[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 16 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Pages 655-658]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Declaration With President Eduardo Frei of Chile

April 16, 1998

    On the invitation of the President of the Republic of Chile, Eduardo 
Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the President of the United States of America, Mr. 
William Jefferson Clinton, made a State visit to Chile, April 16-17, 
1998. The President of the United States was accompanied by his wife, 
Hillary Rodham Clinton, and by a high-level delegation composed of 
Secretary of State Madeleine Korbel Albright, Attorney General Janet 
Reno, Secretary of Commerce William Daley, Secretary of Education 
Richard W. Riley, United States Trade Representative Charlene 
Barshefsky, Director of National Drug Control Policy Barry McCaffrey, 
Counselor to the President and Special Envoy to the Americas Thomas 
``Mack'' McLarty, and Assistant to the President for National Security 
Affairs Samuel R. Berger.
    In recent years, the United States and Chile have established solid 
and stable relations, based on a mutual commitment to respect democracy 
and human rights, open markets and free trade. This joint vision was 
reaffirmed during the State visit of President Frei to the United States 
in February 1997 and was strengthened on the occasion of the State visit 
of President Clinton. Today, the Presidents note with satisfaction the 
progress achieved in their bilateral relations, and state

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that this will have a positive impact on the quality of life of their 
peoples, and to that effect agree on the following Joint Declaration:
    During working meetings held at the Palacio de la Moneda, Presidents 
Clinton and Frei reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations, 
assessed progress made since the State visit of President Frei to the 
United States in February, 1997 and identified areas for future 
collaboration. As part of the high-level Consultative Framework begun by 
Presidents Clinton and Frei in 1994, they reaffirmed their desire to 
continue strengthening the comprehensive ties between the two countries.
    The Presidents reiterate the political commitment of their 
Governments to ensure that the second Summit of the Americas, to take 
place April 18-19 in Santiago, contributes to strengthening hemispheric 
relations and to improving the development and well-being of the peoples 
of the Hemisphere in concrete and positive ways. In that context, they 
discussed the four major areas of the agenda: Education, Preserving and 
Strengthening Democracy and Human Rights, Economic Integration and Free 
Trade, and the Eradication of Poverty and Discrimination.
    In addition to underscoring the importance of the Declaration and 
Plan of Action which will be adopted by the thirty-four Heads of State 
or Government at the Summit, both Presidents agreed on the need to 
continue working together on the process of integration and free trade 
at the hemispheric level, reaffirming their commitment to the formal 
start of negotiations for the establishment of the Free Trade Area of 
the Americas (FTAA) during the Santiago Summit.
    The Presidents agree on the great importance of education as the 
most effective tool to attain full development, and in particular to 
reinforce the values of democracy, to give hope to our peoples for a 
better life, and to prepare our citizens for the 21st century global 
economy. Within this context, they welcomed the signing of a Memorandum 
of Understanding on Education, which will put technology at the service 
of creating opportunities for the poorest segments of the population and 
other disadvantaged groups, improve quality and standards, strengthen 
professional development of teachers and enhance cooperation in all 
levels of education. They also applauded the signing of an agreement by 
which Chile will join the ``GLOBE Program'' designed to link schools and 
scientists around the world through the Internet, so that information 
and experiences can be exchanged and so that students can make 
environmental scientific observations for use by researchers.
    The Presidents agreed upon a program of cooperation between their 
respective agencies for international development, including jointly 
funded scholarships for training in such areas as combating poverty, 
strengthening democracy and education, and economic integration.
    The Presidents reaffirmed the commitment of their Governments to 
achieve a comprehensive free trade agreement that includes both 
countries, and to adopt specific measures aimed at promoting the 
competitiveness of their respective countries in the global economy. In 
this regard, they noted

with satisfaction the significant progress made in improving agricultural 
trade relations through the Consultative Commission on Agriculture created 
by the two Presidents last year. In light of the economic development 
achieved in recent years in both countries and with a view to promoting 
cooperation bilaterally and in regional and multilateral areas, including 
the World Trade Organization, Free Trade Area of Americas, and the Asia 
Pacific Economic Council, the Presidents agreed to establish the U.S.-Chile 
Joint Commission on Trade and Investment. This consultative mechanism will 
be comprised of the relevant Ministries involved in these topics and will 
be chaired by the Chilean Minister of Foreign Relations and the U.S. Trade 
Representative, who will meet at the time of the Second WTO Ministerial 
Conference to sign the appropriate agreement. The Committee will hold its 
first meeting prior to October, 1998. On that occasion, it will examine the 
full range of measures affecting the various dimensions of trade, including 
such new areas as electronic commerce. It will also discuss ways of 
addressing restrictive trade practices, and the consequences of such 
practices, in the context of a global economy.

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    The Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the WTO, including 
full, effective implementation of the agreements reached in the Uruguay 
Round. Both countries pledge to continue promoting within the WTO full 
multilateral liberalization of trade, complementing negotiations already 
scheduled for the agriculture and service sectors.
    On bilateral commercial matters, the Presidents underscored the 
value of completing as soon as possible the efforts to sign a bilateral 
Open Skies agreement in order to provide their citizens better air 
transport services and to facilitate commerce and exchange between their 
countries. They also agreed that their ministries should deepen 
bilateral cooperation by exchanging commercial missions and information 
on major infrastructure projects, as well as creating databases on 
commercial opportunities in each country.
    The Presidents reviewed topics of common interest relating to recent 
world economic events, and recognized the importance of applying sound 
macroeconomic policies, including balanced budgets and financial 
transparency, which have enabled both nations to continue experiencing 
high levels of economic growth, despite difficulties in other regions of 
the world. In order to strengthen bilateral financial cooperation, 
United States and Chilean banking oversight authorities have signed a 
Statement of Cooperation to Enhance Cooperation in the Supervision of 
Cross-border Banking Institutions.
    The Presidents affirm their desire to strengthen cooperation on the 
environment and sustainable development. They firmly support the 
principles and objectives of the Kyoto Protocol, and are convinced that 
the market mechanisms that it establishes will be a great help to 
mobilize the resources of the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions.
    They recognize the potential of the Clean Development Mechanism to 
become an important resource for attracting private sector initiatives 
and investment in clean energy technologies, energy efficiency, forests 
and other activities that reduce, absorb or eliminate greenhouse gas 
emissions.
    They agreed that all countries should be involved in global efforts 
to address climate change, taking into account their common, but 
differentiated responsibilities.
    Developed countries must set the example in reducing greenhouse gas 
emissions as a matter of priority, while developing countries should 
participate meaningfully in efforts to address climate change, for 
example, by taking on emissions targets whenever possible.
    They commit their governments to work together on these issues in 
preparation for the next conference of parties to the Framework 
Convention on Climate Change this November in Buenos Aires.
    Concerned by the profound impact caused by the El Nino weather 
phenomenon throughout the Americas, the Presidents welcomed the signing 
of a Declaration of Intent to advance the launching of a Pan-American 
Climate Information System for Disaster Preparedness. Such a system will 
utilize the latest technology to help governments and private citizens 
better prepare themselves to be able to reduce the damages caused by 
climate-related phenomena.
    They agreed to instruct their experts to explore the mutual benefit 
that could accrue to their respective nationals under a bilateral Social 
Security agreement that would eliminate double taxation of Social 
Security contributions and help improve benefit rights for people who 
have worked in both countries.
    The Presidents also welcome the signing of a Memorandum of 
Understanding between our Governments' authorities for the Promotion and 
Development of Public Policies for the Strengthening of Government 
Administration.
    Presidents Clinton and Frei reiterated their commitment to continue 
their efforts to promote international peace and security, and 
cooperation with respect to compliance with agreements and treaties at 
the international and regional levels. In that regard, they applaud the 
work of the Defense Consultative Commission and the Global Security 
Dialogue. They noted the importance their Governments attach to policies 
designed to achieve greater transparency, both in terms of defense 
expenditures and conventional arms transfers, and to foster mutual 
confidence and security-building measures.

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In that spirit, the leaders support the adoption of regional 
transparency measures for conventional arms purchases.
    Recognizing the importance of the Organization of American States, 
which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this month, and in order to 
make its modernization a reality, the Presidents instructed their 
Foreign Ministers to consult with their colleagues in the Hemisphere to 
establish effective means through which the OAS could be revitalized, 
with due regard to its relations with other hemispheric institutions, 
and to agree on a timetable for the review and reform to be completed.
    The Presidents also reviewed the situations in Iraq, the Middle East 
and Bosnia, where Chile and the United States are participating with 
peacekeeping forces under the mandate of the United Nations, and they 
agreed to maintain such important joint efforts on behalf of 
international peace.
    In their capacity as Guarantors of the Rio Protocol, the Presidents 
reviewed recent progress achieved by the Governments of Ecuador and Peru 
and continue to urge both parties to settle their dispute by the May 30 
target date agreed to by both parties.
    The Presidents agreed to continue negotiations to reach a prompt 
agreement on cooperation that will provide for coordination of efforts 
of both countries to take more effective and timely action against 
illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their 
related crimes, as well as to prevent the abuse of those substances. All 
this, with the aim of reaching full implementation of the principles and 
policies contained in the Hemispheric Strategy adopted in the framework 
of the Interamerican Commission for Drug Abuse Control.
    They also look forward to the early completion of a customs mutual 
assistance agreement to advance cooperation against fraud.
    To facilitate and further advance our close ties, the Presidents 
agreed to establish a Bilateral Consultative Mechanism at the Foreign 
Ministry level, and to advance its operations through the appropriate 
diplomatic channels.
      

William Jefferson Clinton            Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle            
President of the                     President of the                   
United States of America             Republic of Chile                  
                                                                        


Note: This joint statement was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary but was not issued as a White House press release. An original 
was not available for verification of the content of this joint 
statement.