Secretary Robert Gates and Minister Nelson Jobim delivered these remarks in Arlington, VA at the signing of the U.S. Brazilian Defense Cooperation Agreement

Secretary Gates. I'm very pleased to be here today with Minister Jobim, and at this point I should say happy birthday, Mr. Minister—

Minister Jobim. Thank you.

Secretary Gates.—and announce the signing of the defense cooperation agreement between the United States and Brazil. This agreement is the culmination of a period of growing security partnership between our two countries over the past two years, including the reestablishment of the Brazil-U.S. Defense Bilateral Working Group.

This agreement will allow us to deepen that cooperation and expand into promising areas of mutual interest, to include research and development of military systems and equipment; acquisition of defense products and services, which strengthens both nations’ military capabilities, even as it provides opportunities for industry; information exchanges on operational experiences in international peacekeeping; and joint training and other military exercises.

The agreement is a formal acknowledgement of the many security interests and values we share as the two most populous democracies in the Americas. These include the strengthening of democratic institutions around the world, the promotion of economic growth and opportunity, overcoming poverty, supporting international peace and security, developing sources of sustainable energy, and addressing global environmental challenges. These common interests make Brazil's growing involvement and significance in global affairs a welcome development to the United States.

Haiti provides a compelling example of our partnership and Brazil's increasing role as an exporter of security and stability.

For the past six years, Brazil has led the peacekeeping forces in the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti. And after the terrible earthquake, Brazil ably took the lead in the U.N. forces’ relief and recovery efforts. Over the past three months, thousands of U.S. and Brazilian troops have worked side by side to bring security, sustenance and hope to the Haitian people.

I believe that defense cooperation between the United States and Brazil sets an important example, a partnership that offers a transparent, positive model for engagement throughout the Americas. This agreement will lead to a deepening of U.S.-Brazil defense cooperation at all levels and will demonstrate how much more effectively we can confront shared security challenges when we work in partnership.

Mr. Minister.

Minister Jobim. Mr. Secretary, first of all, thank you for wishing me a happy birthday. The question is whether sometimes we don't have more birthdays, we just endure.

Secretary Gates. I know the feeling.

Minister Jobim. Secretary Gates has just mentioned the—what we have agreed and the terms of our agreement. And that shows the need that we have for the more cooperation between Brazil and the United States; a relationship that already existed in strictly military terms, and now we have this agreement that will allow us to strengthen our relationship without any mental reservation, everything based on trust.

And the peace in the world as we know it will depend much and much more on transparency and this kind of relationship that we have now. There are several mutual topics that we have to deal with, following this line of behavior.

So I congratulate Secretary Gates for his efforts and his team's efforts so we could come to this point to have an agreement like this.

Thank you.

Secretary Robert Gates delivered these remarks while en route to Lima, Peru

Secretary Gates. This is a regional trip. I had intended to start with Brazil and sign the defense cooperation agreement there. Obviously, because President Lula came to Washington for the Nuclear Security Summit and brought his defense minister with him, I canceled that part of the trip to meet with the Brazilian minister yesterday afternoon.

Signing the defense cooperation agreement, which was to have been the highlight of my visit to Brazil, is clearly an important step forward in our bilateral relationship, our military-to-military relationship with Brazil.

The visits to Peru and Colombia are basically to recognize what's already been achieved in the relationship and explore opportunities for further cooperation. One of the aspects of this that we very much support and are prepared to facilitate is the growing regional cooperation that's going on among these different countries, Peru and Colombia—and, I might say, Mexico as well. And so we have Colombia doing training for Peruvians and for Mexicans.

And I think this kind of cooperation is very important. They face similar kinds of problems with insurgents and narcotics and crime. And so figuring out how we can further help them in their own efforts and also in their cooperation with one another is an important opportunity.

Also, frankly, want to highlight the successes that Colombia has enjoyed over the past several years, and particularly under President Uribe: the success of Plan Colombia and the lessons learned in Colombia that it is now sharing with some of its neighbors and with others. Uribe, in my view, is a great hero and has been an enormously successful president of Colombia. And the key also will be to consolidate the achievements and particularly our partnership on an enduring basis so that—so that this relationship continues to thrive and grow after President Uribe leaves office.

And then, finally, the meetings in Barbados. Again, a key element of this is really the regional cooperation among the seven Caribbean islands’ governments and the regional security arrangements that they have working together, particularly on counternarcotics, but also crime, which has become a real problem in several of the islands.

And we have—we have about $45 million in assistance that we're going to be able to provide during FY ‘10. The president last year at the summit in April promised 30 million (dollars). We found another 15 million (dollars). And about a third of that money will be used to help their—enhance their regional security arrangements, particularly communications and boats for maritime interdiction.

So really an opportunity to encourage what we see as some very positive trends going on, both in South America and in the Caribbean.

Q. Yes. Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela, he said that the U.S. is negotiating—were negotiating two military agreements with Latin American countries, the one with Brazil that you signed yesterday; the other one could be Peru. That's why we're going over there, perhaps looking for an alternative for the Manta base?

Secretary Gates. We have no agreements to be signed at Peru.

Q. Why Peru? I mean, you could go to any country and deepen your commitment to the region. Why Peru versus Argentina or—

Secretary Gates. Well, I think first of all, because Peru is engaged with Colombia and others in these—in this regional effort, but also, frankly, because Peru has been a constructive influence, in our view, in South America in terms of trying to counter some of the propaganda and other things from Venezuela, and in terms of trying to represent what we're trying to do in a straightforward manner. You know, they have their own interests, but the reality is Peru has been a good friend to the

United States. And that's a good reason to g∘.

Q. Is there any take-away you want to get from the trip?

Secretary Gates. I think the big takeaway, I mean the big deliverable, if you will, would have been DCA [Defense Cooperative Agreement] with Brazil. But I think that there are some opportunities to expand our bilateral arrangements in terms of military-to military, in terms of— some of these—several of these militaries, like the Peruvians, are trying to restructure themselves and be more focused on their internal challenges and figuring out a way—there are ways we can help them in this respect.

Another area where Colombia has learned a lot of lessons has been in the human rights arena, and so we do a lot of training in that, so we may be able to help the Peruvians. There are a lot of allegations against the Peruvians that are often used—these allegations are often used as a political weapon to attack the military. And so they can help protect themselves with the kind of training that we offer. And so I think there are some specific areas that we'll talk about where I think we can do more together.

Q. I'll ask you to put on your analyst hat for a second. Look at these deepened ties that Iran seems to have with Venezuela, Bolivia, maybe Ecuador. Is that just simply these are nations that are hostile to the U.S., so therefore they're sort of buddies? Or do you see something deeper there in terms of Iran wanting to have more influence, more say, more activity in our hemisphere?

Secretary Gates. I think that—I think it makes for interesting public relations on the part of the Iranians, the Venezuelans. These guys both have serious—these— both of these countries have serious internal problems. Both of them have serious economic problems. Both of them have huge unemployment rates, especially among young people. To a certain extent, I think there is an element of distracting their own populations from the—from the difficulties that they have by strutting around, trying to strut around the world stage.

I don't—I certainly don't see Venezuela at this point as a military challenge or threat.

Q. What about a terrorism threat? Iran has a lot of proxies.

Secretary Gates. Yeah, but we haven't—I don't—I haven't seen much evidence of that in Latin America, in terms of Iran having proxies or terrorist proxies. You know, I think it was—I think that Hezbollah was involved in the terrorist act in—in Argentina years ago against the Israelis—or against the synagogue. And—but I don't see that as being a big part of the agenda.

Q. Mr. Secretary, this morning an Iranian official from the nuclear agency said they're only a couple of months from joining the nuclear club. Do you believe that? What's your latest assessment?

Secretary Gates. I don't believe it.

Q. (Inaudible)—on Venezuela? Just on—just on the arms sales in Venezuela. They've been ramping up their purchases quite a bit lately. What do you see—why do you think they're doing that? I mean, they're spending a lot of money on Russian arms—(inaudible.)

Secretary Gates. Well, they're—first of all, they're getting very good terms from the Russians. The Russians are actually loaning them a fair amount of the money to buy the weapons they're buying. And my guess is that Venezuela could much better spend the money taking care of its own people.

Secretary Robert Gates and Defense Minister Rafael Rey delivered these remarks in Lima, Peru

Minister Rey. I want to thank Secretary Gates, once again, for being here today to talk about issues of common interests for both countries. We had the opportunity to review the priorities that we both have like the fight against drug trafficking and the remainders of terrorist activity in our country.

We have a wonderful relationship with the United States at the economic, political and military level. I want to make a slight observation, a close friend of mine, Aldo Mariategu the director from the Correo newspaper, he has speculated that the possibility of holding back the acquisition of Chinese tanks has something to do with the intervention of the United States and that that would explain the presence of Undersecretary Arturo Valenzuela, the presence of Secretary Robert Gates here today and also the presence of aircraft carrier Vincent. That's not the case, I repeat, the decision that we have made to extend, to hold back the purchase of Chinese tanks, which I still consider to be the best possibility available given the technical specifications and the market conditions.

That was a decision made at the defense ministry by the defense minister and with the recommendations—that is the recommendation that we will issue to the Security Council to prioritize our purchase of equipment and for equipment that will allow us to effectively deal with natural disasters, and, of course, in the fight against narcoterrorism.

That is my brief presentation and I will now hand the floor over to Secretary Gates.

Secretary Gates. First, let me thank President Garcia, Minister Rey and the Peruvian people for their hospitality during my visit. I was particularly honored to have the chance to pay tribute to the Peruvian armed forces earlier today.

Mr. Rey and I just completed a very good meeting, very thorough meeting and our discussions focused on the way we can continue to strengthen the defense relationship and partnership between the United States and Peru.

During our conversations, I reaffirmed that Peru's security is of great importance to the United States. We remain committed to assisting Peru in its fight against illicit trafficking, narcotics and terrorism, challenges that can only be overcome by strong international cooperation.

Our two nations are deepening the already robust military partnership. We discussed expanding this relationship through bilateral and multilateral initiatives. These initiatives include joint staff talks in Washington tomorrow, beginning tomorrow and bilateral working group schedule for late May.

The initiatives also include the Inter-American Defense Board and increasing levels of cooperation with regional security partners like Colombia and Mexico.

The United States is also encouraged by the recent military training and doctrine exchanges between Peru and Colombia and we stand ready to assist as appropriate in these regional initiatives.

Peruvian security forces have proven that they are willing and able to respond to regional humanitarian needs, and I want to commend Peru for its commitment to send 150 additional peacekeepers this week to the U.N. mission in Haiti. And the bilateral security relationship between the United States and Peru is vitally important to both of us, and again, Minister Rey, thank you for your friendship and I welcome the chance to continue this dialogue in the future with you and look forward to our meeting with President Garcia shortly.

Q. First, a question to the minister. Would Peru consider hosting U.S. forces to help offset the loss of the Manta base in Ecuador? And to Secretary Gates, is there any U.S. interest in finding a replacement for the Manta base in Peru or elsewhere in Latin America?

Thank you.

Minister Rey. We haven't talked about the presence of American troops in Peru and we talked only about the continued deepening and the ongoing relationship between the United States and Peru.

Secretary Gates. I was just going to echo that. We did not discuss any facility like that in our very comprehensive meeting this morning.

I think the key here as we look to the future, how can we best work together along with Colombia in the counternarcotics arena? We clearly want to do that in a way that is comfortable and politically acceptable for our partners and we will examine any possibilities in the future in terms of air surveillance for counter-narcotics and so on within that framework. But there was no discussion whatsoever of any possible phase.

