    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [May 7, 1997]
    [Page 565]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica
    May 7, 1997

        President Figueres, Mrs. Figueres, members of the Costa Rican
    delegation, and let me say a special word of thanks to the students and
    to the National Youth Symphony for giving us such a warm welcome. Thank
    you very much. I am pleased and honored to be in Costa Rica for the very
    first time and to experience firsthand your unique tradition of greeting
    foreign leaders not with a military salute but with the cheers of your
    wonderful young people.
        Costa Rica's steadfast devotion to peace and democracy and your
    commitment to education and to the preservation of your marvelous
    environment have long been a model for the stable, democratic, and
    prosperous hemisphere we are working to build together.
        This is a moment of great opportunity and hope for all the Americas,
    but especially here in Central America where decades of conflict and
    division have given way to peace and cooperation. That new reality helps
    to open a new era of partnership between the United States, the nations
    of Central America, and the Dominican Republic. Over the next 2 days, I
    look forward to working with President Figueres and our fellow leaders
    to strengthen democracy, expand the reach of free and fair trade, and
    improve the life of all of our people.
        Mr. President, I honestly believe the young people here and in my
    country and throughout our region will have more opportunities to live
    out their dreams than any generation of young people in history, if we
    do our jobs.
        On behalf of Hillary and myself and our entire American delegation,
    let me thank you again for making us all feel so at home. Muchas
    gracias. Nos vemos manana. [Thank you very much. We'll see you
    tomorrow.]

    Note: The President spoke at 10:26 p.m. at Juan Santa Maria
    International Airport. In his remarks, he referred to President Jose
    Maria Figueres of Costa Rica and his wife, Josette Altmann de Figueres.