[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[April 17, 1991]
[Pages 385-387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the Welcoming Ceremony for President Violeta Chamorro of 
Nicaragua
April 17, 1991

    President Bush. It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the United 
States a woman of courage, a leader of conviction, a person of morality 
and vision: Mrs. Violeta Chamorro, President of Nicaragua.
    We stand here at the White House almost a year to the day after the 
extraordinary moment when you stood at Managua's National Stadium to be 
sworn in as your nation's first freely elected President.
    What a moment that was. In you we saw the exhilarating victory of 
democracy, of that glorious new breeze that, in one amazing year, swept 
out oppression and dictatorship from Prague to Managua. In you we saw 
your nation's peacemaker, the person who would close the books on 11 
years of cruel civil war.
    In you we saw the symbol of national reconciliation with the inner 
strength and

[[Page 386]]

resolve to turn the face of your country toward the path of healing.
    In you we saw what your countrymen saw when they cast their ballots 
in their first fair, open election. We all saw the person who inspired 
her people to believe in the triumphant return of peace and freedom.
    On that Inauguration Day we saw Dona Violeta, candidate of 
compassion, become President Chamorro, leader of reconciliation. On that 
day you closed a painful chapter in your nation's history, and you began 
to forge a new one. The beautiful land of Ruben Dario had been exhausted 
by strife, embittered by repression, polarized by government attempts to 
dominate every single aspect of society, impoverished by a cynical and 
mismanaged regime.
    But you are the leader who once said: ``As a mother, I feel with 
great intensity the obligation to teach while governing and to govern 
while forming peaceful hearts.'' And you've begun to bring life and 
dreams back to your people in your ``mission to help them''--as you call 
it, ``mission to help them.'' Your courageous countrymen are showing 
that they are ready to dig in and work hard to reap the benefits of free 
government and free enterprise.
    Following the course of your slogan, ``Yes, we can change things,'' 
your reforms are realistic--restoration of democratic liberties, 
religious freedom, economic reconstruction, free-market opportunities, 
reallocation of military funds to vital economic and social programs, 
and reincorporation of former combatants and refugees.
    But your reforms are also visionary: the restoration of moral values 
and human dignity. The importance of an inheritance for your children of 
reconciliation and respect. And the belief in the goodness of a people 
that still turns for guidance to its patron saint, La Purisima.
    And your reforms, your ``new sun of justice and freedom,'' bring 
hope to the watching world. For with the democratization of Nicaragua, 
we are one crucial step closer to the incredible goal of becoming this 
world's first fully democratic hemisphere.
    We know that the tasks facing the Nicaraguan people are difficult. 
Your economic stabilization plan requires hard choices. Economic reform 
after years of mismanagement is never easy and presents challenges to 
leadership. But sacrifice in the short run is vital to achieve long-term 
growth and development. And we hope that all elements of Nicaraguan 
society will work with you for the good of your country.
    The Nicaraguan people do not stand friendless and alone to face 
these challenges. We are confident that as you confront them, all 
Nicaraguans will enjoy renewed and widely shared prosperity.
    Dona Violeta, I am proud to stand with you, and our nation is proud 
to stand by you. We're offering over $500 million in aid over your first 
2 years as President. And we've joined with other developed countries to 
work with the international financial institutions to help Nicaragua. 
And beyond aid, we're offering opportunities for trade and investment 
that will benefit both our countries through the Enterprise for the 
Americas Initiative.
    And most of all, we're offering something from our hearts to your 
proud country, your blue and white Nicaragua, where, as your national 
anthem says, ``the voice of the cannon no longer roars.'' We are 
offering you our respect, our admiration, and our friendship.
    As your nation renews itself under your leadership, the world shares 
the view of Nicaraguan poet Pablo Antonio Cuadra who wrote about your 
late husband, Pedro Joaquin, who was tragically assassinated for the 
pure passion of his political idealism. Cuadra said of you: ``Pedro's 
flag could not be in better hands.''
    Madam President, your nation is fortunate to have you as a leader. I 
am proud to have you as a friend. We salute you. And may God bless you 
and your proud and courageous land. And welcome to the United States.
    President Chamorro. President Bush, my good friend; Mrs. Barbara 
Bush, my good friend also; ladies and gentlemen. Many years have elapsed 
since the President of Nicaragua has made a state visit to the White 
House.
    It is a great honor for me to be here with you this morning, for it 
represents the es-

[[Page 387]]

tablishment of a new and precious relationship between our two nations. 
The genuine friendship extended by a noble country such as the United 
States deserves in turn the friendship of democratic governments that 
respect the rights of their people. For only in this manner can there 
exist a sincere relationship between both nations.
    As we meet today, Mr. President, it is our responsibility as leaders 
of two democratic nations to begin fertilizing the seed of a new 
friendship, a friendship based on our shared belief in democracy and 
mutual respect.
    I would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude 
to the people and Government of the United States of America for the 
assistance they have provided to Nicaragua. That assistance was a 
decisive factor during my first year in office. And now Nicaragua has 
begun to recover from the years of political instability and continuous 
conflict.
    I must conclude by reiterating my government's firm commitment to 
the sacred principles of democracy shared by our peoples. This 
commitment is, and will continue to be, to work towards consolidating 
peace, strengthening our democratic institutions, respecting human 
rights, and putting our economy in order.
    I shall work toward achieving this goal without wavering, because I 
have adopted as my own those universal truths which Abraham Lincoln 
bequeathed to mankind: ``a government of the people, by the people, and 
for the people.''
    God bless and protect the peoples and governments of the United 
States and Nicaragua. Thank you.

                    Note: President Bush spoke at 10:15 a.m. at the 
                        South Portico of the White House, where 
                        President Chamorro was accorded a formal welcome 
                        with full military honors. In his remarks, 
                        President Bush referred to President Chamorro's 
                        late husband, Pedro Joaquin Chamorro. President 
                        Chamorro spoke in Spanish, and her remarks were 
                        translated by an interpreter. Following the 
                        ceremony, the two Presidents met in the Oval 
                        Office.