    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 12, 1995]
    [Page 1885]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the First Anniversary of the Summit of the Americas
    December 12, 1995

        Last December, I joined the other 33 democratically elected leaders
    from the Western Hemisphere in Miami for the historic Summit of the
    Americas. Working in a new spirit of cooperation, we set a common agenda
    to strengthen the advance of democracy in our region, to protect our
    environment and natural resources, to expand opportunities for our
    nations and our communities, and to promote a new partnership for
    hemispheric prosperity.
        Over the last year, the hemisphere's leaders have worked hard to
    realize the ambitious program defined at the summit. We are working
    together to challenge money-launderers, narcotics traffickers, and
    others who ignore the rule of law. A new hemispheric Partnership for
    Pollution Prevention will phase out the use of leaded gasoline and other
    chemicals that contaminate our air and poison our soil.
        In June, we hosted a meeting of regional trade and commerce
    ministers to discuss measures to facilitate trade liberalization and to
    begin preparations for the negotiation of a Free Trade Area of the
    Americas by the year 2005. Already, falling trade barriers have allowed
    our exports to the hemisphere to grow by 12 percent in the first half of
    1995 to $112 billion, generating over 180,000 export-related jobs.
    Steady progress means more jobs and opportunities for American workers
    and U.S. businesses as we look toward the next century.
        Working together, the democratic nations of this hemisphere have
    achieved much. I know we can accomplish much more. Despite the
    challenges faced by our hemisphere this past year, the foundations of
    the summit remain strong and our nations, including the United States,
    remain committed to our common goals.