[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 14 (Monday, April 9, 2007)]
[Pages 422-423]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8120--Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2007

 April 5, 2007

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Each year on Pan American Day and during Pan American Week, we 
underscore our commitment to supporting the citizens in the Pan American 
community, strengthening democracy in the Western Hemisphere, and 
advancing the cause of peace worldwide.

[[Page 423]]

    In 1890, the International Union of American Republics was 
established to promote cooperation among the Americas. Today, the United 
States and our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere are a community 
linked by common values, shared interests, and the close bonds of family 
and friendship. As the expansion of freedom continues in our region, the 
democratic nations of the Western Hemisphere are working together to 
build a safer and more prosperous society and to ensure that all the 
people of the Americas have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
    My Administration is working to advance the cause of social justice 
in the Pan American region, and we are committed to supporting our 
neighbors' efforts to meet the needs of their citizens. In 2004, we 
created the Millennium Challenge Corporation to provide increased aid to 
nations that govern justly, invest in the education and health of their 
people, and promote economic freedom. We are working with the citizens 
of the Pan American community to expand economic opportunity through 
debt relief and to encourage reforms through such mechanisms as the 
North America Free Trade Agreement, the Chile Free Trade Agreement, and 
the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement. These agreements facilitate the flow of trade and help 
establish market economies. We have also recently notified the Congress 
of our intention to enter into a free trade agreement with Panama and 
signed free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia. These agreements 
will generate export opportunities for the United States and benefit the 
people of Panama, Peru, and Colombia by providing economic opportunity 
and helping to strengthen democratic institutions. By working with our 
democratic neighbors to build strong and vibrant economies, we are 
helping the citizens of the Western Hemisphere realize the promise of a 
free and just society.
    The ties between the democratic nations of the Western Hemisphere 
are deep and lasting, and together we can continue our great strides 
toward freedom and prosperity for people everywhere.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and 
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 14, 2007, as Pan 
American Day and April 8 through April 14, 2007, as Pan American Week. I 
urge the Governors of the 50 States, the Governor of the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag of the 
United States of America to honor these observances with appropriate 
ceremonies and activities.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of 
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
first.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:47 a.m., April 6, 
2007]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on April 
9.