    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 24 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
    [Pages 1117-1118]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Republic of
    Chile

    June 8, 2006

        Presidents George W. Bush and Michelle Bachelet underscored the
    increasingly strong and close ties that Chile and the United States
    enjoy, based on common values and objectives, including the promotion of
    democracy, development, economic growth, hemispheric integration, trade
    liberalization, international security, and combating terrorism. They
    recognized the link among development, peace, security, human rights,
    and social justice. They reaffirmed their commitment to further
    strengthen the bilateral relationship based on these principles and to
    deepen the two nations' ongoing strategic dialogue on democracy and
    regional development, and other key shared priorities.
        They agreed that Chile and the United States, like all the peoples
    of the Americas, are united by ties, and by common aspirations,
    expressed in the founding Charter of the Organization of American
    States, which says: ``The historic mission of America is to offer man a
    land of liberty and a favorable environment for the development of his
    personality and the realization of his just aspirations.''
        They agreed that the important measure of governments is whether
    they are committed in principle and in practice to the core conditions
    of democracy: to govern justly, to advance economic freedom, and to
    invest in their people. They agreed that a consensus in support of
    democratic governance unites our hemisphere and is enshrined in the
    Inter-American Democratic Charter, which declares that the people of our
    hemisphere have a right to democracy and that their governments have a
    responsibility to protect and promote that right, and that democracy is
    essential for the social, political, and economic development of the
    people of the Americas.
        They agreed that the success of democracy in the Americas has
    produced increased expectations, and that in free societies citizens
    rightly insist that people should not go hungry, that every child
    deserves the opportunity for a decent education, and that hard work and
    initiative should be rewarded. The Presidents agreed that if democracy
    is to answer popular demands for development, if it is to help reduce
    poverty and inequality, then democratic institutions must be effective
    and responsive; that institutions like political parties, the police,
    and an independent judiciary must be representative of and accountable
    to the people; that institutions must be reformed to fight corruption
    and to function transparently; and that every democracy must have the
    strength to create opportunities for improved health and education for
    all of its citizens. For men and women who are committed to freedom, who
    work hard and play by the rules, democratic governments must eliminate
    policies and practices that interfere with opportunities to rise as high
    as their talents will take them. That is how we define social justice.

        The Presidents recognized that the democracies of the Americas have
    now forged a consensus on the vital link between security and prosperity
    as well as democracy and prosperity. They agreed that in a hemisphere
    that is becoming more democratic, the central security issue in the
    Americas is no longer one of state-to-state or military-to-military
    security, but how we face nontraditional threats such as organized
    crime, terrorism, delinquency, gangs, natural disasters, pandemics,
    weapons proliferation, and drug trafficking.

        The Presidents agreed to work to make democracy a force for
    inclusion and empowerment, for effective institutions that will better
    people's lives in real ways, especially for the most disadvantaged and
    marginalized,

    [[Page 1118]]

    while also recognizing that political and economic freedoms are not
    quick fixes, but are in fact lasting fixes.
        They agreed to partner globally through the U.N. Democracy Fund and
    the Community of Democracies to support specific democracy promotion
    initiatives, particularly those aimed at improving democratic governance
    and strengthening institutions, promoting civil society participation,
    and sharing regional and trans-regional best practices and experiences.
    They further agreed to work together to support efforts to strengthen
    the capacity of the OAS and the Secretary-General to respond effectively
    to threats to democracy in the region and to help countries implement
    the provisions of the Charter.
        The Presidents also reaffirmed their commitment to working to ensure
    a successful and ambitious conclusion of the Doha Round in the near
    future. In this context, President Bachelet welcomed President Bush's
    reaffirmation that the United States is ready to eliminate all tariffs,
    subsidies, and other barriers to the free flow of goods and services as
    other nations do the same.
        Reaffirming the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
    Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), they acknowledged that the
    protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights should
    contribute to the promotion of technological innovation to the mutual
    advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a
    manner conducive to social and economic welfare. The leaders agreed to
    promote innovation and technological advancement by providing strong
    intellectual property protection and effective enforcement of
    intellectual property rights.
        The Presidents acknowledged that economic growth and job creation
    are vital to reducing poverty and inequality and advancing human
    development, and that free trade is the key and their vision remains a
    Free Trade Area of the Americas, in the world's largest free trade
    community. The Presidents noted the importance of continuing efforts to
    promote trade liberalization and reaffirmed their commitment to the
    FTAA. They also observed that efforts toward economic and trade
    integration in the Americas are important tools for the promotion of
    prosperity, stability, and democracy in the region. They welcomed
    agreement by the IMF and World Bank to provide 100 percent debt relief
    for the poorest countries in our hemisphere. In addition, they agreed
    that the Inter-American Development Bank also should act to reduce the
    debt burden on the poorest countries. Collectively, these actions will
    ensure that more resources are available to invest in health and
    education.
        The Presidents expressed their commitment to ensure that political
    stability, democracy, and development take firm root in Haiti. They
    welcomed, as hemispheric partners in this effort to support democracy,
    the successful outcome of presidential and legislative elections held in
    February and April and expressed support for the new Government's
    efforts to respond to urgent social needs while aiming to achieve
    sustainable growth and poverty reduction.
        The Presidents noted with satisfaction the activities of our
    continuing cooperation in the areas of economic growth, trade, cultural,
    people-to-people, and military exchanges. The Presidents agreed to
    intensively explore opportunities for people-to-people exchanges,
    including graduate doctoral education and English language education.
        The Presidents reaffirmed their friendship and their commitment to
    further strengthening ties between the two nations to foster freedom,
    democracy, security, and prosperity.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement. The transcript was released by the Office of the
    Press Secretary on June 9. This item was not received in time for
    publication in the appropriate issue.