THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you for that very warm welcome. It's such a
pleasure to be here tonight for this gathering. I want to thank the World
Affairs Council for promoting citizen interest in global issues -- especially an
interest in our own hemisphere and its importance to our country.
Eldon, thank you very much for your fine introduction. Back stage he was
wondering whether or not I could understand his accent. I said, that's not the
problem, the problem is can you understand mine? (Laughter.)
I want to thank Jerry Leach, as well. I want to thank the leadership here
at the OAS. Cesar, thank you very much for your continued hospitality and
leadership. It's good to see my friend, Luigi, again. I want to thank Enrique
Iglesias, as well. I want to thank members of my Cabinet who are here, in
particular, Mel Martinez, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Thank
you, Mel. (Applause.)
I'm pleased to see Roger Noriega, el Embajador de los Estados Unidos a la
OAS, for being here. Thank you, Roger. (Applause.)
A new member of my team is Otto Reich, Assistant Secretary for the Western
Hemisphere. I appreciate Otto being here. (Applause.)
And, of course, I want to thank members of my National Security Council who
are here, Condi Rice and John Maisto, for their sound and solid advice. Thank
you all for coming. (Applause.)
In September of last year, I welcomed my good friend, the President of
Mexico, to the White House. Standing together on the South Lawn, President Fox
and I spoke of building a hemisphere of freedom and prosperity and progress.
That was five days before the terrorists attacked the peace and security of the
world -- murdering thousands of citizens from over 80 nations, including almost
every nation in this hemisphere.
Since the attacks, the United States has received incredible sympathy and
support from our neighbors and friends. I've been in close contact with
democratic leaders such as Prime Minister Chretien, and President Fox, and
President Cardoso, President Lagos and President Toledo, to name a few. We've
been talking on a regular basis about our common interests. Democratic leaders
throughout the Americas have offered help and wisdom, friendship, and even
peacekeepers, and for that this country is very grateful.
The nations of the Western Hemisphere are resolved. We refuse to live in
fear, so we will fight terror wherever it is exists. And we're committed to
building a prosperous and free and democratic hemisphere. Nothing will distract
us, nothing will deter us, in completing this great work.
We meet, however, at a time when there are some who question the path to
prosperity and stability. Some wonder whether free market reforms are too
painful to continue. Some question the fairness of free and open trade, while
holding out the false comfort of protectionism. And there is even greater
danger -- that some may come to doubt democracy itself.
Our answer to these questions and doubts must be clear and it must be
consistent: The hopes of all our peoples, everybody who lives in this
hemisphere, no matter where they live --lie in greater freedom. Free markets
and open trade are the best weapons against poverty, disease and tyranny. And
democracy is the non-negotiable demand of human dignity.
The future of this hemisphere depends on the strength of three commitments:
democracy, security and market-based development. These commitments are
inseparable, and none will be achieved by half-measures. This road is not
always easy, but it's the only road to stability and prosperity for all the
people -- all the people -- who live in this hemisphere.
Our first commitment is to democracy and political freedom. This is
affirmed in the Democratic Charter of the Americas, which holds this: only
democracies can be part of our inter-American dialogue and system. And these
governments cannot be democratic in name only. Citizens and businesses must
know that the town hall -- the alcaldia -- is free from bribery, and cronyism
and all forms of corruption. These old attitudes and habits are a form of
theft, stealing from people their money and their trust, and their hopes for a
better life. For freedom and prosperity to come, corruption must go. Freedom
-- the freedom to vote, the freedom to speak your mind, the freedom to worship
and Almighty God, the freedom to own your own property -- is the great idea of
our time; it is the great idea of all time. And by building governments that
are more open and honest and fair, we will make freedom more meaningful for all
our citizens.
Our second commitment is to security, security against acts of terror. It
is the great calling of the 21st century. And I can assure you this nation will
not tire, we will not fade. We'll be resolute in our determination to rout out
terror wherever it exists -- in our neighborhood or neighborhoods around the
world. Security against the lawless violence of drug cartels and their
accomplishments -- accomplices. Our citizens must know that they can exercise
their freedoms in security and in peace.
And that is why, for example, the United States, Canada and Mexico are
cooperating in unprecedented ways to build "smart borders" for the 21st century
that ensure safety for ordinary people and trade, but filters out terror and
drugs.
And that is also why the United States remains committed to helping nations
like Colombia defend her democracy. Colombia and the Andean nations are
strengthening law enforcement, reducing illegal crops, and expanding legitimate
business opportunities as viable alternatives to drug farming and drug
trafficking. The United States Congress and I recently approved $625 million to
support these efforts. America will help all nations in the region in cutting
off the supply of drugs. And just as importantly, America will help the nations
of the regions by reducing the demand for drugs within our own borders.
(Applause.)
Our third commitment is to growing and stable economies where the benefits
of growth are widely shared; economies where small business owners, and farmers
and workers and investors are all able to build and earn their own prosperity.
We must foster policies that reward, not punish, entrepreneurship, work and
creativity. We understand that sustained development depends on market-based
economies, on sound monetary and fiscal policies, and freer trade in our
neighborhood.