Q. Mr. Minister, how concerned are you about growing Iranian influence in the region? And a question for Secretary Gates, China has been willing to work with the U.N. on Iranian sanctions before, but then used negotiating sessions to water them down.

Should we be optimistic or do you have any reason to be optimistic that this latest round of negotiations might be more fruitful?

Minister Rey. Although the potential influence of Iran wasn't mentioned and touched upon in our conversations, there are obvious indications of that trend. We hope that the role that Brazil is to play to ensure that Iranian influence doesn't come to fruition in our region is successful. And I think and hope that other South American countries wish that the Venezuelan government understands that it is our sincere wish to coexist peacefully, and that entails cooperation among all the countries in the region.

Secretary Gates. I left Washington before I could get information in terms of the conversations between the president and Hu Jintao, so I didn't know exactly where the Chinese are in terms of the U.N. Security Council resolution at this point, although all of the indications are that they were moving in the direction of being willing to support a resolution.

I think what is important about the U.N. resolution in many respects is less the specific content than the isolation of Iran by the rest of the world. And a U.N. Security Council resolution provides a new platform, if you will, a new legal platform for individual countries and organizations, such as the European Union, to impose much more stringent specific sanctions than maybe provided for in the Security Council resolution.

So my sense is that progress is being made toward agreement on a resolution and the important aspect of both the isolation of Iran and then using it as a launching pad for further more specific sanctions by individual countries and cooperating nations.

Q. My question is, first, in general, you both talked about deepening cooperation among both countries. And this cooperation largely has to do with drug trafficking. And I wanted to know what the condition in the future for U.S. aid is in this area. I understand that U.S. aid to Peru has remained stable in the area of drug trafficking. And I also wanted to know about interdicting flights. They have been held up for the last 10 years. And I want to know what the possibility is for furthering that initiative.

Also, specific to Secretary Gates, you talked about—there was mention about statements that you made arriving in Peru about some anti-American trends, or some anti-American statements. I wonder if your presence here and your relationship with Peru is in order to pose a common front against Venezuela.

Minister Rey. We have talked directly about the possibility of having greater U.S. cooperation against drug trafficking, and indirectly about the ways in which we can become more effective with interdicting flights, but also in maritime interdiction, specifically with the Peruvian plan called “Costa Norte”—“northern coast.”

Let me say something about the question you directed to Secretary Gates as well. Peru, for a number of years, has started out on the path of fostering more investment, free-market economy, greater integration, economic liberalization, more openness, the rule of law. And we have begun to see the benefits of this type of initiative. Of course, economic stability that allows attracting of investment and have a more consistent fiscal policy.

We understand that there are countries that believe that the path lies elsewhere. We believe that is the wrong path; that, asa result of policies adopted, and this I say respectfully, by President Chavez in his country, this has led to the reduction or the paralyzation of new investments, price controls, capital flight, expropriations, food scarcity, and even energy scarcity.

We respect Venezuela's right to adopt the policies that it wishes, but we also ask that Peru's right to adopt the policies that lead to economic—the economic well-being and development of its people are respected as well. And in that sense, we will continue to collaborate with the United States and request U.S. cooperation to this end.

Secretary Gates. The purpose of my trip here to South America is a positive purpose, and it is to strengthen our friendship and our military-to-military cooperation with Peru and Colombia.

Actually, my trip was to have begun in Brasilia, where the Brazilian minister of defense and I were to sign a defense cooperation agreement between the United States and Brazil. Because President Lula came to Washington with his defense minister for the nuclear security summit, I remained in Washington and signed that agreement with my Brazilian counterpart, and we are very pleased with this agreement.

And these arrangements between ourselves with Brazil, ourselves with Peru, ourselves with Colombia, are about these countries, not about anybody else. And that will similarly be the case in the last stop on my trip, which will be in Barbados for a meeting with the defense ministers of seven Caribbean nations.

Q. Good morning, Mr. Gates. This is a question for you. I want to maybe ask you about Iran and the opposition of Brazil and Turkey regarding the proposal of nuclear weapons. What is the position of the U.S. military?

Secretary Gates. The position of the U.S. with respect to?

Q. Regarding the—regarding the Brazilian-Turkey proposal on the Iranian nuclear weapons.

Secretary Gates. I'm not familiar with it.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC at the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) Ministerial

Secretary Robert Gates and Minister Gabriel Silva delivered these remarks in Bogota, Colombia

Secretary Gates. Let me first thank President Uribe, Minister Silva and the people of Colombia for their hospitality during my visit.

It is a pleasure to be back in Bogota. I was last here two years or so ago, and it is very heartening to see the continued progress this great nation is making under President Uribe's leadership.

I consider his efforts against the narco-traffickers and terrorists who have menaced this country to be heroic. In just a few years, Colombia has achieved a remarkable—indeed, historic—transformation in the security arena that few would have thought possible, from a nation under siege from drug-trafficking organizations and paramilitary groups to a country quickly becoming a linchpin of security and prosperity in South America.

This is in large part due to the determined leadership of President Uribe's administration, as well as the skill and bravery of Colombia's military and security forces. Colombia's men and women in uniform have made great sacrifices to dramatically degrade the FARC [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia] and other terrorist groups, making Colombia a unique source of experience and expertise in combating these threats. I want to commend Colombia for its willingness to share their knowledge and skills in counterinsurgency, law enforcement, and antikidnapping training. We believe these efforts are enhancing stability in the Americas.

Colombia has also shown its willingness to help its neighbors cope with natural disasters, sending vital personnel and materiel to Haiti and Chile in the wake of their devastating earthquakes. These humanitarian missions are indicative of increased Colombian regional leadership and demonstrate that the challenges we face in the Americas are collective in nature and require multinational responses.

Colombia is becoming an exporter of security on the global stage as well, with a planned troop contribution to Afghanistan. The United States is committed to provide the support necessary to help expedite this deployment.

As Colombians honor their past in this bicentennial year, it is also appropriate that we look to the future, a future of the U.S. and Colombia working together to create better lives for our citizens and stronger ties between our two nations.

In our meetings today, I conveyed to President Uribe and to Mr. Silva not only our appreciation for our partnership with them but also our commitment to work just as closely with whomever succeeds them after the upcoming elections. Our continued bilateral defense cooperation is vital to both our nations.

And let me again thank Minister Silva for his friendship and his hospitality during this visit. I look forward to continuing our dialogue in the future.

Until then, on behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, congratulations and best wishes on your bicentennial celebration.

(Inaudible.)

Q. To what do you attribute the fact that the Defense Cooperation Agreement that you recently signed with Brazil did not generate much resistance in Latin American, and specifically in Unasur, when the agreement signed with Colombia did? What differences are there between these two cooperation agreements?

Secretary Gates. Well, my hope is that people understand that these defense cooperation agreements (DCAs) are about expanding our bilateral military-to-military relationships.

They are about opportunities to enhance cooperation in science and technology, in military education, in areas such as cyberspace, and in dealing with the common security threats that face many of the nations here in South America, namely terrorists and narcotics—the narcotics trade.

And so I think these are opportunities for cooperation. The terms of these agreements are very explicit, that include adherence to the principles of noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries. These agreements are about our bilateral relationships, first with Colombia and now with Brazil.

And so I think this is—the agreement with Brazil is an important step forward. And frankly, I'm very pleased that there has been broad acceptance of the agreement with Brazil, in no small part because I think it also reflects an—their understanding now of what the DCA between the United States and Colombia is about than perhaps was the case last year.

Staff. Bryan Bender, the Boston Globe.

Q. Thank you. Secretary Gates, you talked about the successes that Colombia has had here fighting drugs—armed groups—bringing civil society to larger parts of the country. What specifically, if you can say, would you like to see Colombia do more regionally, whether it's Mexico, whether it's Peru?

And then, Mr. Minister, do you also agree that there are lessons here that could be applied elsewhere in the region? And to what extent can Colombia do that? What extent do you have the capacity? Or is there perhaps still too much work to be done here before you can really do that in a significant way?

Secretary Gates. Well, first of all, I think that there already is a significant amount of cooperation going on between Colombia and some of its neighbors—particularly Peru, but also Mexico and others. And Peruvian Marines are here training with Colombian Marines. Colombia is training helicopter pilots from several countries, including Peru and Mexico.

I think what Colombia has been so successful at addresses some of the challenges that they're—that other countries here in the region are facing. And Colombia's success against terrorist groups and against the narco-traffickers I think does offer a lot of opportunities for them to share that expertise. In counterinsurgency, they've learned a great deal about a civil-military campaign and having both the civilian and the military components work together.

And so I think in all of these areas, there is tremendous opportunity. And we certainly would like to see that increase and see other countries take advantage of Colombia's strengths in these areas.

Minister Silva. To respond to this question, the best illustration is to say that eight years ago, when President Uribe took office, the United States and Colombia were practically alone in the fight against regional multinational threats like terrorism and narcotrafficking. We were alone, but the consistency of the President's security policy and the effectiveness of the cooperation between the two countries permitted us to show the region and the world that regardless of an administration's ideology or political stripe, international cooperation is an obligation, of the world community, but also of the governments and people of the Americas. This eight-year cooperation has become today a model that all the region wants to replicate and that all the region wants to understand deeply. Our reading of the agreement between the United States and Brazil is very positive. It demonstrates that what the U.S. and Colombia have been doing is a guide, a valuable example for all the countries in the region. Likewise, as Colombia has strengthened its experience and capacity, it has generously shared its experience with other countries. We do this in brotherhood, and we do this because of our conviction that these threats can only be fought in an effective way with regional focus. Like Secretary Gates says, today we have programs of cooperation with practically all the countries in the region in different ways. We also have cooperation and direct presence in various countries in the region and the world. This demonstrates the mission that Colombia has to contribute as a good citizen of the world to the peace and security of the hemisphere and at the international level.

Q. Luisa Pulido, RCN Radio: How does the U.S. government see the fact that, to confront Venezuela's persecution of Colombian citizens, it has had to broadcast an alert to warn them to think carefully before going to Venezuela? Also, the U.S. government withdrew support of the Colombian Central Intelligence Agency (DAS) due to the wiretapping scandal. Have you thought about reducing other resources due to other scandals like that of extra-judicial executions?

Secretary Gates. I'm not familiar with the—with the latter issue, but President Uribe in our meeting here this morning talked at some length about the reasons for the issuance of the warning and the arrests of Colombian citizens. This really was the first time that I had had this problem explained to me. And so I don't pretend to have any expertise on it, but it clearly is a manifestation of concern on the part of the Colombian government for its citizens.

Staff. Diego Urdaneta, AFP.

Q. Yes, for both of you. Do you think the Obama administration has done enough to push the free trade agreement to get approved?

And for Secretary Gates, do you think that's—that this agreement that's been up and running now could handle in any way the security efforts from Colombia—also, in light of Venezuela freezing their trade—important trade with Colombia?

Secretary Gates. We did talk about this, this morning. And you may—you probably don't remember, but in 2008 Minister Silva's predecessor, Minister Santos, and I co-authored an article that appeared in a major U.S. newspaper on the reasons why the free trade agreement should be ratified.

We continue to believe this. I discussed this earlier this week with National Security Advisor Jim Jones. And I would hope that we would be in a position to make a renewed effort to get ratification for the free trade agreement. I think it is—as we wrote in 2008, it's a good deal for Colombia. It's also a very good deal for the United States.

