[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Page 2179]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the 1st Anniversary of the Summit of the Americas

December 12, 1995

    Last December, I joined the other 33 democratically elected leaders 
from the Western Hemisphere in Miami for the historic Summit of the 
Americas. Working in a new spirit of cooperation, we set a common agenda 
to strengthen the advance of democracy in our region, to protect our 
environment and natural resources, to expand opportunities for our 
nations and our communities, and to promote a new partnership for 
hemispheric prosperity.
    Over the last year, the hemisphere's leaders have worked hard to 
realize the ambitious program defined at the summit. We are working 
together to challenge money-launderers, narcotics traffickers, and 
others who ignore the rule of law. A new hemispheric Partnership for 
Pollution Prevention will phase out the use of leaded gasoline and other 
chemicals that contaminate our air and poison our soil.
    In June, we hosted a meeting of regional trade and commerce 
ministers to discuss measures to facilitate trade liberalization and to 
begin preparations for the negotiation of a Free Trade Area of the 
Americas by the year 2005. Already, falling trade barriers have allowed 
our exports to the hemisphere to grow by 12 percent in the first half of 
1995 to $112 billion, generating over 180,000 export-related jobs. 
Steady progress means more jobs and opportunities for American workers 
and U.S. businesses as we look toward the next century.
    Working together, the democratic nations of this hemisphere have 
achieved much. I know we can accomplish much more. Despite the 
challenges faced by our hemisphere this past year, the foundations of 
the summit remain strong and our nations, including the United States, 
remain committed to our common goals.