[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
[November 20, 2004]
[Pages 2985-2986]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
November 20, 2004

    Good morning. This weekend I am on my first trip outside the United 
States since the election, traveling to South America for the Asian-
Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. I am meeting with many allies and 
friends to strengthen our ties across the Pacific and discuss practical 
ways we can enhance prosperity, advance liberty, and improve our shared 
security.
    America and the nations of Latin America and Asia share many vital 
interests. All Pacific nations benefit from free and fair trade, the 
foundation of this region's remarkable prosperity. The United States has 
completed free trade agreements with nations throughout Asia and the 
Americas, including Australia and Singapore, Chile, the five nations in 
Central America, and the Dominican Republic. We are also negotiating new 
agreements with Thailand, Panama, and the Andean nations of South 
America. America has opened our markets, and I will urge other countries 
to do the same.
    Pacific nations also have a clear interest in spreading the benefits 
of liberty, democracy, and good government across this vital part of the 
world. From the recent history of the Asia-Pacific region, we know that 
freedom is indivisible. The economic liberty

[[Page 2986]]

that builds prosperity also builds a demand for limited government and 
self rule. Modernization and progress eventually require freedom in all 
its forms. And the advance of freedom is good for all, because free 
societies are peaceful societies.
    America and our friends are helping other countries lay the 
foundations of democracy by establishing independent courts, a free 
press, political parties, and trade unions, by instituting the rule of 
law, and by keeping up the fight against corruption.
    America joined with other members of the Organization of American 
States to create the Inter-American Democratic Charter. This charter 
recognizes democracy as the fundamental right of all peoples in the 
Americas and pledges our governments to promoting and defending the 
institutions of liberty.
    All Pacific nations must also keep up the fight against the forces 
of terror that threaten the success of our economies and the stability 
of the world. At last year's summit, APEC leaders started a major 
initiative to strengthen the security of ports and transportation 
networks, to defend our aircraft from the threat of portable missiles, 
and to end the flow of terrorist finances. This year, APEC leaders will 
work together to improve the security of our ships and ports. We will 
develop a new system to track and stop the travel of suspected 
terrorists using forged or stolen documents. And we launched new 
programs to support APEC members that have the will to fight terror but 
need help in developing the means. Terrorism is a threat, not just to 
the West or to the wealthy but to every nation. And every nation must 
fight the murderers.
    During my trip, I will also meet with President Lagos of Chile and President Uribe 
of Colombia to reaffirm our strong ties with those nations. Colombia is 
making progress in the fight against terrorists who traffic in illegal 
drugs, and America is standing with the Colombian Government to oppose 
the drug trade that destroys lives in our countries and threatens the 
stability of our hemisphere.
    In my second term, I will continue to pursue a confident foreign 
policy agenda that will spread freedom and hope and make our Nation more 
secure. America seeks wider trade and broader freedom and greater 
security for the benefit of America, our partners, and all of the world.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 8:35 a.m. on November 18 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 
20. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on November 19 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to President Ricardo 
Lagos of Chile; and President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.