR HISTORY. AT THE CORE, -- WE HAVE TO SUCCEED, FACING THESE CHALLENGES, AND WE CANNOT SUCCEED IN FORFEITING OUR PRINCIPLES AND OUR HISTORY. IN FACT, THE 21ST CENTURY HAS BROUGHT A SERIES OF NEW THREATS AND NEW CHALLENGES THAT OUR ANCESTORS MIGHT NOT EVER HAVE IMAGINED. OUR STRONGEST CHALLENGES ARE UNKNOWN NEW WORLD ORDER, OUR SOCIETIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN. ALL OF US GATHERED HERE IN THIS NOBLE CHAMBER, WE, ELECTED OFFICIALS, ALL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT DEMOCRACY REMAINS THE BEST ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE RAISED TODAY. EVEN IF THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR PROGRESS IS DISRUPTED, WE MUST STAND FIRMLY AND FIGHT TO MAKE OUR PRINCIPLES PREVAIL. BUT WE BEAR ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY FROM OUR COLLECTED HISTORY. TODAY, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS TO STEP UP OUR GAME AND BUILD THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD ORDER BASED ON THE PERENNIAL PRINCIPLES WE ESTABLISHED TOGETHER AFTER WORLD WAR II. THE RULE OF LAW, THE FUNDAMENTALS VALUES WHICH WE SECURED PEACE FOR 70 YEARS ARE NOW QUESTIONED BY URGENT ISSUES THAT REQUIRE OUR JOINT ACTION. TOGETHER, WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL ALLIES AND PARTNERS, WE ARE FACING INEQUALITIES CREATED BY GLOBALIZATION, THREATS TO THE PLANET, OUR COMMON GOOD, ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY THROUGH THE RISE OF -- AND THE DESTABILIZATION OF OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY BY NEW POWERS AND CRIMINAL STATES. ALL THESE RISKS, BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN EUROPE, WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF ANGER AND FEAR BECAUSE OF THESE CURRENT GLOBAL THREATS. BUT THESE FEELINGS DID NOT BUILD ANYTHING. YOU CAN PLAY WITH FEAR AND ANGER FOR A TIME. BUT THEY DO NOT CONSTRUCT ANYTHING. ANGER ONLY FREEZES AND WEAKENS US. AS ROOSEVELT STATED DURING HIS FIRST INAUGURAL SPEECH. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF. THEREFORE, LET ME SAY WE HAVE TWO POSSIBLE WAYS AHEAD. WE CAN CHOOSE ISOLATIONISM, WITHDRAWAL, AND NATIONALISM. THIS IS AN OPTION. IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO US AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY TO OUR FEARS. BUT CLOSING THE DOOR TO THE WORD WILL NOT STOP THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORD. IT WILL NOT DOUSE IN FLAME THE FEARS OF OUR CITIZENS. WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES WIDE OPEN TO THE NEW RISKS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I'M CONVINCED THAT IF WE DECIDE TO OPEN OUR EYES WIDER WE WILL BE STRONGER. WE WILL OVERCOME THE DANGERS. WE WILL NOT LET THE WORK OF EXTREME NATIONALISM SHAKE A WORLD FULL OF HOPES FOR GREATER PROSPERITY. IT IS A CRITICAL MOMENT. IF WE DO NOT ACT WITH URGENCY AS A GLOBAL COMMUNITY, I AM CONVINCED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE UNITED NATIONS AND NATO, WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO STABILIZE INFLUENCE. WE WILL THEN INEVITABLY AND SEVERELY UNDERMINE THE LIBERAL ORDER WE BUILT AFTER WORLD WAR II. ALL THE POWERS, WITH THE STRONGEST STRATEGY AND AMBITION, WILL THEN FILL THE VOID WE WILL LEAVE EMPTY. ALL THE POWERS WILL NOT HESITATE ONE SECOND TO ADVOCATE THEIR OWN MODEL TO SHAPE THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD ORDER. PERSONALLY, IF YOU ASK ME, I DO NOT SHARE THE FASCINATION FOR NEW STRONG POWERS, THE ILLUSION OF