    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [July 22, 2008]
    [Pages 1043-1046]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Celebration of Colombian Independence Day
    July 22, 2008

        Gracias. Thank you. Sientese. Gracias. Buenos dias. Bienvenidos a la
    Casa Blanca. I am pleased to welcome you to the gathering of the 198th
    anniversary of Colombia's independence, which was celebrated last Sunday
    in grand style. Colombia and the United States have a long history of
    close ties. As many of you may know, Colombia supports [supplies]*
    America's primary source of energy, a resource that many Americans use,
    and we thank you for your coffee. [Laughter]
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        *White House correction.
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        I'm proud that the Secretary of Agriculture is with us, Eddie Schafer; Secretary of Commerce Carlos
    Gutierrez; Chief of Staff
    Bolten; Director John Walters, the Office of Drug and--of National Drug Control
    Policy; other members of my administration who are concerned about
    making sure our relationship with Colombia is strong and vibrant.
        I appreciate very much the Members of the Congress who have come
    today: Dreier, Herger, y Diaz-Balart. Thank
    you all for coming. Thank you for showing your solidarity with the
    people of Colombia.
        I appreciate very much the Embajadora de Colombia--Ambassador
    Barco, thanks for coming. Carolina
    Renteria is with us, of the Cabinet--the
    President's Cabinet; welcome. Hector
    Morales, the Ambassador to--of the
    United States to the Organization of American States; Camilo
    Ospina, Ambassador of Colombia to the
    Organization of American States; Luis Moreno,
    proud Colombian citizen, president of the Inter-American Development
    Bank--hola, Luis. Representatives of LULAC, I am so proud of the
    resolution you recently passed. Thank you for your strong statement.
        And after this brief discurso, I'll be welcoming Jorge
    Celedon y Jimmy Zambrano to entertain us with some songs.
        Before we do, though, I want to--got some comments I'd like to make.
        The anniversary of Colombia's independence falls only a couple weeks
    after America's Independence Day celebration. And that's appropriate,
    because our two nations have much in common. Like the United States,
    Colombia gained its independence when a band of patriots rallied
    together against a distant monarchy. Like the United States, Colombia
    was unified in its earliest days by a daring general who became the
    country's first President. And like the United States, Colombia built a
    new government around the rule of law and the notion that liberty was an
    unalienable right.
        Our countries have shared a strong bond from the very beginning. In
    1822, President James Monroe was one of the first heads of state to
    recognize Colombia's independence. And that same year, America became

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    one of the first countries to establish a new diplomatic mission with
    that republic. From those strong foundations we built a lasting
    friendship on a mutual respect for liberty and a commitment to a more
    peaceful world.
        This friendship has endured through good times and bad. Less than a
    decade ago, it looked as if peace and freedom were on retreat in
    Colombia. The country was in the grip of drug cartels and kidnapers. The
    Marxist terrorist network known as the FARC threatened to overthrow the
    democratically elected government. These were tough times for our
    friend. Our two nations launched an ambitious program that helped rescue
    Colombia from the brink of becoming a failed state.
        Plan Colombia, which started under my predecessor, made it clear that the United States would support the
    Colombian Government's efforts to modernize its military, to fight
    terrorists and drug kingpins, to expand educational opportunities, and
    provide Colombians with alternatives to a life of terror and
    narcotrafficking. The Colombian Government has taken the lead on this
    bold plan, and the United States has been proud to help. And today, Plan
    Colombia is working.
        One of the main reasons for Plan Colombia's success is the courage
    of Colombia's President, President Uribe.
    President Uribe has taken bold stands to defend our shared democratic
    values. He has been a strong and capable partner in fighting drugs and
    crime and terror. He's demonstrated that he is deeply committed to
    providing a better future for the people of his country.
        Since President Uribe took office,
    the Colombian Government reports that homicides have dropped by 40
    percent; kidnapings have dropped by more than 80 percent; terrorist
    attacks have dropped by more than 70 percent. Reforms to Colombia's
    criminal justice system have dramatically increased conviction rates.
    And last year, Colombia's economy saw its largest growth in nearly three
    decades. These are impressive achievements, and they're a testament to
    the determination of the Colombian people and their outstanding
    President.
        Earlier this month, President Uribe's
    administration scored another impressive triumph. In a daring covert
    operation, members of the Colombian military infiltrated the FARC and
    convinced the terrorists to transfer 15 hostages, including 3 Americans, to a new location. Disguised Colombian agents arrived
    in a helicopter to carry out the transfer. And when the hostages lifted
    off, they were astonished to hear an Army officer say nine words they
    thought they would never hear: ``We are the Colombia Army, and you are
    free.''
        Today, three Americans are back with their
    families because of the heroism of the Colombian allies. On behalf of
    our entire Nation, I welcome home Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and
    Keith Stansell. And I thank the brave members of the Colombian military
    who rescued them.
        The success of this rescue mission underscores the progress the
    Colombian Government has made. This progress is also evident in the
    hearts and minds of the Colombian people. On Sunday, more than a million
    Colombians marched in their nation's streets and called on FARC to
    release its remaining hostages and to stop practicing terror. They
    chanted a simple but powerful message: Libertad--that means freedom.
    [Laughter]
        America should support this noble stand by the Colombian people. And
    the single most important step we can do so is for the United States
    Congress to approve a Colombia free trade agreement that our countries
    signed more than a year and a half ago.
        Approving this agreement would strengthen our Nation's economy.
    Because of legislation that the Congress has passed--particularly the
    Andean Trade Preference Act--today, almost all Colombian exports enter
    the United States duty