Minister Silva. Regarding the appreciation of the government of Colombia, I must say that we are very pleased with the Obama administration's decision to prioritize, and put the ratification of free trade agreements with Colombia and other countries at the top of his list. We won't forget that President Obama made precisely that point in a speech as important as the State of the Union before Congress. This encourages us to believe that the political will exists in the government, that it is supported by commercial interest first, but also by strategic reason given that this agreement aims at the need to strengthen security in Colombia. Once security is assured, as we are doing with police and armed forces actions, we must also work to strengthen and improve the social conditions and employment in Colombia. Thank you.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary Steven Chu published this op-ed, titled “Joining Hands for Clean Energy,” in the Miami Herald and La Opinión

President Obama has pledged that the United States will join with our partners across the Americas to chart a low-carbon, clean-energy future. Energy and climate challenges affect us all, and it will take all of us to solve them. The Americas are blessed with talent, ingenuity and resources, and we can go further, faster by working together than by working alone.

That's why this week in Washington we are hosting energy ministers from across the Western Hemisphere to advance the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA).

At the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, President Obama called on governments across the region to work together on a range of initiatives: promoting energy efficiency, developing renewable energy, shifting to cleaner fossil fuels, integrating national power grids, expanding access to electrical services to more people in more places and meeting the urgent global challenge of climate change. Since then, more than a dozen new ECPA initiatives are showcasing our hemisphere's best ideas and practices.

Here at home, we are changing our energy habits. We're working to reduce our dependence on imported oil and increase domestic production of renewable energy from wind, solar and biofuels. And we've put in place energy efficiency standards that will conserve energy and save consumers money. Our companies, universities and laboratories are expanding research and development of new clean energy technologies. And through ECPA, we have a forum to learn from our neighbors and the innovative approaches they are spearheading.

Costa Rica is pioneering forest conservation through its ecosystem services program. Brazil is a world leader in biofuels technology. Colombia has built cutting-edge urban mass-transit systems and is leading efforts in electricity integration. Mexico and Peru have implemented innovative programs for energy efficiency and conservation. Barbados is unlocking the potential of solar water heaters, and islands such as St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica are developing their geothermal resources.

By cooperating on energy and climate, the nations of the Americas can all benefit from these advances. And clean, reliable energy will provide a foundation for broad-based economic growth that will widen the circle of prosperity across our hemisphere and also reduce our carbon emissions.

We're already making progress. As part of ECPA, the United States and the Inter-American Development Bank are working with partners across the region to develop a regional clean energy network that will link energy efficiency centers in Peru and Costa Rica with Chile's Renewable Energy Center in Santiago, Mexico's Wind Center in Oaxaca, a biomass center in Brazil and a geothermal center in El Salvador. This new network will bring U.S. and regional experts together to explore technologies and implementation strategies that will benefit us all.

Other governments are making critical contributions to ECPA. Brazil is leading an initiative to promote sustainable urban planning and energy efficiency in low-income households to respond to the challenges of urbanization and climate change. Colombia, which sits at the crossroads of Central and South America, is promoting cross-border trade in electricity with Panama, the Andes and Chile. Mexico, with a long commitment to help integrate Central American power markets, is training Central American officials on energy efficiency best practices. Trinidad and Tobago is leading a Caribbean initiative to bring renewable energy to island nations.

It is a testament to the resourcefulness of our people and the commitment of our governments that so many countries in the hemisphere are participating in—and leading—this effort.

These initiatives are only the beginning. At our meeting this week, we are mapping out new areas for collaboration, building on the best ideas of NGOs and the private sector and setting the stage for even greater progress in the future.

As President Obama said in Trinidad, through this partnership we will “create the jobs of the future, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and make this hemisphere a model for cooperation.” This week we are moving closer to making that vision a reality.

Secretary Robert Gates and Prime Minister David Thompson delivered these remarks in Bridgeport, Barbados

Prime Minister Thompson. The Secretary of Defense of the United States, and we welcome all of you here to this press conference.

We had a very fruitful meeting this morning with Secretary Gates. I want to thank him and say how honored we are to have him here in the Caribbean and how honored Barbados is to host this event. We discussed this morning a number of very critical and important issues in relation to defense and security issues in the Caribbean. We were able to have a very important encounter at the Summit of the Americas with President Barack Obama of the United States of America. And one of the vital issues that was discussed was the issue of security because of the proximity of the Caribbean to the United States and also because of the shared interests between our region and the United States of America.

Of course the important issue in particular, of stemming the flow of illegal drugs. In today's discussions, both mine this morning with Secretary of Defense Gates, as well as with representatives of the Eastern Caribbean states and Barbados, we were able to further that discussion and particularly to identify areas of assistance that the government and people of the United States are making available to us and what modality we will use to ensure that these assets are going to be used in a manner consistent with our objectives.

So we have with us representatives of the Regional Security System, which is our regional body established by treaty, which is with regional security issues.

I believe that you probably have more questions than I can answer in these opening remarks. I want to invite Secretary Gates to say a few words and then give you the opportunity to ask us any questions that you may wish.

Secretary Gates. Thank you, Prime Minister.

I'd like to start by thanking Prime Minister Thompson and the people of Barbados for their hospitality during my brief stay on this beautiful island and for hosting this Regional Security System meeting.

This is my first trip to Barbados and it certainly provides a splendid setting for these talks and I would say in that respect, far superior to Washington, D.C.

I especially enjoyed my visit this morning to the restored George Washington House where our first president lived for a short time. After my tour of that piece of history our two nations share, I had a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Thompson. I expressed our government's appreciation for Barbados’ strong partnership in the area of security cooperation, especially its consistent support of the Department of Defense's regional training programs. Barbados has become a leader of efforts to strengthen security and safety for the people of the Eastern Caribbean.

We just concluded a very productive meeting of Regional Security System member states. I came away impressed by the innovative approaches being taken to collective security, especially the ability of the Caribbean nations to marshal limited resources to address common threats. I want all the ministers to know that the United States understands the enormous challenges that you face in combating illicit trafficking and violent crime in the Eastern Caribbean, challenges that touch our shores as well.

As President Obama said last year at the Summit of the Americas, the United States is committed to working with your governments to confront these transnational threats. To that end, we allocated $45 million this year to help fund the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), an initiative built with extensive input from Caribbean nations with a central role in the Regional Security System. That money will help us all improve our maritime patrol and interdiction capabilities, as well as domain awareness. It will also allow for additional joint training and exercises.

But the CBSI represents a comprehensive approach, providing not just improved security capabilities to confront immediate threats, but also development assistance in hopes of addressing the root causes of regional problems, such as the lack of educational and employment opportunities, particularly for youth, and that is a strategy we strongly support.

In closing, I want to commend all of our Caribbean partners for their continued efforts to provide security and safety of their people. The United States stands steadfastly with you as you pursue long-term solutions to these problems.

Thank you.

Q. (Inaudible.) Mr. Secretary, would you give me some more details to the specifics of the security initiative, especially with relation to the funding as it's going to be dispersed—(inaudible). Will you explain to me also specifically how that's going to be dispersed to Barbados and (inaudible).

Secretary Gates. The decision as I understand it, the decisions on how the money will be allocated specifically are being addressed by technical working groups, one of those is meeting in Washington today at the assistant secretary level.

We have, overall, we have $45 million that we have allocated for Fiscal Year ‘10—2010. We have budgeted $70 million for Fiscal Year 2011. We will be asking the Congress for that significant increase.

The precise allocation will depend on the outcome of these technical talks. We've already talked in terms of, and made commitments in terms of three interceptor boats and a good bit of communications equipment. But there were a number of suggestions made this morning in terms of law enforcement training and major crimes units and things like that, that we'll be exploring in terms of making sure that the money is allocated in ways that the members of the RSS think is the most effective in terms of meeting their needs.

Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered this testimony on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Mario Canahuati delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. I want to welcome the foreign minister of Honduras here today. He's been in Washington holding a series of meetings with a number of officials both from our government and others as well. And I'm looking forward to my conversation with him.

As I have said on numerous occasions, I think that the steps that President Lobo and his government have taken deserve our support, and we want to work with the government and the people of Honduras to get them back fully on the path of democracy, the rule of law, good governance. I had a long conversation a few weeks ago with President Lobo about his plans to try to improve the standard of living and the quality of life of the Honduran people, to deal with the drug trafficking and the crime that stalks all of Central America.

So, Minister, I appreciate your coming so that we can have an in-depth conversation about these and other issues.

Foreign Minister Canahuati. Thank you.

Secretary Clinton. If you would like to say anything, you're welcome to.

Foreign Minister Canahuati. Well, it's a great honor to be here with you. Our relationship with the U.S. have been (inaudible) on values and respond to the needs of the people. I think this is not just an approach where we want to review our relationship as governments, but really evaluate what we're doing for our people.

Democracy has to do with opportunities, with strong institutions, with respect of human rights. And in this moment, our president has shown his commitment on the political side to move forward with initiatives like the Truth Commission, appointing a minister of human rights, which will be his advisor in terms of making sure that this issue, which is a state issue, is being managed the right way.

And the main, important thing for him is how to respond to the needs of the people. He believes that we have to change our economy in terms of making it more inclusive. We cannot have strong democracies when people are not being—that don't have the increase of—the spaces to have increase of opportunity and increase of income.

So those are the challenges that we have as a country, and no doubt, we're here to combine or to share these principles with Madam Secretary and see how we can work together. We cannot improvise anymore. This is not a matter of what's happening with the government, with the people who are governing the countries, but with the people that are suffering because of the lack of decisions and because of the lack of consciousness, that there is people suffering because we're more in control or we're more aware about the decision we have to make in the political level, but in terms of the decision we have to make to respond to the needs of the people.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you, sir.

Foreign Minister Canahuati. Thank you, Madam.

Secretary Clinton. Thank you. Thank you all very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks in Washington, DC at the 40th Washington Conference on the Americas

Joint Statement from President Obama and Mexican President Calderón

President Felipe Calderón and President Barack Obama today reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United States and Mexico and underscored their commitment to improve the lives of all citizens in both our countries, building upon our deep ties, and working with mutual respect and mutual responsibilityacross a broad arc of issues.

The Presidents discussed the wide range of bilateral, hemispheric, and global issues that affect our two countries and reaffirmed the shared values that guide our approaches to economic competitiveness, environmental conservation, clean energy, climate change, nuclear non proliferation, and the safety, social and economic well-being, and security of our citizens.

Enhancing Mutual Economic Growth

Mexico and the United States enjoy a vital economic and trading partnership that the Presidents vowed to enhance, reinforcing efforts to create jobs, promote economic recovery and expansion, and shared inclusive prosperity across all levels of society in both countries.

A key component of our global competitiveness is creating a border for the Twenty-First Century. The Presidents recognize that our border offers singular opportunities for both countries. We must develop it and manage it in a holistic fashion and in ways that facilitate the secure, efficient, and rapid flows of goods and people and reduce the costs of doing business between our two countries. Both the United States and Mexico benefit from expediting legitimate travel through and between our two countries, especially by those who live in the border region.

The Presidents took note of the progress underway in building that Twenty-First Century Border, including the opening of three new border crossings this year, initiation of three additional binational bridge projects, and significant modernization projects at existing border facilities. To spur further advancements in creating a modern, secure, and efficient border, the Presidents directed their respective cabinets to form a bilateral Executive Steering Committee, with appropriate representatives from each government, to implement a Declaration on Twenty-First Century Border Management, that will be released later today, to help make the Twenty-First Century Border a reality. It will include a first-ever binational 24-month plan of action to improve cross-border trade and travel.

The Presidents agreed that safe, efficient, secure, and compatible transportation is a prerequisite for mutual economic growth. They committed to continuing their countries’ cooperation in system planning, operational coordination, and technical cooperation in key modes of transportation.

