    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [April 16, 1998]
    [Pages 572-575]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Declaration With President Eduardo Frei of Chile
    April 16, 1998

        On the invitation of the President of the Republic of Chile, Eduardo
    Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the President of the United States of America, Mr.
    William Jefferson Clinton, made a State visit to Chile, April 16-17,
    1998. The President of the United States was accompanied by his wife,
    Hillary Rodham Clinton, and by a
    high-level delegation composed of Secretary of State Madeleine Korbel
    Albright, Attorney General Janet
    Reno, Secretary of Commerce William Daley, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, United States Trade Representative Charlene
    Barshefsky, Director of National Drug
    Control Policy Barry McCaffrey, Counselor
    to the President and Special Envoy to the Americas Thomas ``Mack''
    McLarty, and Assistant to the
    President for National Security Affairs Samuel R. Berger.
        In recent years, the United States and Chile have established solid
    and stable relations, based on a mutual commitment to respect democracy
    and human rights, open markets and free trade. This joint vision was
    reaffirmed during the State visit of President Frei to the United States
    in February 1997 and was strengthened on the occasion of the State visit
    of President Clinton. Today, the Presidents note with satisfaction the
    progress achieved in their bilateral relations, and state that this will
    have a positive impact on the quality of life of their peoples, and to
    that effect agree on the following Joint Declaration:
        During working meetings held at the Palacio de la Moneda, Presidents
    Clinton and Frei reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations,
    assessed progress made since the State visit of President Frei to the
    United States in February, 1997 and identified areas for future
    collaboration. As part of the high-level Consultative Framework begun by
    Presidents Clinton and Frei in 1994, they reaffirmed their desire to
    continue strengthening the comprehensive ties between the two countries.
        The Presidents reiterate the political commitment of their
    Governments to ensure that the second Summit of the Americas, to take
    place April 18-19 in Santiago, contributes to strengthening hemispheric
    relations and to improving the development and well-being of the peoples
    of the Hemisphere in concrete and positive ways. In that context, they
    discussed the four major areas of the agenda: Education, Preserving and
    Strengthening Democracy and Human Rights, Economic Integration and Free
    Trade, and the Eradication of Poverty and Discrimination.
        In addition to underscoring the importance of the Declaration and
    Plan of Action which will be adopted by the thirty-four Heads of State

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    or Government at the Summit, both Presidents agreed on the need to
    continue working together on the process of integration and free trade
    at the hemispheric level, reaffirming their commitment to the formal
    start of negotiations for the establishment of the Free Trade Area of
    the Americas (FTAA) during the Santiago Summit.
        The Presidents agree on the great importance of education as the
    most effective tool to attain full development, and in particular to
    reinforce the values of democracy, to give hope to our peoples for a
    better life, and to prepare our citizens for the 21st century global
    economy. Within this context, they welcomed the signing of a Memorandum
    of Understanding on Education, which will put technology at the service
    of creating opportunities for the poorest segments of the population and
    other disadvantaged groups, improve quality and standards, strengthen
    professional development of teachers and enhance cooperation in all
    levels of education. They also applauded the signing of an agreement by
    which Chile will join the ``GLOBE Program'' designed to link schools and
    scientists around the world through the Internet, so that information
    and experiences can be exchanged and so that students can make
    environmental scientific observations for use by researchers.
        The Presidents agreed upon a program of cooperation between their
    respective agencies for international development, including jointly
    funded scholarships for training in such areas as combating poverty,
    strengthening democracy and education, and economic integration.
        The Presidents reaffirmed the commitment of their Governments to
    achieve a comprehensive free trade agreement that includes both
    countries, and to adopt specific measures aimed at promoting the
    competitiveness of their respective countries in the global economy. In
    this regard, they noted with satisfaction the significant progress made
    in improving agricultural trade relations through the Consultative
    Commission on Agriculture created by the two Presidents last year. In
    light of the economic development achieved in recent years in both
    countries and with a view to promoting cooperation bilaterally and in
    regional and multilateral areas, including the World Trade Organization,
    Free Trade Area of Americas, and the Asia Pacific Economic Council, the
    Presidents agreed to establish the U.S.-Chile Joint Commission on Trade
    and Investment. This consultative mechanism will be comprised of the
    relevant Ministries involved in these topics and will be chaired by the
    Chilean Minister of Foreign Relations and the U.S. Trade Representative,
    who will meet at the time of the Second WTO Ministerial Conference to
    sign the appropriate agreement. The Committee will hold its first
    meeting prior to October, 1998. On that occasion, it will examine the
    full range of measures affecting the various dimensions of trade,
    including such new areas as electronic commerce. It will also discuss
    ways of addressing restrictive trade practices, and the consequences of
    such practices, in the context of a global economy.
        The Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the WTO, including
    full, effective implementation of the agreements reached in the Uruguay
    Round. Both countries pledge to continue promoting within the WTO full
    multilateral liberalization of trade, complementing negotiations already
    scheduled for the agriculture and service sectors.
        On bilateral commercial matters, the Presidents underscored the
    value of completing as soon as possible the efforts to sign a bilateral
    Open Skies agreement in order to provide their citizens better air
    transport services and to facilitate commerce and exchange between their
    countries. They also agreed that their ministries should deepen
    bilateral cooperation by exchanging commercial missions and information
    on major infrastructure projects, as well as creating databases on
    commercial opportunities in each country.
        The Presidents reviewed topics of common interest relating to recent
    world economic events, and recognized the importance of applying sound
    macroeconomic policies, including balanced budgets and financial
    transparency, which have enabled both nations to continue experiencing
    high levels of economic growth, despite difficulties in other regions of
    the world. In order to strengthen bilateral financial cooperation,
    United States and Chilean banking oversight authorities have signed a
    Statement of Cooperation to Enhance Cooperation in the Supervision of
    Cross-border Banking Institutions.
        The Presidents affirm their desire to strengthen cooperation on the
    environment and sustainable development. They firmly support the
    principles and objectives of the Kyoto Protocol, and are convinced that
    the market mechanisms that it establishes will be a great help to
    mobilize

