STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT URIBE
OF COLOMBIA
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070502.html#
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's been my honor to welcome
a true democrat, a strong leader, and a friend, the President
of Colombia. We had a long discussion.
First, Mr. President, Laura and I remember fondly our trip to
your beautiful country. It was my second trip to Colombia, my
first to your capital, and it was a very special occasion. And
we thank you and the First Lady for such gracious hospitality.
Secondly, we had a discussion today about an important vote
that our Congress must take, and that is a vote to confirm a
free trade agreement with Colombia. This agreement is good for
the United States. It's good for job creators, farmers, workers.
This agreement is good for Colombia. It's good for job creators,
and workers, and farmers.
This agreement has strategic implications. It is very important
for this nation to stand with democracies that protect human
rights and human dignity; democracies based upon the rule of
law.
So the free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru and Panama,
these agreements are more than just trade votes. They're signals
to South America that we stand with nations that are willing
to make hard decisions on behalf of the people. The President
is here to speak strongly about his record, and it's a good,
solid record. I thank the members of Congress for giving him
a hearing. We expect them to be open-minded, to listen to his
record. And I urge the Congress to pass a trade agreement with
Colombia and Peru and Panama because it's in our interest that
they do so.
And so Mr. President, it's great to see you. Bienvenidos.
PRESIDENT URIBE: Muchas gracias, Presidente.
Good morning, distinguished journalists. I want to thank President
Bush for the new meeting. It has been, as always, very constructive.
This meeting has given my team and myself the opportunity to
reiterate our commitment with democracy.
We have three main objectives in our administration: to consolidate
democratic security, to create more and more confidence in Colombia
for people to invest in our country, and to fulfill very important
social goals, to fulfill social goals before the deadline of
the social millennium goals.
Many people ask me why you call your policy on security democratic
security? Because it is security with human rights, because it
is security for all Colombians, because it is security for trade
union leaders, for those members of the opposition, for those
who agree in their ideas with my government, security for all
Colombians.
During my five-year term, we have healthy elections, and Colombians
have enjoyed effectiveness of our freedoms because of our policy
on security. Before my administration, many Colombians had the
idea that the only way for my country to reach peace, it was
by private criminal organizations. Today, because of the efficacy
of our administration, the vast majority of Colombians are convinced
that we will defeat terrorists by institutional ways; that the
only way Colombia has for the future is the way of our democratic
institutions.
It is very important that the United States considers the necessity
to advancing Plan Colombia. We haven't won yet in eradicating
illicit drugs, but we are winning. And it is very important,
the free trade agreement. I will explain in Capitol Hill, and
I will explain to the American citizens the same I explain to
President Bush this morning: The more our country can export,
the better for my country to have high quality jobs, with affiliation
to the social security system.
We are doing our best to defeat terrorists in a open country.
Everyone in the world can go to Colombia, can oversight what
our country is doing. And what our country does today is in favor
of democracy.
I want to thank President Bush, his team, the people of Congress,
and the American citizens for the help all of you have given
our country. This integration is very important to promote democracy,
to promote freedoms -- freedom, to promote social justice. This
is -- these are our commitments.
Thank you President Bush.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Gracias, amigo.