The Presidents also committed to significantly enhance the economic competitiveness and the economic well-being of both the United States and Mexico through improved regulatory cooperation. Such cooperation can increase economic growth in each country; lower costs for consumers, businesses, producers, and governments; increase trade in goods and services across our borders; and improve our ability to protect the environment, health and safety of our citizens. To increase regulatory transparency; provide early warning of regulations with potential bilateral effects; strengthen the analytic basis of regulations; and help make regulations more compatible, the Presidents directed the creation of a High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council, which will be comprised of senior-level regulatory, trade, and foreign affairs officials from both countries.

Innovation and investment in technology and human capital are keys to sustained economic growth and competitiveness in both Mexico and the United States. The protection of intellectual property rights is essential to promote such innovation and investment. With this in mind, the Presidents charged their administrations to work together to formalize and expand the efforts of the existing bilateral Intellectual Property Rights Working Group. These efforts will include industry training (including of small and medium size enterprises); work between Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to streamline patent reviews; and collaboration, training and increased intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies to enforce intellectual property rights more effectively. The Presidents also reaffirmed their commitment to the negotiation of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and charged their administrations to conclude these negotiations soon.

Reflecting on the progress made in the commercial relationship, the two Presidents noted that Mexico and Mexican companies are among the largest customers in the world for the U.S. ExportImport Bank (EXIM). Mexico is poised to be first country in the world where EXIM exceeds $10 billion in financing to support U.S. exports, in turn supporting investments and the transfer of new technology to Mexico.

The Presidents also discussed ongoing differences that inevitably arise from a mature and comprehensive trading relationship, and committed to renew efforts to resolve these pending issues in a cooperative fashion.

Meeting Energy Needs and Protecting the Environment

The Presidents recognize the close link between economic growth, competitiveness, and sustainable development and their bilateral clean energy and environment agenda. They reaffirmed that the United States and Mexico share a common goal of achieving strong economic growth while addressing the climate change challenge and increasing the reliability of our energy infrastructure. The Leaders reviewed the efforts both countries are undertaking to limit greenhouse gas emissions, promote green energy, and improve energy reliability in the context of the Bilateral Framework for Clean Energy and Climate Change announced during President Obama's April 2009 visit to Mexico City.

To build on that progress, the Presidents resolved to create a Cross-Border Electricity Task Force to promote regional renewable energy markets between our two countries. The Task Force will review opportunities and obstacles to cross border trade in renewable energy, advancing options on standards, electricity transmission, grid connections, and other policy measures that create market incentives for investment and trade in renewable energy technologies. The leaders also committed to increasing grid reliability and resiliency, including collaboration on smart grid standards and technology to make energy use more efficient and reliable in both Mexico and the United States.

Recognizing that the cleanest source of energy is more efficient energy use, the Presidents committed the relevant agencies in each government to hold joint workshops this fall to accelerate energy efficiency improvements in the building and transportation sectors, including green building certification, enhanced trade in green building materials, and best practices in light-duty vehicle mileage regulation.

In the context of discussing a shared clean energy future, the Presidents recognized the increasing interplay of trade and climate policies and the importance of engaging directly on these. Both committed to direct their trade authorities to commence a dialogue with other countries on these issues. In particular, the Presidents committed to explore the possibility of early action to liberalize tariffs on climate-friendly technologies as a first step towards encouraging mutually supportive trade and climate policies.

The two Leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and stressed the importance of reaching a successful outcome in Cancun. President Obama supported Mexico's leadership role as chair of the 16th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC and expressed readiness to work with Mexico. Both leaders also underscored their commitment to the Copenhagen Accord and its implementation.

The Presidents noted the long history of bilateral cooperation in the conservation of natural and cultural resources. They recognized that Big Bend National Park and Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River in the United States and the Protected Areas of Maderas del Carmen, Cañon de Santa Elena, Ocampo, and Río Bravo del Norte in Mexico together comprise one of the largest and most significant ecological complexes in North America. In doing so, they recognized that increased cooperation in these protected areas would restrict development and enhance security in the region and within this fragile desert ecosystem. To preserve this region of extraordinary biological diversity, they expressed their support for the United States Department of Interior and the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of the United Mexican States to work through appropriate national processes to recognize and designate Big Bend—Rio Bravo as a natural area of binational interest. The Presidents underscored their commitment to manage the region in a way that enhances security and protects these areas for wildlife preservation, ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation, wildland fire management, and invasive species control.

Both Presidents expressed their commitment to ensure energy security in North America and to the safe, efficient and equitable exploitation of transboundary reservoirs with the highest degree of safety and environmental standards, and instructed their teams to take steps, consistent with the findings of key investigations into the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, toward advancing that shared commitment. In this regard, they instructed their teams to seek a moratorium on exploitation activities along the maritime boundary in the Western Gap in the Gulf of Mexico. President Obama thanked President Calderon for the offers of assistance Mexico has provided with regard to on-going efforts related to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in accordance with the United StatesMexico Joint Contingency Plan for Maritime Pollution.

Cooperating Against Transnational Organized Crime

The Presidents highlighted the abiding importance of safeguarding communities on both sides of our shared border and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to confront criminal organizations that represent a serious threat to the security and well-being of Mexicans and Americans. They recognized that the United States and Mexico share responsibility for defeating and dismantling the illicit criminal networks that traffic drugs into the United States, and illegal weapons and illicit revenues into Mexico, and that these transnational networks are associated with much of the crime and violence occurring in Mexico today. Both Presidents evaluated on-going efforts to stem the illegal flow of weapons and bulk cash into Mexico and will seek to reinforce cooperation and efforts in this critical area.

The Presidents recognized that the Twenty-First Century Border must ensure the safety and security of residents in communities along both sides of the border and affirmed the mutual interest of Mexico and the United States to prevent entry into our countries of people who pose a threat to the national security of both nations. The Presidents affirmed their commitment to close, continuing, and constant bilateral cooperation and coordination to combat illicit activities and transnational criminal organizations. They pledged to work together to prevent human smuggling and trafficking.

The Presidents reviewed and endorsed the work of the U.S.-Mexico Merida Initiative High-Level Group, which met in March, 2010, in Mexico City to lay out a shared vision for on-going and future security cooperation between the United States and Mexico. Consistent with that vision, the Presidents directed that cooperation focus on four elements: disrupting the capacity of criminal organizations that act in both countries by weakening their operational, logistical, and financial capabilities; supporting efforts to strengthen public institutions responsible for combating organized crime, including the promotion of the full observance of rule of law, human rights, and active civil society participation; developing a secure and competitive Twenty-First Century Border; and, building strong and resilient communities in both countries by supporting efforts to address the root causes of crime and violence, especially concerning youth, promoting the culture of lawfulness, reducing illicit drug use, and stemming the flow of potential recruits for the cartels by promoting constructive, legal alternatives for young people.

The Presidents recognized the particular importance of these four elements, and of robust bilateral cooperation to act upon them, in border communities that unite our two countries, such as Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas. From the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, communities on both sides of the border share deep economic and social ties, and an interest in their own safety and welfare as well as that of their neighbors. The Presidents committed to work together against organized criminal groups in the border region and to cooperate to promote public safety and social resiliency, and to bring people and institutions together across our shared border.

They also received a progress report and took stock of the on-going efforts to define a bilateral implementation plan that includes a roadmap of next steps and the benchmarking necessary to measure success.

President Obama discussed with President Calderón a number of enhancements to U.S. civilian law enforcement efforts in the Southwest Border region to ensure that the United States is doing all that it can to safeguard the population there and deter illegal flows in both directions across that border, including the deployment of increased resources and personnel from the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice.

Both Presidents reviewed the implementation status of the Merida Initiative and the steps taken to expedite delivery of security-related resources under the Initiative to Mexico. As a follow up to discussions at the recent High-Level Group meeting in Mexico, President Calderon welcomed President Obama's commitment to deliver, earlier than planned, a number of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft that will complement the Government of Mexico's efforts against transnational organized criminal organizations.

The Presidents recognized that illicit drugs take a heavy toll on the health of our citizens and our communities and acknowledged that we must work to reduce drug use and minimize the consequences of such use, emphasizing both treatment and prevention. They endorsed the shared priorities established at the Binational Conference on Drug Demand Reduction in February, 2010, and at the meeting of the Mérida Initiative HighLevel Group. These priorities include the development of a Bilateral Assessment on Drug Demand and Prevalence of Use; making addiction treatment a part of mainstream medical practice; implementing broadly drug screening, intervention, and referral for treatment techniques; expanding drug prevention efforts in the schools and the wider community; implementing accreditation standards for drug treatment providers; and expanding the role of the criminal justice system in ending drug abuse and reducing recidivism.

Enhancing Social Well-Being and Ties between Our People

Both Presidents underscored that human capital is one of the most important assets that our two countries share.

President Obama underscored his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform in the United States and detailed his Administration's extensive work to engage partners in the United States Congress from both political parties to create a modern immigration system that honors our tradition as a nation of laws, and a nation of immigrants. President Calderón reaffirmed his vision for creating a Mexico where all Mexicans have an opportunity to work and educate their children, while reiterating the importance that all immigrants be treated with full respect of their civil and human rights and acknowledging their significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural vitality of the United States. Both acknowledged the importance of fixing the broken immigration system, securing the common border and dismantling human trafficking groups, and to set clear rules and priorities for future immigration that level the playing field for American workers while providing a mechanism to fill labor demand in the United States in excess of domestic capacity.

The Presidents also took note of the strong educational ties and close academic collaboration that the people of the United States and Mexico have enjoyed for many years. They looked forward to expanding these programs by initiating a new exchange program for high school students to promote mutual understanding. The Presidents committed their governments to build upon this pilot program, co-financed with the private sector, to help bring together the next generation of leaders from the United States and Mexico.

The Presidents acknowledged the contributions of the Peace Corps to the bilateral relationship and directed their respective authorities to work together to expand the presence of Peace Corps volunteers in Mexico, increasing cooperation with civil society organizations and promoting community development and volunteerism. Since 2004, hundreds of Peace Corps volunteers have worked with Mexicans to transfer technologies, create business opportunities, and promote conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Engaging in the Hemisphere and Around the Globe

Recognizing the importance of cooperation in various multilateral fora, President Obama and President Calderón reaffirmed their intent to coordinate closely on key issues pending before the Organization of American States, the United Nations, and the G20, among other international, multilateral institutions and fora.

In the Americas, the Presidents reaffirmed the importance of defending the core principles and values of democratic governance, respect for human rights, and self-determination in the Hemisphere and around the world. They stressed the need for regional consensus-building to achieve greater cooperation. The Presidents discussed the importance of working together to help foster more systematic security cooperation, particularly among the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean, to confront the challenge of transnational illicit networks. They also underscored the important work underway in the context of the Pathways to Prosperity Initiative and the Inter-American Social Protection Networkthat is promoting greater economic and social inclusion throughout the Americas.

The Presidents reaffirmed the importance of defending the core principles and values of democratic governance, respect for basic human rights, non-intervention, and self-determination in the Americas. In the case of Honduras, President Obama and President Calderón recognized the important strides the country has taken since the elections held in November 2009 to restore the democratic and constitutional order following the June 28, 2009 coup, and expressed their support for the ongoing process of national reconciliation and for Honduras’ prompt return to full participation in the Organization of American States and in all inter-American institutions. In the case of Haiti, both Presidents reviewed their respective actions as part of the massive international relief effort following the January 12 earthquake. President Calderón commended the United States for the vital role it played in facilitating disaster response and relief actions, and President Obama thanked Mexico for its important contributions to that effort. Both Presidents agreed to continue bilateral consultations and coordination to help consolidate Haiti's reconstruction efforts.

