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President Bush arrives in Mexico today after having traveled to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, and Guatemala. It is fitting that he has chosen Mexico as the final stop of his Americas trip where he will spend three days with President Calderon in the beautiful Yucatan city of Merida. This is a trip that will demonstrate hope for a hemisphere that is advancing economically but continues to suffer from poverty and inequality. I see Mexico as a promise for this region.
I know that President Bush and the leadership of the United States of America are committed to the democratic and economic advancement of the Western hemisphere. We are committed to this region because it is one that we share with countries whose security and prosperity are interlinked. As President Bush said, “it is in the national interest of the United States of America to help the people in democracies succeed. When our neighbors are prosperous and peaceful, it means better economic opportunities and more security for our own people.” It is true that news headlines in recent years have focused on events particularly in the Middle East and elsewhere in Asia. But even if our work in Latin America has often been eclipsed by the headlines, the United States has remained engaged. President Bush, for example, has nearly doubled aid to the region since taking office. His administration has promoted debt relief, expanded trade, and encouraged reform and transparency in government. More needs to be done, and we are going to do it. Our goal, as President Bush said, “is an Americas where the dignity of every person is respected, where all find room at the table, and where opportunity reaches into every village and every home.”
President Bush’s trip demonstrates the U.S. commitment to advancing freedom, prosperity, and the general well-being of the hemisphere’s citizens. We witnessed the strengthening of democracy across Latin America this past year, with elections held in 11 countries. Democratic institutions were reinforced, and the region continued to grow economically. Recent elections in the region reflected broad public appreciation of the benefits of democracy. But they also made clear that the hemisphere’s citizens have great expectations of democracy that are only partially fulfilled. It is our shared responsibility to make democracy’s benefits widely available and in particular to pay close attention to the poor, the excluded, and those who feel disenfranchised from their political institutions.
As a demonstration of that shared responsibility, President Bush just announced a series of new initiatives, including $385 million to underwrite mortgages for working families in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and the countries of Central America. Additionally, he has proposed $75 million for new education programs, the development of a health care training facility, and the deployment of a U.S. Navy hospital ship and medical teams that will travel to 12 Caribbean and Latin American countries with the capability of treating 85,000 patients and performing 15,000 surgeries. The United States will also assist businesses to increase their access to capital through new loans so that the region’s entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. In the coming months, the White House will convene a conference on the Western hemisphere that will bring together representatives of civil society and the private sector to explore the most effective ways to deliver aid and develop representative institutions.
President Bush’s trip concludes right here, back in North America, the special continent that Mexico, Canada, and the United States share and are working hard to make the most secure, prosperous, and democratic on earth. Mexico represents the link between North America and Latin America; its rich culture, geography, and history are firmly rooted in both. As integral to Latin America as Mexico is, it is extraordinary to see how far-reaching the ties between Mexico and the United States extend. The connections between our families, communities, and businesses go far beyond even the strong ties we have established at the political level. Remarkably, our two countries share nearly a billion dollars in commercial transactions each and every day. And we are both stronger because of our growing interdependence.
In Mexico, President Bush will support President Calderon’s efforts to reduce poverty and income inequality, expand economic opportunities, and restore law and order. With regard to the complex and politically sensitive issue of immigration, our President has stated clearly that “it is important and essential that Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform that I can sign into law.”
I know that President Bush and President Calderon are committed to addressing a broad agenda with the goal of strengthening our bilateral relationship, including increasing our cooperative efforts to fight organized crime, promoting joint educational exchanges, and boosting trade and investment, job creation, and poverty reduction efforts. We are going to work together to address our common challenges in a way that is responsible, respectful, and in the best interests of both of our countries.
The United States is fortunate to have a partner that enjoys positive relations with countries to its north and south. Mexico increasingly serves as a model for the entire region. This is a country on the move, with leadership across the political spectrum that has the vision and the will to steer this country through a profound transformation. I have had the privilege to observe a government that recognizes the imperative of security and strong representative institutions, that is committed to attacking poverty and the inequalities that still fester in Mexican society, and that is driven to use the markets so that all Mexicans—and not just the elites—have economic opportunity and a path to prosperity.
The political leadership here is embracing policies designed to assert the rule of law, lure investment, improve public services, and combine economic prosperity and social justice. Other Latin American countries would be wise to follow Mexico’s lead.
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