Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/549

 PROCLAMATION 7181—APR. 9, 1999 113 STAT. 2067 and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-third. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7181 of April 9, 1999 Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 1999 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Inspired by the powerful words of Thomas Jefferson, the comageous militeiry tactics of Jose de San Martin, and the revolutionary spirit of Simon Bolivar and many other leaders, the peoples of the Americas forged their nations with a profound respect for liberty and justice. Today, a devotion to democratic ideals unifies the countries in our hemisphere. The strengthening of democratic institutions and practices throughout the Americas reflects our enduring commitment to human rights, free and fair elections, and the rule of law. The expansion of open meirkets illustrates our determination to achieve sustainable economic growth. At the dawn of a new millennium, we must work with a renewed spirit of cooperation to meet the challer^es of our future and fulfill the destiny of our region. In strengthening the ties that bind our nations together, we reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy and to the security of our hemisphere. Last April, the democratically elected leaders of our hemisphere met in Santiago, Chile, for the second Summit of the Americas. Building on the foundation laid at the Miami Summit in 1994, we developed an action plan for the futxu^. Our strategy includes concrete methods to strengthen democracy, protect human rights, increase access to education, expand free and fair trade, and reduce corruption. Thanks in part to the strong bonds between the nations of the Americas, our region has achieved an unprecedented era of peace and stability. As one of the world's oldest regional alliances, the Organization of American States has served as a guiding institution in that endeavor. Through several vital initiatives, it has worked to foster multilateral cooperation, to bolster hemispheric security, to resolve regional disputes, and to combat corruption, drug trafficking, and international terrorism. Our community of democracies also encoiuraged the governments of Peru and Ecuador to sign an historic Peace Accord last October that finally put their longstanding border dispute to an end. As we look to our common future, we must not forget that our vision for the Western Hemisphere also includes Cuba, whose citizens must be allowed the fruits of liberty and the rewards of integration. We must also remember that our commitment to closer cooperation becomes especially important in times of tragedy. As hundreds of thousands of people across the Americas work to rebuild their homes and their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch and the earthquake in Colombia, we must be there to lend a helping hand and to provide the tools necessary to revitalize the economies of our neighbors and help renew their communities. United by a proud history and a shared interest in deepening political, cultural, and economic ties, the democracies of

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