As global partners who share common values, as members of the most relevant international bodies, and as part of their efforts to continue expanding the strategic dialogue between both nations, the Presidents exchanged views on several global issues of common concern. Taking into account the presence of both the United States and Mexico in the United Nations Security Council, they paid special attention to the current situation of the nonproliferation regime and to nuclear disarmament issues in the context of the ongoing Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. The two leaders committed to work to achieve a successful Review Conference and in that regard expressed their readiness to cooperate to strengthen the capacity of the international community to enforce this regime and to progress on the full access to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for countries that comply with their international obligations. In this regard, the Presidents underscored their full determination to decisively support the IAEA and its verification efforts by addressing situations of special concern in the relevant international bodies of the United Nations System and its Security Council, including Iran's continued failure to meet its international obligations on its nuclear program.

President Obama and President Calderón reaffirmed the importance of the G20 as the premier international economic forum, and discussed the need for continued focus on economic recovery and job creation. The Leaders also discussed their efforts to implement the Pittsburgh Summit commitments, and call on all G20 members to make progress on fulfilling G20 commitments in advance of the Toronto Summit.

The bilateral dialogue between Presidents Obama and Calderón underscores their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between both countries, and they will continue working closely together in bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral fora over the coming months, as befitting two partners and nations uniquely important for the well-being, prosperity and security of one another.

President Barack Obama and President Felipe Calderón delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

President Obama. Good afternoon. Buenas tardes. I want to again welcome President Calderón to the White House. Michelle and I are delighted to be hosting the President and First Lady Margarita Zavala and their delegation for this state visit, and we're looking forward to returning the hospitality—the wonderful hospitality that we received in Mexico when we have our state dinner this evening.

I've often said that in our interconnected world, where nations and peoples are linked like never before, both the promise and perils of our time are shared. Nowhere is this clearer than among the neighbors—the United States and Mexico.

The trade and tourism between us creates jobs and prosperity for both our peoples. When a flu spreads, or an earthquake strikes, or cartels threaten innocent people, it affects lives on both sides of our common border. When our neighbors are in need, whether in Honduras or in Haiti, we respond together. And when we expand partnerships between our people, it forges connections that leads to greater prosperity and opportunity for decades to come.

In pursuit of our shared future, I have a true partner in President Calderón. We've worked together in Mexico City and Guadalajara, in Washington and Pittsburgh, in London and L'Aquila. And when he speaks before a joint session of Congress tomorrow, I believe the American people will see what I see—they'll see a leader who is guiding his country through very difficult times with vision and with courage, and he has been an outstanding partner to me and an outstanding partner to the United States.

Indeed, our progress today marks another step forward in a new era of cooperation and partnership between our countries—a partnership based on mutual interests, mutual respect and mutual responsibility.

We agreed to continue working aggressively on our highest economic priority, which is creating jobs for our people. Mexico is one of our largest trading partners, with trade that supports countless jobs here in America and in Mexico. And because 80 percent of the trade passes over our land border, we reaffirmed our commitment to a 21st century border that is modern, secure and efficient. And we're directing our governments to develop an action plan to move in this direction, because our shared border must be an engine, and not a brake, on our economic growth.

To create jobs and increase our competitiveness in the global economy, we agreed to streamline regulations and strengthen the protection of intellectual property. We agreed to continue working with our G20 partners to encourage that global economic growth is balanced and sustained, especially as we approach next month's Toronto summit. And as the United States works to increase our exports, and the jobs that come with it, we'll be working closely with our partners in Mexico, which is one of the largest markets for American exports.

To create clean energy jobs and industries of the future, we're building on a partnership we launched last year with new initiatives to promote regional renewable energy markets, green buildings and smart grid technology. These initiatives will also help us implement the commitments we made at Copenhagen, especially as we work toward the climate conference in Cancun later this year. And let me say that, as a leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and in helping developing countries do the same, Mexico's leadership under President Calderón has been and will be critical.

For the sake of our shared prosperity and security, we discussed the need for immigration that is orderly and safe, and we acknowledged that both our countries have responsibilities. President Calderón is working hard to create jobs so that more Mexicans see a future of opportunity in their country.

To fix our broken immigration system, I reaffirmed my deep commitment to working with Congress in a bipartisan way to pass comprehensive immigration reform. And comprehensive reform means accountability for everybody: government that is accountable for securing the border; businesses being held accountable when they exploit workers; people who break the law by breaching our borders being held accountable by paying taxes and a penalty and getting right with the law before they can earn their citizenship. We've been working hard to get this done. There's a strong proposal in the Senate, based on a bipartisan framework, and it can and should move forward.

We also discussed the new law in Arizona, which is a misdirected effort—a misdirected expression of frustration over our broken immigration system, and which has raised concerns in both our countries. Today, I want every American to know my administration has devoted unprecedented resources in personnel and technology to securing our border. Illegal immigration is down, not up, and we will continue to do what's necessary to secure our shared border.

And I want everyone, American and Mexican, to know my administration is taking a very close look at the Arizona law. We're examining any implications, especially for civil rights. Because in the United States of America, no law-abiding person—be they an American citizen, a legal immigrant, or a visitor or tourist from Mexico—should ever be subject to suspicion simply because of what they look like.

President Calderón and I also reaffirmed our commitment to stand together against the drug cartels that have unleashed horrific violence in so many communities. Mr. President, you and the Mexican people have shown great resolve in a fight for the security and safety of your country. And as I've pledged to you before, Mexico can count on the United States as a full partner in this effort.

As your partner, we'll give you the support you need to prevail. Through increased law enforcement on our side of the border, we're putting unprecedented pressure on those who traffic in drugs, guns, and people. We're working to stem the southbound flow of American guns and money, which is why, for the first time, we are now screening 100 percent of southbound rail cargo. And guided by our new National Drug Control Strategy, we're bringing new approaches to reducing the demand for drugs in our country.

As regional partners, the President and I discussed the situation in Honduras and the need for continued cooperation to support the people of Haiti as they recover and they rebuild. And as global partners, and given Mexico's seat on the U.N. Security Council, we agreed on the need for Iran to uphold its international obligations or face increased sanctions and pressure, including U.N. sanctions. And I'm pleased that we've reached an agreement with our P5-plus-1 partners on a strong resolution that we now have shared with our Security Council partners.

Finally, I'm proud that we're expanding exchanges between our college and university students and launching a new exchange program for our high school students. I'd note that it was a Mexican student at an American university who went on to become the President who stands next to me today. And with these exchanges we'll bring together the next generation of American and Mexican leaders.

This is the progress that we've made today. It's progress that calls to mind a Mexican proverb that I am told says, “Tell me who you walk with, and I will tell you who you are.” Mr. President, the United States is proud to walk with Mexico. And through our work, we're reminded again of who we are—which is two neighbors, two partners bound by a common vision of prosperity and security for both our people.

President Calderón.

President Calderón. Thank you, President.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the media, good afternoon. First of all, I would like to thank the kind invitation of the people and the government of the United States to carry out this visit. And I am the bearer of a respectful and affectionate greeting of the Mexican people to this nation, which is our neighbor and friend. I would like to thank the words and the hospitality of President Barack Obama.

The United States and Mexico are nations that trade, dialogue, and complement each other economically and mutually. We are nations that have a political understanding of the highest level. And we are also countries with a fruitful, dynamic, and ties between people, communities, public and private institutions throughout 3,000 kilometers of border. Our relationship is characterized by an honest and open dialogue based on trust, respect, and co-responsibility.

As it has been stated by President Obama, this morning we held a broad and fruitful dialogue. We've reviewed our bilateral relationships—the problems, the challenges and also the many opportunities that we face. We analyzed different proposals and visions on the side of Mexico and the United States to strengthen North America as a region.

We talked about the relevance of solving our differences and trade problems in the fastest possible way. We covered the border topics such as security, migration, and we also examined initiatives to consolidate our cooperation in global scenarios and global interests.

I can highlight here that the areas where we agree are broader than our differences. There's a broad convergence of interest. And this is not only given to the fact that we share common goals, but there is a will in both of us to turn the fact of being neighbors into a partnership that will act as a leveler for shared development.

Fortunately, the serious economic globalcrisis is giving up. This opens up a window of opportunity for Canada, the United States and Mexico to re-position Mexico and North America as a vigorous region— competitive and prosperous, capable of generating more and better jobs; a region that will be attractive for investments, trade exchange and tourism, with great perspectives facing the future.

Together, we should increase our exporting capacity in a contest of growing competitiveness among different regions of the world. We talked about the different obstacles that are there for complying with transportation obligations that have been established at NAFTA, a situation that impacts jobs, companies and consumers in Mexico and in the United States. And we shall work in order to achieve a quick solution with a constructive, creative solution in the long term in this and many other areas.

As the President has stated, we gave special attention to the border matters. The border is not only a place of encounter for both our nations, but it's also an area of opportunity for our aspirations that we share regarding development. For this we will allocate more resources for the border infrastructure in order that it will be at the height of the needs of our economies and communities, and that it will benefit both sides of the border. We will strengthen the coordination among the government officials on both sides of the border to reinforce security.

We want to make this quite clear: We, both countries, want to have a safe border, a safe border for our people. We agreed upon the urgency to reinforce the actions to stop the flow of drugs, weapons, and cash. And for this we will work with full abidance to the legislations and jurisdictions of each country in a co-responsible way.

In reference to the migratory issue, I acknowledge the sensitivity and the commitment of President Obama to look for a comprehensive solution that will be respectful of the rights of the individual and will be adjusting itself in a realistic way to the needs of both our economies. We talked openly about this and other issues.

We identified that the economies of our countries are clearly complementing each other, and when we—integrating them, they are a powerful tool to bring productivity and competitiveness up within the whole region. Greater competitiveness in North America means more jobs and better living conditions for the people of the United States and for the people of Mexico.

In Mexico, we are and will continue being respectful of the internal policies of the United States and its legitimate right to establish in accordance to its Constitution whatever laws it approves. But we will retain our firm rejection to criminalize migration so that people that work and provide things to this nation will be treated as criminals. And we oppose firmly the S.B. 1070 Arizona law given in fair principles that are partial and discriminatory.

This and other issues were covered during this meeting, which I will dare to say that it's historic given the level of understanding and trust that we have reached.

For the meantime, I would just like to highlight this open and honest and constructive dialogue that we keep and hold with the government of President Obama and these two countries that allows me to see the strength and leadership of the President of the United States.

Thank you, President Obama, for your hospitality. I want to thank all of you for your kind attention.

President Barack Obama and President Alan García delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

President Obama. Well, I've just had an excellent meeting with President García. I want to welcome him not only to the Oval Office but also say to the Peruvian people how much we appreciate the friendship between our two countries.

Peru I think has been an extraordinary success story over the last several years. We've seen not only the solidification of a thriving democracy, but also an extraordinary economic success story. And even last year in the midst of a very tough global recession, we saw that Peru was able to remain resilient. And I think that's a testimony to the President's leadership on this front.

We had an extensive conversation about a range of issues. On our bilateral relationship we agreed to continue to pursue the details of the free trade agreement that has already been executed so that it is creating jobs and prosperity in both countries. We discussed how we can work together on security issues.

We also talked, though, about a broader international vision of how we can continue to promote democracy, human rights, press freedoms, economic development, not just for those at the top but also from the bottom up; poverty reduction. These are all issues that the President has some excellent track records of success in his own country, and we want to continue to be an effective partner with Peru as they continue to grow and develop.

