    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [October 10, 2006]
    [Pages 1799-1800]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by the United States of America and the Republic of Peru
    October 10, 2006

        Presidents George W. Bush and Alan Garcia underscored the strong relationship between the United
    States and Peru, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening
    democracy and expanding free trade in the region as a means of improving
    the well-being of all citizens by securing freedom and delivering the
    greatest possible economic benefits to the largest number of people.
    They pledged to continue working together toward these and other shared
    objectives.
        The two leaders agreed that democracies must strive to improve basic
    services for all citizens, and emphasized the importance of expanding
    health and education as a means of empowering citizens with the tools to
    fully participate in society, providing opportunities for economic
    growth and social development. They further concurred that democracy and
    democratic governance are the right and responsibility of all, and that
    an educated, engaged citizenry is the foundation for strong democratic
    institutions. They also agreed that all citizens should have the ability
    to participate fully and fairly in a modern economy, under the
    protection of the rule of law.
        Both stressed the central role of initiatives such as the mutually
    beneficial U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) in strengthening
    bilateral ties while leveling the trade playing field, spurring job
    creation, and reducing poverty and inequality. In this regard, President
    Bush reaffirmed his commitment to securing congressional approval of the
    PTPA as quickly as possible. Both Presidents noted that domestic
    capacity-building programs, such as President Bush's Center for
    Education Excellence in Teacher Training and the Poverty Reduction and
    Alleviation Program initiatives, and President Garcia's Sierra
    Exportadora and ``Internal FTA'' programs, ensure that the opportunities
    derived from free and open markets accrue to the broadest number of
    Peruvians.
        Presidents Bush and Garcia reaffirmed
    their strong commitment to protect their people and the hemisphere from
    the depredations of transnational terrorist and criminal organizations,
    pledging to promote speedy extradition of drug cartels' members. Among
    the many ways our countries work together to combat the scourge of
    narcotrafficking, based on the principle of shared responsibility, are
    Peru's comprehensive efforts against drug trafficking and illegal coca
    cultivation and U.S. programs that provide infrastructure and training
    to develop a police presence east of the Andes and alternative
    development to people in former coca growing areas, giving them hope for
    a sustainable, legal livelihood to provide for their families.
        The Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral
    relationship and to promoting prosperity and social justice for all
    people of the Americas.

    Note: The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    version of this joint statement. An original was not available for
    verification of the content of this joint statement.

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