"The Americas: by this I mean North, Central, South, and the Caribbean Islands, are becoming increasingly interdependent. The word "integration" no longer belongs in the world of dreams but is rather a common term in our languages. We can no longer be afraid of the differences derived from our multi-ethnic and multi-cultural heritage. In our differences we must find a source of richness and mystery that through our history has led us to various forms of interaction."
In the name of the Organization of American States I would like to thank Vice-President Gore for his visit that is both significant and opportune.
Significant, because his visit reinforces the OAS as the principal permanent forum for hemispheric political dialogue. Opportune, because in less than a month the Summit of the Americas, convened by President Clinton, will occur. We have high expectations that this event will serve to strengthen the inter-American system.
These times of the post-Cold War will be remembered as the years of the resurgence of multilateralism. For this reason, I dare to say that if the OAS did not already exist, the Hemispheric Summit would probably serve to create it.
Upon serving as host of this historic meeting, President Clinton contributes more than his international leadership and capacity to call together our leaders so that they can collectively design the inter-American architecture of the future. This gesture also reveals the commitment of his Administration to a vision of the joint future of our peoples.
We should leave from Miami with the foundations for a system that will allow the Americas both to respond to the multiple challenges it faces and to take advantage of the opportunities which arise from a world increasingly organized in economic, political, and indeed, cultural blocks. The reason is very simple: the legacy of the Cold War is not unipolarity but multipolarity and thus, interdependence.
We expect from the deliberations that will take place in the Summit the emergence of an inter-American system, strengthened by the political will of our Leaders. That political will must be reflected in a clear call for collective action by the OAS and the other institutions that are part of the inter-American system.
The Americas urgently require their multilateral institutions to act in harmony. Therefore, they must work as a system to execute the new Hemispheric agenda.
To this end, we do not have to reinvent the OAS. It is likely that we will need to make an additional effort to adjust the institution to the requirements of the agenda, so we do not subordinate implementation of the agenda to the limitations of our institution. But a forum for action by this organization exists now, perhaps as never before in history. We, the members of the OAS, have in this entity the only multilateral organization on the planet whose primary obligation, as expressed in its Charter, is the promotion of democracy.
The Americas: by this I mean North, Central, South, and the Caribbean Islands, are becoming increasingly interdependent. The word "integration" no longer belongs in the world of dreams but is rather a common term in our languages. We can no longer be afraid of the differences derived from our multi-ethnic and multi-cultural heritage. In our differences we must find a source of richness and mystery that through our history has led us to various forms of interaction.
And a silent revolution is shaking the Hemisphere: under the skies of the Americas we are building the largest partnership for democracy in the world. Today, close to 730 million people in 34 countries live under pluralistic and free democratic societies.
That is why when we speak, for example, of creating a free trade zone from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, it means no more than translating into trade what we have already achieved—and must consolidate—in terms of democracy.
If the Americas are the most populous expanding democracy in the world, there is no reason to stop our nations from relying on the most extensive free market in the world. This is not to erect a closed block, but to strengthen our ability to advantageously practice diverse forms of open regionalism.
Mr. Vice-President:
You well represent what many hope will constitute the "spirit of Miami." This spirit could be described as working "hands-on" with a shared vision of the future. We all remember that at a critical moment you successfully defended the North American Free Trade Agreement. And from its inception you promoted the idea of holding the Summit of the Americas.
As you well know, one of the most complex challenges for the international community is the generation of collective action required to solve problems exceeding the capacity of any one state, problems that have regional or even global implications.
The environment, trade, migration, poverty, and corruption—just to mention a few issues— demand a multilateral approach. In the new world order we are constructing, multilateral organizations are the best instruments to organize and channel collective action.
The OAS is eager and ready to use its renewed skills in order to contribute to the implementation of the agenda emerging from the Summit. We know that Miami will not be a Summit of words. I assure you that neither is the commitment of the OAS rhetorical.
I do not want to extend myself any further. I know we are all eager to listen to the ideas of the Vice-President. Dear friends, without further ado, allow me to introduce the Vice-President of the United States.