(E-086/01)
April 17, 2001
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Video
Speech: OAS Secretary General, Cesar Gaviria
Speech: U.S president, George Bush
U.S. PRESIDENT, GEORGE W. BUSH, PRAISES THE OAS
United States President George W. Bush, addressing a special meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council today, declared that the Organization had an important role to play in the hemispheric commitment to democracy and the collective responsibility "to break down the barriers of poverty, disease and ignorance, so individuals may better realize their full, God-given potential."
Commending the Organization's work as the premier political grouping of Western Hemisphere nations, President Bush noted how "in lands where liberty is threatened by corruption, drugs and human rights abuses, the OAS is helping [to] combat these destructive forces.
"Along borders where tensions run high, the OAS helps build confidence and avoids crises. And, in lands where freedom's hold is fragile, the OAS is there to strengthen it," Mr. Bush said, citing the work in Peru as "an example of this Organization's commitment to democracy." He praised the OAS Secretary General for contributing to Peru's "peaceful and well-run" elections of last April 8.
"We need to build on successes like these," he asserted, adding that the U.S. hopes the OAS can serve as well as "a valuable mediator in Haiti, between President Aristide and the democratic opposition."
Describing as a "major achievement" the new Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism introduced by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) to monitor the nations' progress in fighting illegal drugs, the U.S. leader went on to state: "Our Hemisphere is more united in addressing this problem, both in supply and demand, than it has ever been before."
Mr. Bush's visit to the OAS comes just ahead of the Third Summit of the Americas which he will attend in Quebec City, Canada, April 20 through 22. "The discussions we hold and the mandates we produce, must help improve the lives of people throughout our Hemisphere," he said.
OAS Secretary General César Gaviria told Mr. Bush that "We at the Organization of American States are encouraged by your strong support for the Free Trade Area of the Americas." Outlining the OAS' work to help build democracy in member states, Mr. Gaviria said, "Nevertheless, we cannot claim that democracy is strong everywhere.
Chairing the meeting, Colombia's Ambassador to the OAS, Humberto de la Calle, welcomed the U.S. President and underscored the need for increased trade and more markets for products from the region. "We do not need aid. We need markets. That would be the best response and a most effective tool for combating recession and poverty," he stressed. He also spoke about the need for shared responsibility in addressing the illegal drugs problem, saying that approach "embraces a global perspective that includes production, consumption and the other related crimes."
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