Finally, we discussed some important international geopolitical issues. One of the main concerns that both President Garcia and I share is the issue of nuclear nonproliferation. We recognize that it's important to leave to the next generation a country that has fewer nuclear threats rather than more nuclear threats. And so I very much appreciate Peru's strong stance on that issue.

We also discussed the environment, issues like climate change, and we came to recognize that we can't solve these problems individually. A single country can't solve these problems, but we have to work together in partnership.

That's the kind of relationship that the President and I have established personally. It's the kind of relationship that our countries have been able to establish over the years. And it's a relationship that I expect will continue to grow and develop in the years to come.

So, welcome, Mr. President. Thank you very much. Thank you.

President Garcia. I want to thank President Obama very much for the invitation to visit him here in the White House, to this dialogue—a very warm and friendly dialogue we've had today. And I think that President Obama just provided you with a succinct and brilliant summary of what we discussed.

We did discuss global issues. Although Peru is not a major power in the world today, it is a country that believes firmly, as does the United States, that nuclear proliferation must stop here and now. This is something that we believe in very firmly. We believe in nuclear nonproliferation. We believe in putting a stop to nuclear disorder. And we support President Obama's ideas.

Regarding the economic crisis that has affected our entire world, I believe that the United States has exerted very important leadership in this sense, calling on the meetings of the G20. I agree with the criteria that we have presented at those fora. We believe in the importance of economic expansion, and also regulation of economic activity. But all countries need very deep reforms economically in order to avoid the stumbles and falls that have beset some regions of the world; we're looking at what happened in Europe just recently.

And I would humbly suggest that perhaps a professional organization should be following up on these G20 proposals. Perhaps that organization could be the IMF. And on regional issues, we are convinced that democracy will become stronger and stronger in Latin America. But this democracy needs to be modern, vibrant, a democracy that works with technology, with investment, one that does not fall into the trap of protectionism—protectionism which can only lead to poverty.

Peru is a country that congratulates itself therefore on having attained a free trade agreement with the United States, one that will promote more jobs, more technology, and more investment.

And so I am very pleased that Peru chose correctly in the last few years, and this has been demonstrated in fact. We opened our economy. We opened the way to more investment. We were not beset by political complexes that made us close our doors. And so as a result, we've seen a growth in our economy. We've seen a growth in the job rate. We've seen all kinds of economic growth despite the international crisis that the world went through last year.

And today in South America, what we're seeing is the waning effects of socialist capitalism—a force that has not led to good results, a force that would have had us close our doors and open up the path to poverty.

And we discussed a number of other issues that we know we will continue to develop when Secretary Clinton comes to Peru in the next week, where she will be leading the U.S. delegation during the OAS General Assembly. And we talked about our commitment—we will continue talking about our commitment to combat drug trafficking.

We will continue to talk about our defense and support for immigration reform. And we would ask the U.S. Congress to support this idea.

And we will continue talking about other issues—issues that I know will be supported by the strong friendship and leadership shown by President Obama that will lead to a greater partnership between our two countries.

And finally I would like to say to the people of the United States that I bring to you my greetings and I bring to you all my respect. The United States has always served as a laboratory for the most important social issues affecting our globe.

Before coming to the White House, I visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. And like everyone who has gone there, I stood thinking how many U.S. servicemen and women have given their lives to defend the world from the decadent monarchies of the 19th and 20th centuries, to stop the racism imposed by Hitler. And today, they continue to do that—stopping fundamentalism in all its ugly forms around the world. And you will continue to do that by stopping the nuclear threat that affects us all throughout the world.

And I know that you are also helping us today in Latin America to secure our peace and our security by combating the illegal drug trade. And I thank you for all that you do, and I thank you, Mr. President, for this exchange of ideas we were able to have today.

President Obama. Thank you again. Thank you.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered this statement in Lima, Peru

Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Rafael Correa Delgado delivered these remarks in Quito, Ecuador

Secretary Clinton. Thank you very much, and I want to begin by thanking the president and his cabinet and officials for a very gracious and warm welcome. Mr. President, I greatly enjoyed our meeting and I am looking forward to continuing our discussions on a range of issues. And it is such a pleasure for me to be here in Ecuador. This is a treat for me since I am here for the first time, and it is especially exciting to be in this city, one of the first world cultural heritage sites ever recognized by UNESCO. The United States values our long relationship with Ecuador. We have a very important relationship that includes trade, investment, security for our people, a mutual commitment to the environment. And I want to commend President Correa for his leadership in UNASUR, especially in the aftermath of the earthquake in Chile and the devastation in Haiti. The people of the United States, Ecuador, and our neighbors share many common aspirations. And today, the president and I discussed how we can work together to achieve those.

Now, like any two countries, we will not always agree. But we are committed to a partnership of open dialogue and cooperation that is rooted in mutual respect and mutual interest and for the benefit of both of our peoples. I'm very much looking forward to delivering a speech that lays out in more detail our commitment to development and the ways in which the United States is already working and wishes to work with Ecuador and other of our neighbors in the region.

We believe long-term, sustainable prosperity that is inclusive and broad-based is the right of every person and that all people should have the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential.

So again, Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity both to meet with you and I look forward to continuing our discussion.

Q. (In Spanish.)

Secretary Clinton. Well, as you might expect, the president and I discussed this along with many other issues. The United States has provided and will continue to provide information concerning the use of bases that are not U.S. bases but Colombian bases. I think everyone recognizes that Colombia has waged a long and difficult struggle against the combined forces of the FARC insurgency and the well-organized drug trafficking gangs. And the United States has been proud to help Colombia.

But clearly, we respect the territorial integrity of all countries in the region and we certainly are committed to sharing information and working in a mutually beneficial way with the neighbors of Colombia to resolve any questions. I think it is also important that we look for more opportunities to partner with all of our friends in the region because we want to be sure that the threat posed by the drug trafficking gangs and the continuing FARC presence is not a threat to anyone, not just to Colombia.

So I want to put your mind at ease that these—this agreement between the United States and Colombia is solely intended to assist Colombia in its continuing efforts against its internal threats. And as I mentioned to President Correa, we would be very interested in a dialogue about how we could better work together to create more understanding and transparency and mutual efforts against these common threats.

President Correa. (In Spanish.)

Q. The Obama Administration has been reaching out to countries all over the world, but in Latin America it often seems that things are going in the wrong direction, particularly with countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and sometimes even Ecuador.

Mr. President, I'm wondering if you could tell us what your analysis is of what's holding the Obama Administration's hopes for better ties with Latin America back. What are they doing wrong? What should they be doing better? And what's your advice for Secretary Clinton?

And Madam Secretary, what's your message to leaders like President Chavez of Venezuela who often seem to derive a lot of their popularity from their anti-American rhetoric? Thank you.

President Correa. (In Spanish.)

Secretary Clinton. Well, I think it's very clear from what the president just said that a country like Ecuador which is facing many challenges that it is attempting to overcome has to be judged on its results, on whether or not it produces positive outcomes for the people of Ecuador within the framework of democracy that the Ecuadorian people expect.

And from our perspective, we have reached out and feel very much as though we are forging a new set of relationships. It's the 21^st century. It's 2010. We're not turning the clock back. We're not expecting countries that have their own internal agendas in order to accomplish their own economic and social goals to be exactly as we are. If we ever did expect that, it is certainly no longer the case.

And I think the goals that Ecuador and its government have set are goals that the United States agrees with. As I said in my opening remarks, I don't know any two countries that are going to agree on anything. But we have to have a relationship that is mature enough and strong enough, which we do. Some of our oldest allies in the world in Europe, we don't agree with everything that they do.

So I think it's a difficult question to answer because we just don't see it as the premise of the question suggested. We see a dynamic and vibrant hemisphere and we see leaders in Latin America that are trying, sometimes against great odds, to remedy past wrongs. In my speech later today, I talk about an issue the president raised, namely tax evasion. When you have 50 percent tax evasion in many of the countries in Latin America, it is hard to get the revenues that are needed in order to provide the services that the vast majority of people deserve to have.

So these are very difficult problems and the United States wants to be a partner in working with Ecuador and other countries to try to solve them.

Secretary Clinton. I will certainly takethe material and thank you very much for raising these issues.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered this statement in Quito, Ecuador

Introductory Remarks Omitted

Secretary Clinton. Last April at the Summit of the Americas, President Obama pledged that the United States seeks an equal partnership with engagement based on mutual respect and common interests and shared values. Since then, we have been working to foster a truer community of the Americas, a community that truly does recognize that whether one lives in Quito or Los Angeles, in Ottawa or Buenos Aires, in many ways, we seek the same future for ourselves and our children.

Now, we have had—the United States and Latin America—at times a contentious history. I would never deny that. There have been real and perceived problems that have sometimes interfered with our working together. But I am here with a very clear message: That the United States, the Obama Administration, President Obama and I personally are committed to a community focused on improving the material conditions of people's lives, a community that recognizes and lifts up the diversity that we enjoy here in the Americas and translates it into a force for progress, because our hemisphere's potential is vast.

We've seen democratic governance become the norm and citizens have shown their commitment to democracy even when the process of building it has gone too slowly. Peoples and societies have embraced the values of tolerance and openness. The region's economies have stabilized and grown, and poverty has fallen.

If I told you 10 years ago that the leaders in the United States and Europe would be taking some well-deserved advice on economic management from some of our Latin American counterparts, many people would not have believed me. But today, many of this region's governments have navigated steadily and responsibly through the global economic crisis and are on their way to recovery.

So this is more than, at any time, a moment of opportunity for the Americas. But it is up to us to decide whether this moment will be seized or allowed to disappear. We have this moment of opportunity to consolidate democracy and economic growth, to play a role in solving regional and even global problems together, to deepen our progress and enhance our values, and to recognize we are interdependent and to use that interdependence to improve the future for our peoples. We want to elevate what is best about our shared past and rise above the acrimony that too often has interfered, even prevented us from moving forward.

So the promise is clear, but it is far from fulfilled. So although this may be a moment of opportunity, it is also one of paradox. Economies are growing, but still prosperity reaches too few. Trade is flourishing, but still extreme inequality persists. War, thankfully, is rare but some neighborhoods are as dangerous as a combat zone. Democracy is taking hold, but still delivers too little for too many.

Yesterday at the OAS General Assembly in Lima, I had the chance to discuss one of the four pillars of our vision for the Americas—effective and accountable institutions of democratic governance. In two days, in Barbados with our Caribbean neighbors, I will discuss another of the pillars—physical security for our citizens. And two months ago at a meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas in Washington, I discussed how we can cooperate to move toward that future of clean, renewable energy, be better stewards of the earth as we continue to extract the fossil fuels that we still need, and tackle the climate change and environmental threats we face.

Today, I want to speak about the fourth pillar of our vision, and that is, as Simon Bolivar said, the fundamental basis of our political system hinges directly and exclusively upon the establishment and practice of equality. We are celebrating this year the bicentennial of the hemisphere's independence movements. That message has deep resonance because the independence may be 200 years old, but deep social and economic inequality is still too pervasive.

When I think about what I hope for my own daughter, it is what I hope for every child—the opportunity to fulfill his or her God-given potential. And that can only come when societies support the efforts of families and faith communities to create a structure of opportunity. That structure of opportunity must be at the core of a common vision that we work to achieve together, because we all share responsibility for advancing this vision. It is not only a moral imperative; it is also a strategic one. We cannot become productive and competitive economies without harnessing the potential of all of our people. We cannot eradicate violence if we do not build strong, inclusive communities. We cannot strengthen and sustain democracy when too many people face limited opportunities for themselves and their children.

