REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT IN MEETING WITH WESTERN HEMISPHERE LEGISLATORS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R000301140037-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: January 24, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Office of the Press Secretary
For Imme~ate Release Jan~sary ,
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
IN MEETING WITH
WESTERN HEMISPHERE LEGISLATORS
Room 450
The Old Executive Office Building
11:47 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: I know that many of you come from
somewhat warmer climates and aren't accustomed to this Washington
deep freeze, but I'll hope that the warmth of our hospitality has
helped make up for the temperature outside.
I think it's particularly fitting that your visit
coincides with our Inaugural time, when the mantle of power here in
the United States is passed to the choice of the electorate.
Wherever we are, no matter what our political agenda, those who
believe in democracy and human rights should rejoice in times like
this. Believing in the peaceful transfer of power through democratic
elections and a solid respect for humat: rights unites all of us here
today with millions of people across the globe. Recognizing that bond
is what this gathering and this Center for Democracy are all about.
I want to ta]iw~F=this opportunity to thank the Democratic
and Republican members ~f the United States Congress, Professor~Alle.,
Weinstein, Dr. John Silber, Peter Kelly and Frank Fahrenkoph for all
they've done to ensure the success of this conference.
Being fro~n~ democratic countri :s, you know it's difficult
to get opposing political parties together, eve:i in worthwhile
endeavors like this. Well, the bipartisan support behind this effor*.
reflects the value we place on enhancing ling-range hemispheric
collaboration among the free and democratic countries of the
Americas. Building and reinforcing these ties has been of the utmost
importance to this administration and will continue to be so during
the next four years.
Our efforts are guided by three consistent and mutually
reinforcing goals. We seek to promote the development of democratic
political institutions. We want to encourage economic 3rowth, which
will increase opportunity and improve the standard of living for
people throughout the hemisphere. We're billing to help our friends
defend themselves against Soviet Bloc, Cuban and Nicaraguan sponsored
subversion:
STAT
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i ZiRe Lo LninK. LnaL zn~ tiraL vz zneae.;gvais 1s simply a
reaffirmation of something in which our Forefathers believed so
firmly, and that is that free and democratic government is the
birthright of every citizen of this Hemisphere. The Americas should
be, and by right of heritage, ought to be populated by free and
independent people.
As you know, not long after our own war of independence,
Simon Bolivar led the people of Latin America in a courageous
struggle for independence. Bolivar, like Washington, a giant in the
annals of human freedom, pointed out in his later years, "It is
harder to maintain the balance of liberty than to endure the weight
of tyranny.`
The great liberator lamented that mankind is all too
willing to zest unconcerned and accept things as tfiey are. And
that's why we, who are committed to free government and democratic
institutions, must maintain a sense of fraternity between ourselves
and other freedom-loving peoples. -
Today, there are many reasons for _ptimism. Despite
economic problems and the threat of well-armed, anti-democratic
forces, we Americans -- and by that, I mean all of us, all Americans,
from the north slope of Alaska to the tip of Tierra del Fuego -- are
enjoying a rising tide of democracy. ..
Of the 34 countries in Latin America, 27, with about 90
percent of the region's population, are either democratic or in
transition to democracy. A decade ago, less than 40 percent of Latin
America's population was so fortunate.
I'd like to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt
best wishes to the representatives who are with us from the
Hemisphere's newest democratic governments -- Uraguay and Brazil.
And I'd like also to offer my congratulations to the people, in
political leadership of Argentina, who understand, I've -- I
understand, have been chosen by the Center for the 1985 International
Democracy Pr~~::e.
The trend to democracy not only underscores the desire of
people to be free, but also suggests a new recognition that free
government is the surest path to economic progress. This was pointed
out long ago by Andres Bello, one of the Hemisphere's intellectual
giants. "Liberty," he noted, "gives wings to the spirit of
enterprise wherever it meets 3.t."
Well, today, as never before, we need this spirit of
enterprise to overcome the economic challenges of the Hemisphere.
The leap in energy prices, the onset of global recession in 1979 and
1980 brought serious hardship throughout the world.
Here in the United States, we cou.~tered the economic
downturn with economic reforms that lowered tax rates, eliminated
counterproductive government regulations, and brought down the rate
of increase in government spending. We concentrated on promoting
growth and opportunity, on encouraging business enterprise and
investment. And this formula worked well for us.