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    the resources of the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
        They recognize the potential of the Clean Development Mechanism to
    become an important resource for attracting private sector initiatives
    and investment in clean energy technologies, energy efficiency, forests
    and other activities that reduce, absorb or eliminate greenhouse gas
    emissions.
        They agreed that all countries should be involved in global efforts
    to address climate change, taking into account their common, but
    differentiated responsibilities.
        Developed countries must set the example in reducing greenhouse gas
    emissions as a matter of priority, while developing countries should
    participate meaningfully in efforts to address climate change, for
    example, by taking on emissions targets whenever possible.
        They commit their governments to work together on these issues in
    preparation for the next conference of parties to the Framework
    Convention on Climate Change this November in Buenos Aires.
        Concerned by the profound impact caused by the El Nino weather
    phenomenon throughout the Americas, the Presidents welcomed the signing
    of a Declaration of Intent to advance the launching of a Pan-American
    Climate Information System for Disaster Preparedness. Such a system will
    utilize the latest technology to help governments and private citizens
    better prepare themselves to be able to reduce the damages caused by
    climate-related phenomena.
        They agreed to instruct their experts to explore the mutual benefit
    that could accrue to their respective nationals under a bilateral Social
    Security agreement that would eliminate double taxation of Social
    Security contributions and help improve benefit rights for people who
    have worked in both countries.
        The Presidents also welcome the signing of a Memorandum of
    Understanding between our Governments' authorities for the Promotion and
    Development of Public Policies for the Strengthening of Government
    Administration.
        Presidents Clinton and Frei reiterated their commitment to continue
    their efforts to promote international peace and security, and
    cooperation with respect to compliance with agreements and treaties at
    the international and regional levels. In that regard, they applaud the
    work of the Defense Consultative Commission and the Global Security
    Dialogue. They noted the importance their Governments attach to policies
    designed to achieve greater transparency, both in terms of defense
    expenditures and conventional arms transfers, and to foster mutual
    confidence and security-building measures. In that spirit, the leaders
    support the adoption of regional transparency measures for conventional
    arms purchases.
        Recognizing the importance of the Organization of American States,
    which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this month, and in order to
    make its modernization a reality, the Presidents instructed their
    Foreign Ministers to consult with their colleagues in the Hemisphere to
    establish effective means through which the OAS could be revitalized,
    with due regard to its relations with other hemispheric institutions,
    and to agree on a timetable for the review and reform to be completed.
        The Presidents also reviewed the situations in Iraq, the Middle East
    and Bosnia, where Chile and the United States are participating with
    peacekeeping forces under the mandate of the United Nations, and they
    agreed to maintain such important joint efforts on behalf of
    international peace.
        In their capacity as Guarantors of the Rio Protocol, the Presidents
    reviewed recent progress achieved by the Governments of Ecuador and Peru
    and continue to urge both parties to settle their dispute by the May 30
    target date agreed to by both parties.
        The Presidents agreed to continue negotiations to reach a prompt
    agreement on cooperation that will provide for coordination of efforts
    of both countries to take more effective and timely action against
    illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their
    related crimes, as well as to prevent the abuse of those substances. All
    this, with the aim of reaching full implementation of the principles and
    policies contained in the Hemispheric Strategy adopted in the framework
    of the Interamerican Commission for Drug Abuse Control.
        They also look forward to the early completion of a customs mutual
    assistance agreement to advance cooperation against fraud.
        To facilitate and further advance our close ties, the Presidents
    agreed to establish a Bilateral Consultative Mechanism at the Foreign
    Ministry level, and to advance its operations through the appropriate
    diplomatic channels.

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    William Jefferson Clinton            Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
    President of the                     President of the
    United States of America             Republic of Chile

    Note: This joint statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary, but it was not issued as a White House press release. An
    original was not available for verification of the content of this joint
    statement.