*EPF104 06/03/2002
Transcript: Powell Stresses Security At OAS General Assembly
(Secretary calls for greater support for trade and democracy) (1500)

Secretary of State Colin Powell has praised the Organization of American States (OAS) for producing the first new international treaty since the September 11 attacks on the United States "targeted at improving our ability to combat terrorism."

The treaty, called the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism, which Powell signed June 3 at the OAS General Assembly in Bridgetown, Barbados, honors the hemispheric-wide commitment to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Speaking that same day at the OAS meeting, Powell also praised the organization as the first international body to condemn the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Powell applauded improved inter-American cooperation in intelligence sharing and other areas since September 11. He also lauded the launch of a review of hemispheric "security architecture" and challenged the OAS to enhance the common security of its member nations by developing an "inter-American declaration on hemispheric security" that would "identify, prevent, and remedy potential threats."

Identifying democracy as the foundation for hemispheric security, Powell outlined the commitment of the OAS to strengthen democratic institutions in Venezuela and Haiti.

Powell emphasized that free trade and economic development remain guiding principles for fostering growth and prosperity in the hemisphere. He cited the importance of establishing a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and reiterated the Bush administration's commitment to assisting developing nations through the Millennium Challenge Account.

The following is the transcript of Powell's remarks:

(Note: In the transcript, "billion" = $1,000 million.)

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Bridgetown, Barbados)

June 3, 2002

REMARKS BY
SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AT THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sherbourne Conference Center
Bridgetown
June 3, 2002

Secretary Powell: Thank you Madam President, and let me also express my appreciation to Barbados for that very powerful opening presentation on this very important topic. Madam President, let me begin by thanking Foreign Minister Billie Miller and the Government of Barbados and the people of Barbados for hosting this General Assembly of the Organization of American States.

I am very pleased to be here in Barbados to see for myself the power of democracy and free markets in action. Since independence in 1966, Barbados has achieved one of the highest per capita incomes in the Americas, a 99 percent literacy rate, and an average life expectancy in the mid-70's.

I'm also pleased to be here today to take part in this inter-American dialogue on democracy, free trade, and security. The freely elected representatives of the people of the Americas recognize that free economies and free societies work together. They are one and the same, and the free trade area of the Americas that we are negotiating will fortify a community in the Americas committed to democracy; the rule of law; and market-led, broad-based economic growth. We should do what we can today to help meet the approaching January 2005 deadline for completing the FTAA negotiations.

While negotiating, we should give special consideration to the capacity and well-being of small and less-developed states in the region, to ensure that they have the capabilities to negotiate for the best interests of their peoples. Countries must also prepare their economies for the benefits of greater integration into the global and regional economy. The rules of the game must be applied equally, without fear or favor. Corruption and excessive red tape must be eliminated.

To encourage the reforms needed to attract development funds and underpin growth, President Bush recently announced a new compact for development and the creation of what we call a Millennium Challenge Account, which will ramp up over three budget years to $5 billion per year.

To summarize, in three years time when we have ramped up, we will be asking the U.S. Congress to give us five billion additional dollars every year thereafter in order to make infrastructure investments in those nations which have committed themselves to democracy, committed themselves to the end of corruption, committed themselves to the rule of law and to move forward aggressively into the 21st century on that basis. I might report to my colleagues here today that in my conversation with members of the Congress there is great support for this Millennium Challenge Account, in addition to support for giving us a real increase in our normal foreign assistance appropriation.

The aim is clear -- to provide visible and effective support to countries taking the hard steps essential to lifting their people into prosperity. The Millennium Challenge Account will support those ruling justly, investing in their own people, and promoting economic freedom and enterprise.

We are now reaching out to the world community to get the best ideas on how to ensure that this new program achieves the greatest results on the ground, in truth and reality. We have already heard from people and groups in this region, and we welcome your ideas. And I hope in the course of the day I have the chance to talk to many of you about what you might have in mind for the use of these new funds as they start to come on line.

As the attacks of September 11 brought home to our hemisphere, economic growth requires security as well as trade agreements and economic reforms. We face a common threat to our security and prosperity, and together we have responded. The OAS was the first organization to condemn the September 11 attacks. I will never forget that day; we were all together in Peru. Since then, the countries of the Americas have improved financial and border controls, and improved intelligence sharing.

Today, with the inter-American convention against terrorism, the OAS has produced the first new international treaty since September 11 targeted at improving our ability to combat terrorism. I am pleased that this assembly will also launch a review of our inter-American security architecture.

Still, we should make sure we retain and reinforce the existing tools that proved themselves in the aftermath of September 11. Both the OAS Charter and Rio Treaty, although over half a century old, remain relevant today. The Rio Treaty can be invoked for "any ... fact or situation that might endanger the peace of America." The OAS Charter, likewise, is adaptable to the needs of today.

To make sure we can continue to meet our security needs, the OAS should work to develop an inter-American declaration on hemispheric security, to be adopted at the special conference to be held on security. Such a declaration will represent our cooperative efforts to provide for our common security, and to identify, prevent, and remedy potential threats. We should undertake this security policy review with the same cooperative spirit that produced our inter-American democracy charter. Democracy is the foundation for our security. Our democratic charter can prevent and remedy the challenges to democracy we face in the region, not just guide us after crises have arisen.

Today Venezuela's democracy is being tested. If the people of Venezuela are to succeed in building better lives for themselves and more hopeful futures for their children, their political leaders must resolve their problems in a constitutional and democratic manner. Guided by our democratic charter, the OAS can and must help strengthen Venezuela's democratic institutions so they serve the interests of all Venezuelans. Our message is clear and it is constructive: the OAS stands ready to help Venezuela.

Haiti's democracy is also in crisis. The OAS, particularly through the efforts of the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General, has taken on the tough assignment of facilitating negotiations between Haiti's government and the democratic opposition. Still, only Haitians can bring about a resolution to the political impasse that is thwarting Haiti's economic development. I urge all Haitians, whatever their political affiliation, to work together to resolve their differences so that in 2004 they can truly rejoice in their two hundred years of independence.

Before I conclude, let me reiterate the high priority we place on combating HIV/AIDS. The United States has pledged so far $500 million dollars to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Our health agencies and development specialists are working to fight HIV/AIDS throughout the Americas. We are meeting in a sub-region that is already confronting the challenges posed by this global pandemic. Other areas harbor its seeds. We must work together to limit the spread of the disease through education and prevention, while providing care and treatment for those already infected, and especially to make sure that the victims of this dread disease are not stigmatized in any way.

Our summit of the Americas agenda promotes free trade and economic development as part of a strategy to make the Americas a better place for each nation and every person in the region. These principles remain our compass to the future.

Thank you very much Madam President.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents