So tonight, you're going to hear a kind of down-home version of American music and I hope you'll enjoy it and we will permit a little dancing if you would like to do that. (Laughter.)

(Video Messages from Diplomatic Corps Attending Celebration)

AMBASSADOR MANNING: Hello. I'm David Manning, the British Ambassador to the United States. I want to wish everybody in the State Department, but in the whole of the United States, a very, very happy Fourth of July. And I think it's fair to say, as the British Ambassador, that you could not have done this without us.

AMBASSADOR MITIFU: Hello. I'm the Ambassador for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa and I'm very happy to be here to celebrate the Fourth of July with the Americans.

AMBASSADOR MINOR: Hi. I'm Charles Minor, the Liberian Ambassador to the United States. It's an important day for the United States and in the spirit of 1776, it is an important day for the world.

AMBASSADOR AUJALI: My name is Ali Aujali. I'm Ambassador and Charge d'Affaires of Libya in Washington, D.C. I would like to wish the Americans everywhere, not only in the United States, a very happy Fourth of July.

AMBASSADOR WILLIAMS: Hello to you. I am Ben Williams, Ambassador of St. Kitts and needless to say, in Washington, D.C. I am pleased to be here in the State Department today to join in the celebration of the Fourth of July.

AMBASSADOR JAWAD: This is Said Jawad, Ambassador of Afghanistan. I wish a very happy Fourth of July for all Americans. I particularly would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all American soldiers who are fighting in Afghanistan to make Afghanistan and the world a safer place.

2007/550