Last year, we had a growth rate of 6..8 percent. And that
was t`- L--~ -_--- ,...,
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And the inflation rate was only 4 percent. In fact, it has only
averaged 3.9 percent over the last three years.
While putting our own economic house in order, we've
tried to help our hemispheric neighbors and friends. We increased by
over 50 percent the level of bilateral economic assistance over the
previous administration. We've continued to support the World Bank,
the inter-American Bank and the IMF programs. We've worked with
leaders in government and the private sector to encourage the
refinancing of internrtional debt. Your cooperation has been
indispensable in this effort.
And last year a dramatic and innovative approach to
progress in Central America and the Caribbean went into effect. It
took considerable effort to pass the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and
we're anxious to work with you to see that its benefits are enjoyed
by all concerned.
A few moments ago, I expressed optimism about the course
of political developments in the Americas. I'd like to add that I'm
equally optimistic that our economic problems, which today seem so
menacing, will be overcome. Free people, given time, will find a way
to solve what may appear to be unsolvable. I can assure you, the
people of the United States are anxious to work with your people to
build a prosperous and opportunity-filled future.
Our cooperation will enhance our chance for economic
progress and help us meet some serious challenges to our security as
well. .
The transition to democracy, especially in Central
America, has been accompanied by a concerted and well-financed effort
by the Soviet Bloc and Cuba to undermine democratic institutions and
to seize power f=gym those who believe in democracy. This is nothing
new. Venezuelanr-:?'{iif~q~ struggled so long and I~. rd for freedom fa~~?+d
this same threat as they transformed their country into a dem~~racy.
Similar subversion -- financed, armed and supported by the outside --
has plagued Colombia and other countries as well. .
A rew danger we see in ^entral America is the support
being given the Sandinistas by Colonel Qaddafi's Libya, the PLO, and
most recently, the Ayatollah Rhomeini's Iran.
The subversion we're talking about violates international
law; the Organization of American States, in the past, has enacted
sanctions against Cuba for such aggression. The Sandinistas have
been attacking S.heir neighbors through armed subversion since August
of 1979. Countering this by supporting Nicaraguan freedom fighters
is essentially acting in self-defense and is certainly consistent
with the United Nations and OAS Charter provisions for individual and
collective security.
Two centuries ago, when our forefathers in the United
States were risking all to establish our democracy, one of our
Founding Fathers said,
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"We must all hang together or assuredly, we shall all hang
separately."
Well, I~ think it behooves all of us who believe in
democratic goverament~, in free elections, in the respect for human
rights to stand side by side with those! who share our ideals,
especially in Ce~itral America. We must not permit those heavily.
armed by a far-away dictatorship to undermine their neighbors and to
stamp out democratic alternatives at home. We must have the same
solidarity with those who struggle for democracy, as our adversaries
do, with those who would impose communist dictatorship.
It was just one. year ago when the Bipartisan Commission
on Central America, of which John Silber was a member, issued their
report. These distinguished citizens concluded that there is indeed
a threat to Central America. Aa they recommended, I have asked the
United States Congress to provide $8 billion in aid over the next
five years for economic and social help. We're also taking steps,
including active: diplomacy, to defuse a potential crisis. We
support, for example, all 21 objectives of the Contadora Process,
including t*~e implementation cf the democratic commitments made by
the Sandinistas to the Organization of American States in 1979.
I believe that the answer lies in democracy. There's
never been a war between two free countries. If we're for democracy,
we're for peace, domestically and internationally. Today, with
democracy on the rise, we have it within our power to recapture Simon
Bolivar's dream. We can have a united hemisphere, living in peace,
opportunity and freedom. _
.I"?.ee a.deals we share have cq^P of age and now i the time.
~~:e are the F~~~~e. .Democracy is the way. There are som.: 600
million of us from that tip cf Tierra del Fuego up to that north
coast ~f Alaska, bound together by a common herit:.ge and history, all
of us Americans, all of us worshiping. the same God. What a power for
good in the world we can be, if we strengthen our neighborliness and
the contact and the cooperation between us.
(Applause.)
Thank ~-ou for being here, and God bless you all.
END 11:59 A.M. EST
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