    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [October 13, 1997]
    [Pages 1343-1344]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Venezuela-United States Agreements Signing Ceremony in
    Caracas
    October 13, 1997

        President Caldera, Foreign Minister Rivas, Energy Minister Arrieta,
    Dr. Tablante, Secretary Pena, Secretary Albright, Special Envoy McLarty,
    to all the Venezuelan and American officials here, ladies and gentlemen.
    Mr. President, our hemisphere is coming together in a spirit of mutual
    respect and equality rooted in democracy, which you have championed for
    so long. And now we can become a stronghold for security and prosperity,
    and an example to the world that market democracies can deliver for all
    our people. These agreements on energy and counternarcotics are
    practical results of the partnership between the United States and
    Venezuela, which is strong and growing stronger.
        Last year Venezuela became the United States' number one supplier of
    foreign oil. But for the last 80 years, Venezuela has been a rock of
    stability, staying out of the oil embargo, stepping in to boost
    production in moments of crisis from World War II to the Gulf war. The
    investments we have made in each other's energy sectors have created
    good jobs and spurred innovation in both our countries. The people of
    the United States are grateful for the benefits of our modern
    partnership.
        Today's energy agreement will strengthen that partnership for
    tomorrow, helping us to provide cleaner energy from more sources to more
    people more efficiently. Let me thank Secretary Pena and Minister
    Arrieta for their hard work and their teamwork in getting this done, and
    for the example of leadership they set for our entire hemisphere.
        The Alliance Against Drugs we embrace today also enhances our
    partnership and our future. For throughout the Americas, drugs threaten
    the very fabric of civil society. They destroy lives. They spread
    violence to our streets and playgrounds. They corrupt and kill law
    enforcement officials. They create instability that can sweep across
    borders. Drugs are not simply a problem for the United States or for
    Venezuela; they are our common problem, and we must fight back together.
        In the United States we are working hard to reduce demand, with the
    largest antidrug effort in our history. But we must also be relentless
    in attacking supply. The Alliance Against Drugs is an important step
    forward. New equipment and training for Venezuela's drug fighters,
    including patrol boats and surveillance planes; deeper cooperation
    between our law enforcement communities to speed prosecutions and
    extraditions; a Joint Intelligence Coordination center to share
    information and coordinate antidrug operations: each of these
    initiatives will make us stronger in the fight against drugs, and our
    children safer for the future.
        Mr. President, Minister Rivas, Dr. Tablante, Secretary Albright,
    General McCaffrey, thank you for making the United States-Venezuela
    Alliance Against Drugs a reality. And let me thank all of you here for
    taking the partnership between our two countries into the 21st century.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10 a.m. at Miraflores Palace. In his
    remarks, he referred to Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel

    [[Page 1344]]

    Angel Burelli Rivas; Minister of Energy and Mines Erwin Jose Arrieta;
    and Minister of State and National Commission Against Illicit Drug Use
    President Dr. Carlos Tablante.