NATIONALISM. THEREFORE, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS, LET US PUSH THEM ASIDE, WRITE OUR OWN HISTORY AND FUTURE WE WANT. WE HAVE TO SHAPE OUR COMMON ANSWERS TO THE GLOBAL THREATS THAT WE ARE FACING. THE ONLY OPTION THEN IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR COOPERATION. WE CAN BUILD THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD ORDER BASED ON A NEW BREED OF MILITARISM, BASED ON A MORE EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND RESULTS ORIENTED LEGION, A STRONG MILITARY LEGION. THIS REQUIRES MORE THAN EVER THE UNITED STATES' INVOLVEMENT AS YOUR ROLE WAS DECIDED FOR CREATING -- THE UNITED STATES IS THE ONE WHO INVENTED THIS MILITARISM. YOU ARE THE ONE NOW WHO HAS TO HELP PRESERVE IT. THIS STRONG MILITARISM WILL NOT OUTSHINE OUR NATIONAL CULTURES AND NATIONAL IDENTITIES. IT IS EXACTLY THE OTHER WAY AROUND. THIS WILL ALLOW OUR CULTURES AND IDENTITIES TO BE RESPECTED, TO BE PROTECTED, AND TO FLOURISH FREELY TOGETHER. WHY? BECAUSE PRECISELY OUR OWN CULTURES IS BASED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC, ON THIS UNIQUE TASTE FOR FREEDOM, ON THIS UNIQUE ATTACHMENT FOR FREEDOM. THIS IS THE UNIQUE OPTION COMPATIBLE WITH OUR NATIONS, OUR CULTURES, OUR IDENTITIES. . WITH THE U.S. PRESIDENT. THE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE 535 MEMBERS OF THIS NATION, WITH THE WHOLE AMERICAN NATION, WE CAN ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TOGETHER TO BUILDING THE 21ST CENTURY WORLD ORDER FOR OUR PEOPLE -- FOR ALL PEOPLE. THE UNITED STATES -- THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE HAVE A HISTORICAL ROLE IN THIS RESPECT. BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEND WHAT WE BELIEVE IN, TO PROMOTE OUR UNIVERSAL VALUES, TO EXPRESS STRONGLY THAT HUMAN RIGHTS, THE RIGHTS OF MINORITIES, AND SHARED LIBERTY AS A TRUE ANSWER TO THE DISORDERS OF THE WORLD. I BELIEVE IN THESE RIGHTS AND VALUES, I BELIEVE THAT AGAINST IGNORANCE WE HAVE EDUCATION. AGAINST INEQUALITIES, DEVELOPMENT. AGAINST I CYNICISM, TRUST AND GOOD FAITH. AGAINST FANATICISM, CULTURE. AGAINST DISEASE, MEDICINE. AGAINST THE THREATS ON THE PLANETS, SCIENCE. I BELIEVE THE SOLUTIONS ARE IN OUR HANDS. I BELIEVE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND IN THE FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE TO BUILD THEIR OWN LIFE AND PURSUE HAPPINESS. I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF INTELLIGENTLY REGULATED MARKET ECONOMIES. WE'RE EXPERIENCING POSITIVE IMPACT OF ECONOMY GLOBALIZATION WITH INNOVATIONS, WITH JOB CREATIONS. WE SEE, HOWEVER, THE ABUSES OF GLOBALIZED CAPITALISM AND DIGITAL DISRUPTIONS WHICH JEOPARDIZE OUR ECONOMIES AND DEMOCRACIES. I BELIEVE FACING THESE CHALLENGES REQUIRES THE OPPOSITE OF MASSIVE DEREGULATION AND EXTREME NATIONALISM. COMMERCIAL WAR IS NOT THE PROPER ANSWER TO DEREGULATION AND EXTREME NATIONALISM. THESE EVOLUTIONS. WE NEED A FREE AND FAIR TRADE FOR SURE. A COMMERCIAL WAR IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH OUR MISSION, WITH OUR HISTORY, WITH OUR CURRENT COMMITMENTS FOR GLOBAL SECURITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL DESTROY JOBS, INCREASE PRICES, AND THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I BELIEVE WE CAN BUILD THE RIGHT ANSWERS TO LEGITIMATE CONCERNS REGARDING TRADE ADVANCES BY NEGOTIATING THROUGH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND BUILDING COOPERATIVE SOLUTIONS. WE WROTE THESE RULES. WE SHOULD FOLLOW THEM. I BELIEVE WE CAN ADDRESS ALL CITIZENS' CONCERNS