In short, the Americas today have a historic, unprecedented chance to consolidate progress as never before. But we have to make it a shared commitment—not just a speech or not just a plank in a campaign platform, but a day by day work that involves not just governments, but the private sector, the not-for-profit sector, the university and academic community, the faith communities of our societies.

President Obama and I share a strategic vision for our engagement in the hemisphere. We are working to build a network of partnerships for expanding opportunity and increasing social mobility. Now, we could endlessly debate the root causes of the lack of equality, but the way forward lies not in re-litigating the past, but in recognizing what works today to ameliorate inequality, to provide a model of what we can do that will give people not just hope, but the reality of a better life.

We've learned what works. Sound economic management is such an important part of this. The positive impact of macroeconomic and monetary stability is clear. Expanding the pie, not just cutting it up into smaller slices, should be our goal. If hyperinflation wipes out salaries or social safety nets, our efforts are wasted. In studying what Brazil did to tame hyperinflation in their own country, I remember reading what one Brazilian leader said, which was so true: “Inflation is a tax on the poor, who always end up suffering the most.” That's why sound economic management has to provide a starting point.

There are also important models abouthow to attack the lack of opportunity directly. Conditional cash transfer programs in countries around the hemisphere have used welfare payments to advance health, education, and other development goals. Mexico and Brazil have both brought about significant reductions in poverty while raising school enrollment and improving health practices. Colombia has raised immunization rates and even increased the size of the average one-year-old in beneficiary households. And these programs are now being adapted for use in other countries, including my own, which has learned from the Brazilian, the Mexican, the Chilean, the Colombian experiences.

Governments have also begun to improve their tax and budget practices. In Chile, money from the country's copper fund has helped to pay for scholarships for children from the lower and middle classes. Peru has increased tax revenues to spend more on social programs and public goods like roads and schools. Brazil has one of the highest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world today, but the results speak for themselves. Brazil is an economy and a country on the move.

Progress depends on actions beyond government, of course. Microfinance organizations have helped expand access to credit for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women and those without formal assets to use as collateral for credit. Here in Ecuador, the NGO Partners of the Americas is sending student leaders from low-income families on exchange visits to the United States to explore how to build social projects in their own communities.

And among private companies, corporate social responsibility is taking hold, in many cases thanks to innovative partnerships between the public and the private sectors. Costa Rica has promoted responsibility with its Certificate for Sustainable Tourism, which rewards companies that promote the country of Costa Rica in a way that is good for the environment. And these businesses proudly display these certificates to attract socially conscious consumers and tourists. Uruguay has just created a National Corporate Social Responsibility Council that will coordinate policies and best practices. In Brazil, there's a partnership between the United States and over 100 U.S. companies that operate in Brazil, to promote and advance worthy projects as part of corporate social responsibility.

These public and private efforts deserve credit for some gains against poverty that we have seen in recent years. But we all know that fundamental obstacles to opportunity and inclusion remain everywhere. And the first step in being able to address those obstacles begins with truly empowering people to take responsibility for their own lives and to be given the tools to do so. Uruguay's newly inaugurated President Mujica put it well in his recent inaugural address. “Allow me to emphasize,” he said, “education, education, education. And again, education.”

Now, economists would second that. Giving every child access to high-quality education that prepares him or her to chart a life filled with productivity and success must be the foundation of our efforts to narrow the prosperity gap. For ultimately, education, education, education is all about jobs, jobs, and jobs. Today more than ever, access to employment that can support a family in today's globalized economy depends on access to schooling. Too many children are denied are still denied access to even primary education. Now maybe on paper, they haven't. But in reality, the schools are substandard, the teachers are too few, the equipment and the materials are lacking. According to the World Bank, at the current rate, it will take an entire generation—a quarter century—to achieve universal basic education. That puts our region at a competitive disadvantage globally. Asia, the big engines of economic growth like China, like Vietnam, have made education a very high priority. We need to do the same.

Second, we also know that despite progress in some places, tax and budget systems are ineffective and inefficient in much of the hemisphere. This is partly due to how taxes are structured, with the burden falling too heavily on the lower classes and often hurting productivity. But in many places, including often in my own country, the simple fact is that the wealthy do not pay their fair share. We cannot mince words about this. Levels of tax evasion are unacceptably high, as much or more than 50 percent in some of this region's economies when it comes to personal income tax.

Now, why does it matter? We have a long tradition in the United States of trying to make sure that you don't have to pay one more penny in taxes than necessary. But it matters because without a sufficient tax base, there are simply not enough revenues for the public sector to offer the services and the infrastructure needed to support social mobility and competitive economies—roads, power plants, airports, health systems, schools. Those economies that are investing today in those services and that infrastructure are preparing themselves for the future. And the real irony of this is that those kinds of investments traditionally help make the rich richer but at the same time build a middle class and lift more people out of poverty.

Acknowledging this is not class warfare. It is not even us-versus-them rhetoric. It is a matter of recognizing that this cannot be a zero-sum-game. We cannot have a winner-takes-all approach to our economic future that is shortsighted and obsolete. More inclusive growth will make our entire economies stronger and more competitive over the long run, which will benefit us all. We simply cannot support policies that reduce poverty and spread prosperity if the wealthiest among us are not doing our part. The same is true if governments allow corruption to flourish and do not work to guarantee the effectiveness of institutions, or if leaders treat the state as a private resource to benefit themselves and their supporters.

The third key is empowering women and girls. It is both the right and the smart thing to do. We have reams of evidence from many research projects around the world. And Jose Marti recognized this ahead of his time. He said, “The struggles waged by nations are weak when they lack support in the hearts of their women.” Well, unfortunately, in too many places in our hemisphere, women are denied their rights and opportunities. Now, they may have them on the law books. They may be legally entitled, but they are not actually being able to access them. A growing proportion of the poor is made up of women and their children. And as long half the population is left behind, our hemisphere will be left behind too.

One of the best investments a government, a business, or a not-for-profit can make is in giving women access to credit. I have seen it in Nicaragua, I have seen it in Chile, I have seen it all over the world. Because when a woman is given the chance to make a little more money— maybe she's given access to livestock that not only will help to feed her children but then she can take the excess to market, or she's enabled to buy a sewing machine so she can take her talents as a seamstress into the marketplace. When women are given that opportunity, they reinvest in their families. All of the sudden, the children don't have to go out to work and drop out of school. All of the sudden, they can invest and build a better home for their family. It is a story that is being told over and over again. And it's a story that we need to amplify here in this region.

Fourth, we need to ensure that more workers and businesses have access to jobs in the formal economy, reversing a steady increase in informality. In some places, it's more than 50 percent. Now, informality means that workers remain isolated from credit and services. They often don't pay taxes, and on average, they earn less. Businesses remain outside of regulatory structures and the tax system. The burden for correcting this falls on both the public and the private sectors. The private sector cannot continue to keep employees outside the formal workforce. But governments must also make it easier for individuals to start and grow businesses. The red tape needs to be cut. The bureaucracy needs to be decreased. We cannot be stifling independent entrepreneurial energy by outdated bureaucratic controls.

Many of you have traveled throughout this region and elsewhere in the world. And it is amazing how hard people work. But often times, that work keeps them not in the economy but actually on the outside of the economy. And the society as a whole loses the benefits of that productivity.

Fifth, the private sector has to help us do more to overcome our hemisphere's legacy of conflict and mistrust. Corporate social responsibility can refer to many things—sound labor practices, environmental stewardship, community engagement. But at bottom, it is about the private sector accepting responsibility to help grow the pot for everyone—more mutual responsibility that will in the long run benefit sustainable enterprises. Because when we see what can be done for the entire economy, it really depends on a partnership. If you pit the government against the private sector, that's a loselose proposition.

My father was a small businessman, extremely independent, and very conservative. But he also understood that his business benefited from the roads he traveled on, from the utilities he had access to, from the labor that was educated. And we have to take a look at what we're doing now that undermines the win-win approach to growing our economic opportunities.

We also need to be sure that we protect basic rights of workers. Development, democracy, and human rights are inextricably linked. This hemisphere has made more than any other part of the world but for Europe and the United States and Canada, a historic bet on democracy. No other region facing the kind of social agenda we face has so completely committed itself to democracy. But democracy without results becomes self-defeating. We have to demonstrate that democratic governance delivers for people. The economies that are leading us into that future have to demonstrate that growth and reducing inequality are mutually reinforcing.

We also need to be sure that we protect basic rights of workers. Development democracy, and human rights are inextricably linked.

Now, there are no magic solutions. There are no silver bullets or this would be very easy for all of us to do. But in fact, we can build the foundation of that sustainable opportunity structure, step by step. And we can make this journey together. As President Correa said recently in a speech he delivered at his alma mater, the University of Illinois, “In order to resolve our problems, we have to accept that the principal, although not the only, responsibility lies with ourselves.” I appreciated President Correa's analysis of what he learned while in our country, how so often in the United States Americans are willing to accept responsibility because we are such a future-oriented society. And individuals often blame themselves for circumstances beyond their control as they try to figure out what to do to improve their lives. And President Correa said, “You know, we need in Latin America the same attitude. We are not victims; we are survivors. We are people who have within us the potential to chart our own destiny.”

Governments need to put opportunity at the top of the agenda. And the United States will do its part. Traditional aid and assistance programs remains one part of our approach. We will continue to deliver almost $2 billion in assistance to some of the most impoverished places in our hemisphere. We will continue our focus through the Millennium Challenge compacts with developing countries. But we will also work to enhance trade. Trade between the United States and our partners reached more than $600 billion a year. And we have to continue to reduce barriers to commerce. Annual U.S. investment has reached $60 billion a year. And our contributions to multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank also invest billions more in the region. And workers in the United States send more than $50 billion a year back to the region in the form of remittances.

So how can we build on those facts? Well, we're looking at ways that we can use the leverage from remittances to help countries like Ecuador improve infrastructure and services. Now, on an individual level, remittances are sons and daughters that help mothers and fathers, the parents who sacrifice for their children. But taken together, that is a huge resource for a country. And so we're looking at how we can develop new ways to enhance that money coming back, to give small businesses and communities a chance to prosper. We're building new ways to leverage remittances to expand credit for development and infrastructure projects without taking anything from the hard-earned dollars being sent back to the families.

We want to promote financial inclusion, and that's why we're using microfinance. We've seen microfinance not go just only to an individual but to provide innovative banking services in poor neighborhoods in Peru and providing health insurance and housing loans in Central America. Last year, President Obama announced a new Microfinance Growth Fund, which has committed more than $100 million to provide credit to individuals and small businesses, especially women. And the U.S. Government has worked closely with multilateral institutions to expand financing for the small and medium-sized enterprises. But we also call upon the existing financial institutions—the banks, the credit unions—to do more to be creative about expanding credit to small and medium-sized businesses.

We're also working on reforms with the OAS to update what is called the “secured transactions law.” Now put simply, that is to allow small businesses and entrepreneurs to use assets like refrigerators or sewing machines as collateral for loans. Many of these businesses could grow and employ more people, but they don't own the property that they work in or the home that they live in. But they have a refrigerator or a sewing machine, and we want to change the laws so that that can serve as collateral.

Credit bureaus can become more efficient and accessible, and we're partnering with the private sector to refine regulations for mobile banking, which allows people even in the most remote areas to join the formal economic system.

Our initiative called Pathways to Prosperity has already been working to help people in historically marginalized, indigenous, and Afro-Caribbean communities. And we're sharing information so that we can learn from each other. The Inter-American Social Protection Network that we launched last year is convening leaders to learn about innovative social protection programs. And we are starting in the United States something called the E-Mentor Corps so that small businesses who want advice can go online and get it from comparable businesses in the United States.

