Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It gives me great pleasure as the new Ambassador of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Sweden to welcome you to the U.S. Embassy's Independence Day celebration in Stockholm.

We are celebrating our 230th birthday today instead of on the Fourth of July, so that all of you can go on summer vacation immediately after our party this afternoon. Actually, the real reason is that if we scheduled the event for July 4, we were afraid we would throw a party and no one would come.

The first thing we need to talk about today is Sweden's dramatic goal in the 89th minute last night to tie England and advance to the next round of the World Cup.

President Bush swore me in as Ambassador just two weeks ago. This is my first official public event as Ambassador, and it is hard to imagine a better way to begin my tenure than by meeting all of you and marking the anniversary of my country's independence.

I certainly will not forget the warm and generous welcome that you have extended to me and my wife, Judy, today. Thank you.

For Americans the Fourth of July is a celebration of what makes our country special: freedom, democracy, opportunity. And as two countries that share these values, the United States and Sweden are natural partners in the critical effort today to help people around the world build free and representative governments, often for the first time in their history.

As Ambassador and President Bush's personal representative to Sweden, I look forward to discussing with the government and people of Sweden how we can work together to advance the cause of freedom. And I ask you to share your ideas with me and my Embassy colleagues who are here today.

Our celebration today would not be possible without the support of the many corporate and institutional sponsors that have contributed so generously to this event. They are listed in the program, and I call your attention to their names. We are grateful for their assistance.

Let me also thank the Embassy Fourth of July Committee under the leadership of my deputy, Steve Noble. Thank you, Steve - and everyone on the committee -- for doing all the hard work so that the rest of us could enjoy ourselves at this wonderful party.

And now I would like to read to you an Independence Day message from President Bush:

"Since July 4, 1776, Americans have experienced freedom's power to overcome tyranny, inspire hope in times of trial, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace. Across generations, our Nation has defended and advanced liberty.

Americans live in freedom because of the enduring power of our ideals. In the midst of World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt reminded our troops that our Nation believes in the "right to liberty under God -- for all peoples and races and groups and nations, everywhere in the world." Today, a new generation of Americans continues to defend our Nation and spread freedom. On this Fourth of July, we honor the brave men and women of our military, and their families, and we express our gratitude for their courage, dedication to duty, and love of country.

Laura and I send our best wishes on Independence Day. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America."

Finally, I ask you to join me in raising a glass in a toast -- to the United States of America and its long and fruitful partnership with the people and Kingdom of Sweden. I'm going to do what I can to avoid screwing it up. Skål!