    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 18, 1991]
    [Pages 688-689]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 688]]

    Remarks at the Welcoming Ceremony for President Fernando Collor de Mello
    of Brazil
    June 18, 1991

        President Bush. Good morning all, and welcome to the White House. It
    is my great honor to greet you, Mr. President: one of Latin America's
    most dynamic statesmen.
        The U.S.-Brazilian friendship has spanned nearly two centuries. Now
    an alliance built on fidelity--to democracy, healthy mutual respect, and
    firm collective will--the relationship has never been better. The most
    basic roots of our friendship lie in our dedication to democracy, our
    allegiance to the power of individuals, and the rule of law.
        The nations of the Americas all struggled and gained independence
    from the old ways of the Old World, and we built nations of promise and
    renewal. One hundred and seventy-nine years ago, the United States was
    proud to be the very first nation to recognize the newly sovereign
    Brazil. And that year, your predecessors achieved independence without
    bloodshed, traded goods with the world, and began to integrate a vastly
    diverse country. Today, President Collor, you represent the modern
    leader, Brazil's first directly elected President in 29 years. We
    understand the challenges you face and we admire the vigor with which
    you are dealing with them.
        Across the spectrum, from trade and economic matters to
    environmental issues, to concerns over nuclear proliferation, we are
    determined to treat our common challenges as opportunities,
    opportunities to improve life throughout this hemisphere.
        Brazil, with its great natural wealth and resourceful people, can
    make enormous contributions to the world economy and to hemispheric
    prosperity. Along with the other nations of the Americas, as a long-term
    goal, we aim to create the largest free-trading partnership of sovereign
    states in the world.
        The Enterprise for the Americas Initiative which I unveiled 1 year
    ago next week can help make this goal a reality, and we are already
    making great strides. I am pleased to announce that tomorrow we will
    sign completed negotiations for a trade and investment framework
    agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay--the countries
    of the planned Southern Common Market, MerCoSur. This agreement is a
    significant step toward achieving our common goals, and we look forward
    to this new era of enhanced cooperation.
        Mr. President, America stands by your side as you tackle Brazil's
    most pressing issues. When I visited Brazil last December and was
    received so warmly by you, sir, I saw the bold economic changes that you
    were making. And I saw something else; I saw a bold, active President,
    too. We all know that he's a tireless worker, but add to that jogging,
    piloting fighters, jet skiing, and several other activities. My kind of
    guy. [Laughter]
        You've trimmed government and announced plans to reprivatize
    enterprises, fight inflation, and liberalize trade. These are the keys
    to growth and prosperity in Brazil.
        As the 21st century draws near, we'll mark the 500th anniversary of
    Columbus' discovery of the Americas and the arrival of Cabral's
    Portuguese fleet in Brazil. Spectacular change characterizes the half
    millennium. The New World is becoming integrated in ways our forefathers
    would never have dreamed. And our firm collective will can help ensure a
    future filled with cooperation, not conflict.
        Brazil knows well the importance of united efforts, aligning with
    the allies in both World Wars, its brave expeditionary forces playing a
    key role in World War II. A half-century later, Brazil supported the
    United Nations resolutions and sanctions against Iraq despite
    significant economic losses to Brazil. And that, Mr. President,
    testifies not just to your vision but to your courage; and for this, we
    thank you, also.
        On behalf of all Americans, I salute the shared ideals that unite
    our nations and the lasting friendship between the people of the United
    States and the people of Brazil.
        It is my great pleasure to welcome you to

    [[Page 689]]

    the White House. May God bless the Federative Republic of Brazil.
    Welcome, sir.
        President Collor. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: Relations
    with the United States of America are a priority for Brazil. In my
    inaugural speech, I stated the need to eliminate from our relationship
    the emphasis which up to then had been placed on contentious trade
    issues. Such an emphasis used to obscure the true sense of a partnership
    based on common values, aspirations, and enterprises.
        This first goal has been achieved. In a mutually satisfactory way,
    Brazil has shown its earnestness and willingness to approach the issues
    pending on the bilateral agenda. Today, the Brazil-United States agenda
    is clearly positive, and this is only a starting point for continuous
    improvement in our relations.
        Brazil and the United States are the two largest democracies on the
    American continent. We place our most profound trust in political and
    economic freedom as the only way to achieve the individual and
    collective fulfillment of our citizens. We cannot limit ourselves to
    solving circumstantial problems. The advances that we make must be
    founded upon a wide-ranging political vision and serve to reinforce a
    strong and lasting friendship.
        It is in this spirit that we salute the Initiative for the Americas.
    Aside from its very important conceptual gains such as the linkage
    between foreign debt, trade, and investment, the initiative is
    remarkable above all because of its vision of the future, a future that
    we must build together.
        Mr. President, let us close the chapter on past trade disputes and
    past debt problems. Let us join efforts to expand mutual trade,
    technological cooperation, new credit, and investment flows. My idea of
    a truly stable international partnership is based on two major
    assumptions: The first is that is up to every country to determine its
    own destiny and to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve its national
    goals.
        The Federalist Papers themselves state that: provided there be a
    free people and carefully managed finances, ``foreign nations will be
    much more disposed to cultivate our friendship than provoke our
    resentment.'' Brazilian democracy has followed this lesson very closely.
    Brazil is making enormous sacrifices and resolutely carrying out its
    economic modernization project. We have adopted an adjustment program
    that is comparable only to the most rigorous and contemporary world
    history. In Brazil, the state will no longer be a producer of goods but
    rather a promoter of collective well-being.
        The second assumption for a true partnership is a recognition of the
    interdependence that exists among nations, a reality which imposes upon
    all societies and their leaders the obligation to ponder the
    international consequences of their actions. Brazil is fully aware of
    this. We know that despite our present hardships, our policies of
    liberalizing reform will not succeed without real cooperation and
    positive responses on the part of the international community regarding
    solutions to such problems as foreign debt, removal of trade barriers,
    and access to advanced, clean technologies.
        Though we respect the legitimate values and interests of all
    peoples, we must insist on cooperation in the crusade we lead to achieve
    harmony between men and nature. This is precisely the challenge that
    stands before us as we approach the 1992 United Nations Conference on
    Environment and Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro: the search for
    a balance between man's seemingly infinite quest for progress and the
    finite limits of Earth's resources.
        Mr. President, I look forward to our coming talks. I'm certain that
    our commitment to democracy and, believe me, my personal deep esteem for
    you will help us attain good results. We have before us a historic
    opportunity to create a new partnership between Brazil and the United
    States. Let us grasp it with determination and a sense of the future.
        May God help us to elevate our relations to the level warranted by
    the greatness of our two countries. Thank you very much.

                        Note: President Bush spoke at 10:15 a.m. at the
                            South Portico of the White House, where
                            President Collor was accorded a formal welcome
                            with full military honors. Following the
                            ceremony, the two Presidents met in the Oval
                            Office.