We have devoted more funding to education and investment that President Obama believes is an investment in our own future. We're increasing support for what we call the U.S. Bi-National Centers, which give children and adults the resources to study English. And we're launching a program that gives scientists around the hemisphere the opportunity to work in U.S. labs. And we're developing new science centers to help spur science education and provide a venue for interaction among innovators.

I happen to believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. There are many people in this country, like any country, who are innovative, entrepreneurial. They're solving problems every single day. And we want to give them more support to think even bigger. We're devoting $25 million to gender-related programs to help enhance opportunity for women. And we're initiating a high-level policy dialogue among the hemisphere's governments on how to reach full economic participation of women. I can think of no better way to mark the Inter-American Year of Women. Now, all of these are part of the shared responsibility that we feel is at the root of our new partnership. This is not about patronage; this is about partnership.

Next year, we will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Alliance for Progress. And in the past five decades, we have advanced together in some ways that I think even President Kennedy would have been surprised by—the spread of democracy, the growth of institutions like the OAS and the Inter-American Development Bank, the increase in trade, commerce and remittances, in cultural ties and family relationships. So we have a lot to show for the last 50 years, but that should be a spur to do even more, not an excuse for resting on our laurels.

We have seen just this past year in Haiti how strong we are when we come together. Every single country in this hemisphere contributed something to the relief effort after the devastation in Haiti. When I visited after the earthquake, I watched as people from all over our hemisphere— indeed, all over the world, not just governments, but church groups and NGOs and so many others—came to give help to people in need. There was no talk of ideology or division. There was no arguments about the history or on the past. There was just pragmatism and unity around a shared purpose.

A crisis like Haiti instills an urgency in all of us that perhaps makes it easier for us to overcome the legacy of the past. But we need that same urgency to plan for and seize the future. So let us use this moment to meet the promise that is palpable around us. Let us work to tear down barriers to opportunity, to create more inclusion, more justice, more democracy that really delivers results for people who historically have been left on the margins of society. And this concept of shared responsibility means that the United States will do our part.

I'm well aware of the fact that President Obama and I come with this offer of partnership against a backdrop that goes way into the past, decade after decade after decade. I cannot change that and neither can President Obama. Sometimes, we in America are accused of not paying enough attention to our history. But the obverse can also be true. Sometimes people are captives of their history.

So let us resolve to meet in the present, to think about what we can do to understand one another better, to be more transparent to one another, to have candid, open exchanges of different points of view. As President Correa said in the press event we just did, he believes that if President Obama or I had inherited the issues that he did as president, we would bedoing what he did.

We can't answer that question, but what we can say is let us work together, let us resolve that we can make that better future a reality. And let us look at every child whom we know and especially whom we love and think about what the world will be, because in this interconnected world, every child is going to have to play his or her part in ensuring that humanity continues to progress. Otherwise, we don't know what the future holds.

So this is indeed a moment of opportunity and a moment of paradox. I'm betting that we choose the route of opportunity. And the United States stands ready to work with you and to take those steps down that path toward the kind of future that would do justice and be worthy of our children. Thank you all very much.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Alvaro Uribe delivered these remarks in Bogota, Colombia

President Uribe. In Colombia, you have sown affection and you reap affection. That is why we receive you here, welcome you here with great love, with great gratitude.

You have helped us continuously. I remember in the first days of our administration, I had an opportunity to visit you at the U.S. Senate in your office, where you gave us a very public and a very firm support, speaking of Colombia's democratic policy. And as Secretary of State of the United States, we have always had your support.

The United States is a great ally of Colombia. In 200 years of independence, Colombia has only had 47 years of peace. The living generations today, those born in the 1940s, have not had a single day of peace. The violent conflict between our parties, the violence between the Marxist guerrillas, the equally cruel, violent of the paramilitary forces, the drug trafficking that co-opted all of them, all of that has created this very grave list of violent actors in Colombia.

The United States’ decision, a practical decision, to support Colombia has been very useful. President Clinton signed and implemented Plan Colombia with my predecessor, President Pastrana. It was a great step forward in the war on narco-terrorism. President Bush gave us all of the support that we needed. And this plan continues with the same strength under President Obama's Administration. We have witnessed a bipartisan political approach from the United States toward Colombia. President Bush, Sr., launched the Tariff Trade Preferences Act, which was extended under President Clinton, and these are policies which continue today.

Thank you very much for this visit, for this new show of support toward Colombia. Colombia is not yet a paradise; however, we are gaining ground. This battle is winnable. That is why we cannot cease.

We have lots of problems to address before us, but lots of progress has been made. On the 7^th of August 2002, the terrorists launched explosives against this seat of government. On an adjacent street, 24 Colombians were murdered and more than 40 were seriously injured. Terrorists used to murder presidential candidates. Throughout all of these years of democratic security, Colombia has regained its political freedoms, which had not been lost due to actions of governments. All the governments have been respectful of democracy. They were being lost due to the terrorism. The armed forces, the citizens, in total respect for the constitution have recovered their political freedoms for our compatriots. The electoral processes in 2003, 2006, as well as the current one, have shown how this country has recovered security for political freedoms.

An English observer, Madam Secretary of State, was here recently and he told me that in 2002, when I told him, when I explained to a British delegation about our democratic security policy that we planned to implement, he did not believe in it. He said that's impossible; it is impossible for a Colombian Government to be successful in its security policy while having full respect for freedom. Recently, he was here and he has admitted that it was possible. This policy has a lot more ground to cover yet. I say that it is only a kernel, a seed, but this policy has some very favorable elements in its favor. We have a monopoly on justice. We have a monopoly on the armed forces by dismantling the paramilitary forces. All mayors and governors in Colombia are protected without respect to their political origins. Four hundred of the 1,200 mayors previously in Colombia could not carry out their local functions because of terrorism.

We have implemented this policy through our normal legislation, by respecting civil rights with political guarantees, without martial law. When there have been violations of human rights, the armed forces themselves, the ministers of defense, the president, we have not hesitated in taking the most drastic action. In a country that has suffered so much due to terrorism, there is only one path ahead of it—the constitution and the protection offered by the armed forces.

Last Saturday, and this is a harbinger of your visit, Madam Secretary of State, the International Labor Organization has removed Colombia from the list of sanctioned countries. For many years, Colombia was on that ILO list. In the last two years, Colombia was on that list with the mitigating comment attached to it that it was a country that was making progress. Now, we have been completely removed from that list.

Our work toward effective security is as important as is our devotion to freedom, toward respect for the constitution, toward human rights. We have fought a valiant war against narco-terrorism. And there is a common element here in all human rights violations in Colombia. We see the presence of drug trafficking, which we have been severely reducing. Our country during 14 years also made the mistake of legalizing drug use. And it was very difficult when you have freedom of drug use in a country that produces drugs, with all of its criminality; it was very difficult to combat the criminal element. After many actions, the law was approved. For those who are sick, they get treatment. For those who are young—for the young, they get prevention. It is a public policy based on public health, based on prevention, on rehabilitation, but for criminals, the full force of the law.

Colombia has made great efforts, tremendous efforts in combating drug production, trafficking, and now against drug use also. In countries like Colombia and the countries of South America, one cannot say that the drug problem is a problem because the industrialized countries use drugs. Our countries now also have serious drug use problems. That is why this problem at all of its stages is a problem for all. In recent years, we have decided to build confidence in Colombia. That has been our guiding word: confidence, trust based on three pillars of democratic institutions, on investment, and on the advancement of social policies.

This morning, I was saying to some members of the media that were here that the best PR for confidence in Colombia is that last night, the Madam Secretary of State of the United States and the president, Bill Clinton, were in a restaurant in Bogota with complete peace of mind enjoying this beautiful city and its good restaurants. Some years ago, because of terrorism, this would have been unthinkable. Your visit, the fact that you spent the night in Bogota, the frequent visits by President Clinton, those are a great show of confidence in Colombia and the fact that one can have confidence in Colombia. I want to thank you and thank the people of the United States through you; also my appreciation for the executive branch, for President Obama, for the support that my administration has enjoyed these eight years. There is a large task to be completed ahead, but I think that we have a very good start.

Madam Secretary of State, welcome. We welcome you here with great gratitude.

Secretary Clinton. President Uribe, let me begin by telling you how pleased I am to be here in Colombia for the first time. You have been so gracious in entertaining my husband and my daughter in the past. And now, I finally have completed the family visits to your beautiful country.

This is a trip I have looked forward to making for quite some time, and it is a real pleasure to see how far Colombia has come and how much Colombia is contributing not only to its own people but to those who face similar struggles beyond your borders. So thank you for your hospitality, thank you for the very comprehensive discussion that we have had together today, and for the opportunity to reaffirm the friendship and strong partnership between the United States and Colombia.

In the last decade, Colombia has confronted immense challenges. And by any fair measure, Colombia has made great progress. That is thanks to the leadership of your government and to the resilience and dedication of the Colombian people. And even with continuing challenges in your own struggle, Colombia is playing a positive and increasingly important regional role, whether it be on promoting clean energy or on relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. The United States has been proud to stand with Colombia, and we will continue to stand with you in the future.

President Uribe and I discussed Colombia's continuing efforts in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. And I expressed the commitment of the Obama Administration to continuing to partner with Colombia as it works to consolidate the security gains of recent years.

We also discussed Colombia's efforts to enhance human rights, the strides made, the challenges that remain, the ongoing need for vigilance and commitment. And I also want to publicly express our admiration for President Uribe providing a remarkable example of strong democratic leadership in respecting the constitutional court's decision regarding another term.

Colombia is such a valued partner and a leader that we look forward to expanding and deepening our partnership. Colombia has helped to lead the way as an active member of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas. Just a few examples that we look to and encourage others to do so as well: developing cutting-edge mass transit systems, exploiting the potential of biofuels, becoming a leader in the use of ethanol, spearheading an initiative to help build the infrastructure for longdistance electrical transmissions from Panama, through the Andean states, to Chile.

Colombia has also worked hard to address the historic lack of opportunity for many of its people, and in doing so has provided important models for other countries in our hemisphere. Recently, the United States and Colombia concluded the first steering committee meeting for our action plan on racial and ethnic equality, which will work to improve access to education, employment, and other opportunities for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities.

We signed a new science and technology agreement today that will facilitate the exchange of ideas and technology to help both our countries compete in the global economy. All these and many other efforts speak to the enduring bonds of friendship and the stronger partnership for the future that we have, not just between our governments but between our peoples.

Mr. President, I speak for President Obama and myself when I say that you, personally, have been an essential partner to the United States. And because of your commitment to building strong democratic institutions here in Colombia and to nurturing the bonds of friendship between our two countries, you leave a legacy of great progress that will be viewed in historic terms. I know, though, as you said yourself in your remarks here today, you realize how much more is yet to be done.

This morning, I met with the two remaining presidential candidates. This is a choice for the Colombian people to make, but I have to say that the first round of voting was a testament to the vibrancy and strength of Colombia's democracy. And the United States will work closely and constructively with whomever the Colombian people choose in this second round.

So thank you once again, Mr. President. And you're right; we had a wonderful dinner last night here in Bogota among friends, some Colombian, some American. And we talked about how remarkable it was that such a common event could take place. And as I drove here to the presidential palace and had the chance to look out the window at this absolutely magnificent city, my heart was filled with the hope that I know fills the hearts of so many Colombians, that what has been accomplished will only go from strength to strength. We will stand with the people of Colombia to make that so.

Thank you so much, Mr. President.

Secretary Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer delivered these remarks in Bridgetown, Barbados