REGARDING PRIVACY AND PERSONAL DATA. THE RECREPT FACEBOOK -- THE RECENT FACEBOOK HEARINGS SAW THE NECESSARYITY TO PRESERVE OUR CITIZENS' DIGITAL RIGHTS. AND PROTECT THE CONFIDENCE NO TODAY'S DIGITAL LIFE. THE EUROPEAN UNION PASSED A NEW REGULATION TODAY'S DIGITAL LIFE.. I BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION SHOULD COOPERATE, FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ETHICS, AND HARNESS THE BEST OF TODAY'S REVOLUTIONS IN DIGITAL DATA AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. I BELIEVE FACING AN EQUALITY SHOULD PUSH TO IMPROVE POLICY COORDINATION TO REDUCE FINANCIAL SPECULATION AND CREATE MECHANISMS TO PROTECT THE MIDDLE CLASS MIDDLE CLASS INTERESTS. BECAUSE OUR MIDDLE CLASSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR DEMOCRACIES. I BELIEVE IN BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHICH REQUIRES OFFERING THEM A PLANET THAT IS STILL HABITIBLE IN 25 YEARS. SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT SECURING CURRENT INDUSTRIES AND THEIR JOBS IS MORE URGENT THAN TRANSFORMLING OUR -- TRANSFORMING OUR ECONOMIES TO MEET URGENT THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL CHANGE. I HEAR THESE CONCERNS BUT WE MUST FIND A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY. BECAUSE WHAT IS THE MEANING OF OUR LIFE, OUR LIFE, REALLY, IF WE WORK AND LIVE DESTROYING THE PLANET WHILE SACRIFICING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF OUR LIFE IF OUR DECISION, IS TO REDUCE THE PROPERTIES FOR OUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN? BY POLLUTING THE OCEANS, NOT MITIGATING FUEL EMISSION, AND DESTROYING OUR BIODIVERSITY, WE'RE KILLING OUR PLANET. LET US FACE IT. THERE IS NO PLANET B. ON THIS ISSUE IT MAY HAPPEN WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE. IT MAY HAPPEN. LIKE IN ALL FAMILIES. BUT THAT'S FOR ME A SHORT-TERM DEVELOPMENT. WE WILL HAVE TO FACE SOME REALITIES AND WE'RE JUST CITIZEN OF THIS SAME PLANET, SO WE WILL HAVE TO FACE IT. SOME BEYOND, SOME SHORT-TERM DEVELOPMENTS. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH BUSINESS LEADERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, LET US WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR PLANET GREAT AGAIN PLANET GREAT AGAIN AND CREATE NEW JOBS AND NEW OPPORTUNITY. WHILE SUPPORTING OUR EARTH. AND I'M SURE ONE DAY THE UNITED STATES WILL COME BACK AND JOIN THE PARIS AGREEMENT. AND I'M SURE -- AND I'M SURE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FULFILL WITH YOU THE AMBITIONS OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY. MANY OF OUR FOREBEARERS WERE FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS. WITH THAT COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION IN THIS NEW CENTURY AND TO PRESERVE THE PERENNIAL VALUES HANDED TO US AND ASSURE THAT TODAY'S UNPRECEDENTED INNOVATIONS IN NEW CENTURY AND TO PRESERVE THE PERENNIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REMAIN THE SERVICE LIBERTY AND IN THE PRESERVATION OF OUR PLANET FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS. TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACIES WE HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE EVER-GROWING VIRUS OF FAKE NEWS, WHICH EXPOSES OUR PEOPLE TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IRRATIONAL THEORY AND IMAGE -- IMAGINARY RISK. AND LET ME FOR COPYRIGHT FOR THE EXPRESSION FAKE NEWS, ESPECIALLY HERE. WITHOUT PROOF THERE IS NO REAL DEMOCRACY. BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT TRUE CHOICES AND RATIONAL DECISIONS. THE CORRUPTION OF INFORMATION IS AN ATTEMPT TO CORRODE THE VERY SPIRIT OF OUR DEMOCRACIES. WE ALSO HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE TERRORIST PROPAGANDA THAT SPREADS THE FANATICISM ON IRRATIONAL THE PLANET. IT HAS A GRIPPING INFERENCE ON SOME OF OUR CITIZENS AND CHILDREN. I WANT TO THIS FIGHT TO BE PART OF OUR BILATERAL COMMITMENT AND WITH YOUR PRESIDENT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH AN AGENDA. I WANT THIS FIGHT TO BE PART OF THE ADJACENT AGENDA BECAUSE HERE AGAIN IT DEEPLY HARMS OUR RIGHT AND SHARED VALUES. THE TERRORIST THREATS IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS WHEN IT IS COMBINED WITH THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION THREAT. WE MUST THEREFORE BE VIGILANT OF COUNTRIES TRYING TO SECURE A NUCLEAR BOFMENT THAT IS WHY FRANCE SUPPORTS FULLY THE UNITED STATES IN ITS EFFORTS TO BRING PEA PYONGYANG -- TO BYE PONG YANG SANCTIONS AND DENUCLEAR ZIGS OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA. -- DENUCLEARIZATION OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA. AS FOR IRAN OUR OBJECTIVE IS CLEARER. IRAN SHALL NEVER POSSESS ANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS. NOT NOW, NOT IN FIVE YEARS, NOT IN 10 YEARS, NEVER. THAT THIS POLICY SHOULD NEVER LEAD US TO WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE MUST ENSURE STABILITY AND RESPECT SOVEREIGNTY OF THE NATIONS, INCLUDING THAT ONE OF IRAN, WHICH REPRESENTS A GREAT CIVILIZATION. LET US NOT REPLICATE PAST MISTAKES IN THE FIVE YEARS, REGION. LET US NOT BE NAIVE ON WHAT SIDE, LET US NOT CREATE NEW WALLS ALSO ON THE OTHER SIDE. THERE IS AN EXISTING FRAMEWORK CALLED THE JCPOA TO CONTROL THE NUCLEAR ACTIVITY OF IRAN. WE SIGNED IT. AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES. WE SIGNED IT, BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE. THAT IS WHY WE CANNOT SAY WE SHOULD GET RID OF IT LIKE THAT. IT IS TRUE TO SAY THAT THIS AGREEMENT MAY NOT ADDRESS ALL CONCERNS AND VERY IMPORTANT CONCERNS. THIS IS TRUE. BUT WE SHOULD NOT ABANDON IT WITHOUT HAVING SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL INSTEAD. THAT'S MY POSITION. THAT'S WHY FRANCE WILL NOT LEAVE THE JCPOA BECAUSE WE SIGNED IT. YOUR PRESIDENT AND YOUR COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO TAKE IN THE CURRENT DAYS AND WEEKS ITS OWN RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING THIS ISSUE. BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO AND WHAT WE DECIDED TOGETHER WITH YOUR PRESIDENT IS THAT WE CAN WORK ON MORE COMPREHENSIVE DEAL ADDRESSING ALL THESE CONCERNS. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO WORK ON THIS MORE COMPREHENSIVE DEAL BASED ON FOUR PILLARS. THE SUBSTANCE OF THE EXISTING AGREEMENT. ESPECIALLY IF YOU DECIDE TO LIVE IT. THE POST-2025 PERIOD IN ORDER TO BE SURE WE WILL NEVER HAVE ANY NUCLEAR ACTIVITY FOR IRAN. THE CONTAINMENT OF THE MILITARY INFLUENCE OF THE IRANIAN REGIME IN THE REGION. AND THE BALLISTIC ACTIVITY. I THINK THESE FOUR PILLARS, THE ONE I ADDRESSED IN FRONT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS LAST SEPTEMBER, ARE THE ONES WHICH COVER THE LEGITIMATE FEARS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES IN THE REGION. I THINK WE HAVE TO START WORKING NOW ON THESE FOUR PILLARS TO BUILD THIS NEW COMPREHENSIVE DEAL AND TO BE SURE THAT WHATEVER DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE, WE WILL NOT LEAVE THE FLOOR TO THE ABSENCE OF RULE. WE WILL NOT LEAVE