[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 19 (Monday, May 13, 2002)]
[Pages 745-746]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

May 4, 2002

    Good morning. Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, a day that commemorates the 
Mexican people's great victory at the Battle of Puebla, a battle for 
freedom fought against overwhelming odds. That victory continues to 
inspire liberty-loving people across the globe. It reminds us that the 
cost of freedom is always high, but it is never too high. Brave and 
determined people, committed to a great cause, can do great good. That 
was true 140 years ago, and it remains true today.
    Just before September the 11th, I welcomed my good friend President 
Vicente Fox to the White House as the guest of honor at my first state 
dinner. When he arrived I said this: The United States has no more 
important relationship in the world than the one we have with Mexico. In 
the past 8 months, our relationship has grown even stronger. The people 
of Mexico stand with the American people in the war on terror. This is a 
decisive decade in the history of liberty, and the United States is 
grateful we can count on Mexico's strong support.
    America's relationship with Mexico is built on common values and 
shared culture. We both value families and communities--the places where 
character is formed and traditions are passed from one generation to the 
next. Americans appreciate the strong faith of the Mexican people, a 
faith that provides hope and inspiration and unity even in the darkest 
times.
    People on both sides of the Rio Grande value independence and 
freedom and opportunity, the ability to work hard to achieve

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your dreams and become successful as a result. By their strong values 
and their determination to create a better life for themselves and their 
children, immigrants from Mexico enrich American life.
    My close relationship with President Fox reflects the close 
relationship between our nations. It is built on the solid ground of 
respect and trust and friendship. President Fox is a great Mexican 
patriot, a man of honest talk and convictions who is passionately 
concerned for his people's welfare. We are both deeply committed to 
helping the entire American familia achieve prosperity and live in 
peace.
    Mexico and America share a continent, and we are dedicated to common 
goals. We are working together to create a ``smart border,'' one that 
will speed the safe flow of people and commerce but protect our two 
nations from terrorism and crime. We are working together on a 
Partnership for Prosperity, to better focus the creativity and resources 
of the private sector on the critical task of development. We are 
working together to address the important and challenging immigration 
issues between our countries. And I've asked our Congress to pass an 
extension of section 245(i) of our immigration law to let families stay 
together while they become permanent residents. We're working together 
to improve conditions for people living along the border. And we're 
working together to create an entire hemisphere that lives in liberty 
and trades in freedom.
    Our two nations will succeed together because our futures are bound 
to each other. Geography made us neighbors, but our shared values and 
rich cultures have made us the closest of friends.
    May God bless the people of Mexico, and may God bless the United 
States of America.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:20 a.m. on May 3 in the Cabinet Room 
at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 4. The transcript 
was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 3 but was 
embargoed for release until the broadcast. The President also recorded 
and the Office of the Press Secretary released a Spanish language 
version of this address.