*Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2010 *

**Remarks Following a Meeting With President Alan Garcia Perez of Peru **

*June 1, 2010 *

*President Obama*. Well, I've just had an excellent meeting with President Garcia and 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.

[*At this point, a Spanish translation was provided by an interpreter*.]

*President Obama*. And I also apologize, I should have let the translator break that up. But sometimes I forget I'm supposed to wait for that—my translator.

*Interpreter.* That's okay.

*President Obama.* Fortunately, she's very good. [*Laughter*]

Mr. President.

*President Garcia*. I want to thank President Obama very much for the invitation to visit him here in the White House, to this dialog, a very warm and friendly dialog 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 G–20. 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 G–20 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. service men 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, my friend. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 6:41 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. President Garcia spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.

*Categories:* Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : Peru, President Garcia.

*Locations:* Washington, DC.

*Names:* Garcia Perez, Alan.

*Subjects:* Arms and munitions : Nuclear weapons and material :: Nonproliferation efforts; Commerce, international : Global financial markets :: Unrest; Developing countries : Poverty; Environment : Climate change; Foreign policy, U.S. : Poverty, efforts to combat; Peru : Economic growth and development; Peru : Free trade agreement with U.S.; Peru : President; Peru : Relations with U.S.; Peru : Security cooperation with U.S.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201000445.