[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18831-18832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9555]



[[Page 18829]]

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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7663--Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2003
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 73 / Wednesday, April 16, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 18831]]

                Proclamation 7663 of April 11, 2003

                
Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Our Nation takes great pride in the unity of the Pan 
                American community. We enjoy strong bonds of friendship 
                with our neighbors throughout the Western Hemisphere, 
                and the almost 33 million citizens of Latin American 
                and Caribbean descent who are a part of the rich 
                cultural diversity of our country. Their contributions 
                have enriched our Nation. In the Western Hemisphere, we 
                share common commitments to overcoming poverty, 
                achieving peace and prosperity for all, and providing 
                safety in our hemisphere. As we observe Pan American 
                Day and Pan American Week, we renew our dedication to 
                working with the Pan American community of nations to 
                protect democracy, promote economic growth, and provide 
                for the defense and security of all our citizens.

                The governments of the region continue to make 
                important progress in advancing democracy, as 
                demonstrated by the free, fair, and transparent 
                elections that took place throughout the region this 
                past year. The United States joins with our neighbors 
                in the hemisphere in congratulating the citizens and 
                governments of those nations on their achievements, and 
                my Administration remains dedicated to working with the 
                democratically elected governments of the Americas to 
                defend freedoms whenever and wherever they are 
                threatened. The historic Inter-American Democratic 
                Charter, adopted on September 11, 2001, continues to 
                guide efforts across the region to protect human rights 
                and political freedoms, combat corruption, promote good 
                governance, and strengthen democratic institutions.

                The countries of our hemisphere have made great strides 
                in opening their economies in recent decades, and we 
                must continue to work towards open exchanges of ideas 
                and goods throughout Pan America. To promote these 
                goals, we must welcome the expansion of economic 
                integration and renew our dedication to creating a Free 
                Trade Area of the Americas.

                Ensuring hemispheric security remains one of our most 
                important common objectives. Today and in the future, 
                we will continue our efforts to safeguard our citizens 
                and to ensure that individuals throughout our 
                hemisphere enjoy the full benefits of freedom. By 
                working together, we can achieve the Pan American goals 
                of protecting democracy and human rights, defeating 
                tyranny, and overcoming poverty and lawlessness.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim April 14, 2003, as Pan 
                American Day, and April 13 through April 19, 2003, as 
                Pan American Week. I encourage the Governors of the 50 
                States, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto 
                Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag 
                of the United States of America to honor these 
                observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

[[Page 18832]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand three, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 03-9555
Filed 4-15-03; 9:18 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P