THE FLOOR TO THIS CONFLICT OF POWERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE WILL NOT INCREASE TENSIONS. THAT'S MY POSITION AND I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD THIS COMPREHENSIVE DEAL FOR THE WHOLE REGION FOR OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE I THINK IT ADDRESSES OUR CONCERNS. THAT'S MY POSITION. AND THIS CONTAINMENT, I MENTIONED ONE OF THE PILLARS, IS IN LEBANON, IRAQ, ALSO IN SYRIA. BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN A UNITED AND INCLUSIVE SYRIA REQUIRES INDEED THAT ALL POWERS IN THE REGION RESPECT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ITS PEOPLE AND THE DIVERSITY OF ITS COMMUNITIES. IN SYRIA, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER. AFTER WEAPONS WERE USED AGAINST THE POPULATION BY THE REGIME OF BASHAR AL-ASSAD TWO WEEKS AGO, THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE TOGETHER WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM WORKED TO RESTORE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THIS ACTION WAS ONE OF THE BEST EVIDENCE OF THIS STRONG MILITARY LEGION. AND I WANT TO PAY OFFICIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR SOLDIERS BECAUSE THEY DID A VERY GREAT JOB IN THIS REGION AND ON THIS OCCASION. BEYOND THIS ACTION, WE WILL TOGETHER WORK FOR HUMANITARIAN SOLUTIONS AND CONTRIBUTE ACTIVELY TO A LASTING POLITICAL SOLUTION TO PUT AN END TO THIS TRAGIC CONFLICT. AND I THINK ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS WE TOOK TOGETHER WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS PRECISELY TO INCLUDE SYRIA IN THIS LARGE FRAMEWORK FOR THE OVERALL REGION AND DECIDE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS POLITICAL DEAL FOR SYRIA, FOR THE SYRIAN PEOPLE, EVEN AFTER OUR WAR AGAINST ISIS. WHERE TERRORIST NETWORKS SPAN A FOOTPRINT AS LARGE AS EUROPE, FRENCH AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE CONFRONTING THE SAME ENEMY AND RISKING THEIR LIVES TOGETHER. HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND TO THE FRENCH COMRADES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES EARLIER THIS YEAR. BETTER THAN ANYONE I THINK, OUR TROOPS KNOW WHAT THE ALLIANCE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES MEANS. I BELIEVE FACING ALL THESE CHALLENGES, ALL THESE FEARS, ALL THIS ANGER, OUR DUTY, OUR DESTINY IS TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO BUILD THIS NEW STRONG MILITARY LEGION. DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON APRIL 25, 1960, ONE AFFIRMED THAT NOTHING WAS IMPORTANT TO FRANCE AS THE RESOLUTION, THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 58 YEARS LATER TO THIS VERY DAY, I COME HERE TO SHOW THE WARMEST FEELINGS OF THE FRENCH NATION AND TO TELL YOU THAT OUR PEOPLE CHERISH THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH AS MUCH INTENSITY AS EVER. THE UNITED STATES AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR FUTURE IN DEMOCRACY, IN WHAT WOMEN AND MEN CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THIS WORLD WHEN WE ARE DRIVEN BY HIGH IDEALS AND AN UNBREAKABLE TRUST IN HUMANITY AND PROGRESS. TODAY, THE CALL WE HEAR IS THE CALL OF HISTORY. THIS IS A TIME OF DETERMINATION AND COURAGE. WHAT WE CHERISH IS AT STAKE. WHAT WE LOVE IS IN DANGER. WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PREVAIL, AND TOGETHER WE SHALL PREVAIL. LONG LIVE THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES. [SPEAKING FRENCH] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE SPEAKER