[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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