Recent events in Argentina do nothing to change this reality. America is
deeply concerned about the difficulties facing our ally and our friend; and
we're deeply concerned about the effects of the economy on Argentina's great
people. We share ties of commerce and culture and family. America is hopeful
that Argentina will get through these tough times. It was an encouraging sign
that the President, on taking office, expressed a desire to pursue a Free Trade
Area of the Americas.
Argentina -- and nations throughout our hemisphere -- need to strengthen
our commitment to market-based reform, not weaken it. Shortcuts to reform only
lead to more trouble. Half-measures will not halve the pain, only prolong it.
The United States is prepared to help Argentina weather this storm. Once
Argentina has committed to a sound and sustainable economic plan, I will support
assistance for Argentina through international financial institutions. This
assistance can soften the impact of the crisis on the lives of the Argentine
people, and help their country return to growth and prosperity.
Success in the global economy comes to countries that maintain fiscal
discipline, open their borders to trade, privatize inefficient state
enterprises, deregulate their domestic markets, and invest in the health and
education of their people. And those who promise painless protectionism or
security through statism, assure a bleak and stagnant future for their people.
Countries that stay on the hard road of reform are rewarded. Just look at
Chile. Chile has cut its poverty rate in half over the last decade. It has cut
its child mortality rate by almost two-thirds since 1980. Mexico withstood the
setbacks of the mid-1990s, and its economy has grown by more than 4 percent
annually since 1996. Costa Rica's emphasis on education and attracting foreign
investment has transformed its economy over the past decade. Costa Rica's
exports of computer products are now almost four times greater in value than its
banana exports, and nearly eight times greater than its coffee exports.
My nation is no stranger to the difficulties of reform and restructuring.
A generation ago, our government made a mistaken and failed experiment with wage
and price controls. Later, during the 1970s and 1980s, millions of our workers
were displaced as our industries adapted to the demands of a new global economy.
We've grown through the pains of recession, inflation and unemployment by
strengthening our commitments to markets, by enacting sound monetary and fiscal
policies, and by embracing free trade. In the end, each of these challenges
made us stronger and more prosperous. With all its tests and difficulties, a
faith in freedom is never disappointed.
This belief in markets is justified within our borders, and beyond them.
Open trade and investment bring healthy, growing economies, and can serve the
cause of democratic reform. From the success of NAFTA, we know these are facts,
not theories.
Acting on this belief, we went to Doha, and strongly support a new global
trade negotiations.
In this region, we are acting on a number of fronts. We're working to
build a Free Trade Area of the Americas, and we're determined to complete those
negotiations by January of 2005. We plan to complete a free trade agreement
with Chile early this year. And once we conclude the agreement, I urge Congress
to take it up quickly. And I ask the Senate to schedule a vote, as soon as it
returns, on renewing and expanding the Andean Trade Preference Act. (Applause.)
Today, I announce that the United States will explore a free trade
agreement with the countries of Central America. (Applause.) My administration
will work closely with Congress toward this goal. Our purpose is to strengthen
the economic ties we already have with these nations; to reinforce their
progress toward economic and political and social reform; and to take another
step toward completing the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
All of these efforts depend on one thing: Congress must pass trade
promotion authority. (Applause.) The House of Representatives acted. In the
Senate, the Finance Committee has given its strong bipartisan approval. Now
it's time for the full Senate to approve trade promotion authority, so I can put
it to work for the good of America -- and all of the Americas.
Markets and trade, development and democracy, rely on healthy and educated
people. Therefore, we are also working to bring better health care and greater
literacy to the nations of our hemisphere. The United States' funding for
international basic education assistance programs this year will be over 45
percent higher than last year. And this spring, the first of our regional
teacher training centers will open in Jamaica. Additional centers will be
operating in South and Central America by year's end.
I have called upon the World Bank and other development banks to increase
the share of their funding devoted to education. The Inter-American Development
Bank has significantly increased this share over the past year. All the
development banks should keep moving in the direction of making sure our
neighborhood is well educated.
I've also urged the World Bank to provide up to 50 percent of its
assistance to the world's poorest nations in the form of grants rather than
loans -- grants for education, for health, for nutrition, for water supplies
and for sanitation.
To this end, my next budget will include nearly $50 million increase in aid
to the World Bank programs that assist the poorest countries. If the Bank
demonstrates it can use the funds to achieve measurable results and helps move
forward reform, I'm prepared to consider requesting increases over $100 million
in each of my subsequent budgets. This would mean that the amount -- the annual
U.S. contribution to these World Bank programs would be 30 percent higher than
three years ago.
This hemisphere is on the path of reform, and our nations travel it
together. We share a vision -- a partnership of strong and equal and
prosperous countries, living and trading in freedom. Together, we will defend
that vision against lawlessness and violence. We will assert it against
terrorism and protectionism. Especially in times of adversity, we'll maintain
our vision, because it unleashes the possibilities of every society and
recognizes the dignity of every person. Together -- and I mean together -- we
will build and defend this hemisphere of liberty.
Thank you for coming. (Applause.)