Remarks to the Council of Americas Marking the 10th Anniversary of the Miami Summit of the Americas

This evening marks an important and exciting occasion, the 10th anniversary of the Miami Summit of the Americas. Much has changed in the decade since that event. Freedom has advanced considerably, bringing an unprecedented degree of reform and prosperity.

The statistics speak for themselves. The region's total gross domestic product has grown by more than 40% since 1990. From 1980 to 2000, the value of Latin America's exports to the world increased six-fold. From 1992 to 2003, the value of the region's exports to the U.S. grew 215%.

Challenges remain, but for an ever-increasing number of people in the Americas, the promises of democracy are within grasp.

The Summit Process
The Miami Summit launched a new agenda for the Western Hemisphere. In addition to advancing the goal of a Free Trade Area of the Americas, the Summit brought other critical issues to the fore like:

• Strengthening democracy;
• Protecting human rights;
• Fighting corruption;
• Combating drug trafficking;
• Providing equitable access to health and education;
• Promoting sustainable energy, environment and development;
• Bolstering the role of women in society; and
• Helping small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Summit process has focused the attention of regional leaders on this collective agenda and gave birth to the Inter-American Democratic Charter in 2001.

Reform Agenda
U.S. policy in the region seeks to help nations stay the democratic course and to help the region's elected leaders ensure that democracy and free markets transform their citizens' lives for the better. People must see real improvement in their daily lives to keep their faith in the future. To help countries build more prosperous and just societies, we are supporting political and institutional reforms that extend opportunity and advance the rule of law--the basic element upon which democracies and vibrant civil societies must rest--and that help institutionalize responsible government.

Hemisphere Agenda
The Free Trade Area of the Americas was one of the cornerstones of the Miami Summit, and the idea continues to inspire great hope. In 1994, the democratically elected heads of state of this hemisphere made the bold pledge to link our countries, from Alaska to Patagonia, in a pact to open up markets, increase trade and investment and improve the well-being of all of our citizens. This commitment was reinforced at the Quebec Summit and the Special Summit in Monterrey.

Since Miami, we have made significant progress toward making free trade a reality. Meeting in Miami in 2003, Trade Ministers agreed to a two-track approach that would allow all countries to adopt core commitments, while permitting those who are ready to pursue a more ambitious agenda. Our support for the FTAA is strengthened by our effort to conclude bilateral agreements with some fourteen Latin American countries that account for about 90% of all two-way trade between the United States and Latin America.

The Fourth Summit of the Americas, to be held in November, will focus on creating sustainable jobs through policies that promote more competitive economies, attract investment, and foster private sector-led growth--through small- and medium-enterprises in particular. Argentina has chosen the theme of "Creating Jobs to Fight Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance," emphasizing concrete steps that have a real impact. More and more our Hemisphere is focusing on meeting people's needs, on involving civil society and on democracy.

Community of Democracies
But the Western Hemisphere's agenda is part of a global agenda that goes beyond these particular summits--an agenda in which we can all play a vital role. Our region has an opportunity to lead next May, when democracies from around the world will gather in Santiago for the third ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies. This gathering of free nations allows both young and old democracies of every variety to join forces to strengthen representative government, to share experiences, to help one another, and to coordinate policies in areas of common interest. The Community of Democracies is not a multilateral bureaucracy, but an enabling alliance for those democracies interested in collaborating and sharing their experiences and resources to help those struggling to democratize and to strengthen democracy where it has already taken root.

This shared effort is closely linked to goals that we have already set for ourselves in this hemisphere. The OAS General Assembly in June 2005--the first General Assembly hosted by the U.S. in 30 years--will advance an agenda of delivering the benefits of democracy to ordinary citizens by helping governments become more effective, transparent, and accountable. The Community of Democracies was founded to promote these very principles.

The Community sends an important message to the world--only by adopting the full range of democratic practices can nations achieve lasting peace and prosperity at home and respect abroad. It is fitting that Chile, with its strong democratic institutions and flourishing economy, will host the next meeting in May.

Culture of Lawfulness
A culture of lawfulness is also essential to democracy and prosperity. Innovative efforts to encourage lawfulness at the grassroots level of society are already underway, backed by both governments and private foundations.

Corruption and crime are among the greatest challenges in consolidating democratic and economic gains. Corruption is corrosive. It damages trust in public officials and in government. It also weakens the prospects for democracy by short-circuiting institutions meant to uphold the law and protect the weak. Anyone who has seen public opinion polls in the region knows that personal security--fear of crime--is a top concern of most ordinary citizens.

A culture of lawfulness can combat these ills. Strengthening such a culture has already been a policy priority in many countries in the region, including Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico and others. In one low-cost, high-impact initiative, local and national leaders, expert project staff, community groups and financial supporters work with school educators toward a common goal: building societal support for the rule of law.

Results do not come overnight, of course. But significant progress can be achieved in just a few years. Moreover, once the basic components of a culture of lawfulness take root, its principles become ingrained and self-perpetuating. This makes a real difference in fighting corruption and criminality and promoting the rule of law. And a declining number of corrupt and lawless places means fewer safe harbors for international criminals and terrorists. It also means increasingly stable and prosperous nations whose people see their governments as legitimate and working in their interest. The countries where this happens will benefit enormously, and so will the United States and the rest of the world.

Conclusion
We are eager to work with others in the hemisphere to build on the Americas' substantial achievements of the past decade. We are a region--a community--of democracies and market economies. We now have a chance to consolidate and expand freedom, tying our economies together through free trade and giving our citizens the tools to achieve the full prosperity they deserve. As President Bush said in Monterrey, "We have great opportunities to work together to improve the quality of life for all the people of this hemisphere. To realize our common vision we must set goals that are specific and measurable. In doing so, we will affirm our determination to succeed and to give hope to millions."

We must continue to work together and build on our successes over the next 10 years.