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    free. The Congress made that decision. Yet our products exported to
    Colombia face tariffs of up to 35 percent, with rates even higher for
    some agricultural products. In other words, the current situation is
    one-sided. And the failure to approve the free trade agreement is
    hurting our businesses who want to sell their products into Colombia.
        Tariffs imposed on U.S. exports to Colombia are estimated to have
    exceeded $1.1 billion while the trade agreement has awaited
    congressional approval. Every day that passes without the agreement's
    approval, that number only gets bigger. Congress has already voted to
    allow duty-free access to American markets for Colombian products. Now
    Congress should create a level playing field; they ought to give
    American workers and farmers the same access to Colombia's markets. And
    the way for them to do though--that is to approve the free trade
    agreement.
        Opening markets is especially important during this time of economic
    uncertainty. Last year, exports accounted for more than 40 percent of
    America's total economic growth. Doesn't it make sense to continue that
    kind of growth during these economic uncertain times? I think it does.
    We ought to be working to open up new opportunities and new markets.
    More than 8,000 small and midsized American businesses export to
    Colombia. Approving this agreement will help these small businesses and
    middle-sized businesses grow their businesses and create high-paying
    jobs.
        Approving this agreement is also an urgent national security
    priority. It makes good economic sense, but it's important for our
    national security that the Congress approve this agreement. While the
    FARC has seen its power reduced, the terrorists are still actively
    plotting against the Colombian Government. Colombia also faces a hostile
    and anti-American neighbor in Venezuela, where the regime has forged an
    alliance with Cuba, collaborated with FARC terrorist leaders, and
    provided sanctuary to FARC units. It is in America's interests to stand
    by Colombia in the face of this threat, and the best way to do so is for
    Congress to allow a vote on the Colombia free trade agreement.
        President Uribe has stood strong
    against tyranny and terror. He's done everything we have asked him to do
    and more. He's told Members of Congress that approving this agreement is
    one of the most important steps that America can take to show its
    support for Colombia. Now the Colombian people are waiting to see what
    our Congress will do. To demonstrate America's good faith, to stand by
    our strong friend, to send a clear signal that we appreciate our ally,
    the United States Congress must approve this free trade agreement.
        And once they do so, Congress should quickly approve our free trade
    agreements with Panama and South Korea. By doing so, they can reassure
    these countries that America will stand by its word, and that we will
    not abandon our friends.
        It's been nearly two centuries since the United States of America
    and the nation of Colombia forged a friendship in the earliest days of
    our independence. In the years since, both of our nations have learned
    that the cost of maintaining a free society is remaining vigilant
    against the enemies of freedom. We believe that freedom is the
    birthright of all. We believe that it is the responsibility of free
    nations to support one another against those who would undermine our
    freedom.
        The United States is committed to the security of Colombia; we're
    committed to defeating the forces of terror. Our countries can meet this
    challenge together. And through our partnership, we can usher in a new
    era of enhanced prosperity and peace in our neighborhood.
        I want to thank you for coming. Que Dios le bendiga.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:41 p.m. in the East Room of the White
    House. In his

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    remarks, he referred to Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. Carolina Barco
    Isakson; and Director of National Planning Carolina Renteria of
    Colombia. He also referred to LULAC, the League of United Latin American
    Citizens. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.