REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH AT INAUGURATION CEREMONY
OF THE SPECIAL SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

Parque Fundidora
Monterrey, Mexico

January 12, 2004
6:12 P.M. (Local)

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, I thank you for your wonderful hospitality. First Lady, thank you, as well. Please thank the people of this gracious city for hosting such a distinguished group of leaders, spouses, citizens of the world.

Two years ago in this city, world leaders formed the Monterrey Consensus. We pledged to work for government that is responsive to the basic needs of every human being, and for policies that promote opportunity for all. At this year's summit, we are embracing the challenge of implementing that Consensus to bring all the hemisphere's people into an expanding circle of development.

To advance these goals, my nation revolutionized the way we provide aid, and we substantially increased our aid to developing countries. Under our new Compact For Development, U.S. assistance is linked to good governance, investment in people, and economic freedom. Development assistance should light a path to reform and economic growth, rather than perpetuate the need for further aid.

The nations of this hemisphere must identify concrete steps to implement the noble ideas of the Monterrey Consensus. We must work to provide quality education and quality health care for all our citizens, especially for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. We must also chart a clear course toward a vibrant free market that will help lift people out of poverty and create a healthy middle class. We must increase the credit available to small businesses that generate the majority of jobs in all our economies, and reduce the time that it takes to start a business. We must strengthen property rights so that land can be leveraged as a source of capital to start businesses or hire new workers. And we must lower the cost of sending money home to the families of hardworking men and women who are earning a living abroad.

Over the long-term, trade is the most certain path to lasting prosperity. The openness of our market is the key driver of growth in the region and a testament to the United States' belief in the mutual benefits of trade. Last year, about 83 percent of Latin America's exports to the United States, roughly $176 billion worth of goods, entered my country duty-free. My country is committed to free and fair trade for this hemisphere through the free trade area of the Americas and through the growing number of bilateral free trade agreements we have completed and are negotiating. Our NAFTA partners have been vital free trade allies for 10 years now.

Our free trade agreement with Chile entered into force on the first of this year. We're completing a free trade agreement with our Central American partners. This week we'll launch negotiations with the Dominican Republic, and soon we'll begin negotiations with Panama and some of our Andean friends. Once completed, these free trade agreements will cover more than two-thirds of the GDP of America's neighbors.

The essential foundations of prosperity and progress remain democracy and the rule of law. All nations must prevail in the fight against corruption. We must deny safe haven to corrupt officials and create a culture of transparency in the Americas. Today I signed a proclamation denying corrupt officials entry into my country. I urge other countries to take similar actions.

At past summits, we resolved that democracy is the only legitimate form of government in this hemisphere, and that the peoples of the Americas have an obligation to promote it and defend it. Those governments in our hemisphere that have responded by supporting democracy can be proud.

Our unity and support of democratic institutions, constitutional processes and basic liberties gives hope and strength to those struggling to preserve their God-given rights, whether in Venezuela, or Haiti, or Bolivia.

And through our democratic example, we must continue to stand with the brave people of Cuba, who for nearly half a century have endured the tyrannies and repression. Dictatorship has no place in the Americas. We must all work for a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba. Together we will succeed, because the spirit of liberty still thrives, even in the darkest corners of Castro's prisons.

We have great opportunities to work together to improve the quality of life for all the people of this hemisphere. To realize our common vision we must set goals that are specific and measurable. In doing so, we will affirm our determination to succeed and to give hope to millions.

Together we will implement the Monterrey Consensus, lift all our nations, and show the world that free societies and free markets can deliver real benefits to our citizens.

May God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 6:17 P.M. (Local)

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THE WHITE HOUSE

TO SUSPEND ENTRY AS IMMIGRANTS OR NONIMMIGRANTS OF PERSONS
ENGAGED IN OR BENEFITING FROM CORRUPTION

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

January 12, 2004

In light of the importance of legitimate and transparent public institutions to world stability, peace, and development, and the serious negative effects that corruption of public insti-tutions has on the United States efforts to promote security and to strengthen democratic institutions and free market systems, and in light of the importance to the United States and the international community of fighting corruption, as evidenced by the Third Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity and other intergovernmental efforts, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict the international travel and to suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of certain persons who have committed, participated in, or are beneficiaries of corruption in the performance of public functions where that corruption has serious adverse effects on international activity of U.S. businesses, U.S. foreign assistance goals, the security of the United States against transnational crime and terrorism, or the stability of democratic institutions and nations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation would, except as provided in sections 2 and 3 of this proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the United States.

I therefore hereby proclaim that:

Section 1. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of the following persons is hereby suspended:

(a) Public officials or former public officials whose solicitation or acceptance of any article of monetary value, or other benefit, in exchange for any act or omission in the performance of their public functions has or had serious adverse effects on the national interests of the United States.

(b) Persons whose provision of or offer to provide any article of monetary value or other benefit to any public official in exchange for any act or omission in the performance of such official's public functions has or had serious adverse effects on the national interests of the United States.

(c) Public officials or former public officials whose misappropriation of public funds or interference with the judicial, electoral, or other public processes has or had serious adverse effects on the national interests of the United States.

(d) The spouses, children, and dependent household members of persons described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) above, who are beneficiaries of any articles of monetary value or other benefits obtained by such persons.

Sec. 2. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply with respect to any person otherwise covered by section 1 where entry of the person into the United States would not be contrary to the interests of the United States.

Sec. 3. Persons covered by sections 1 and 2 of this proclamation shall be identified by the Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee, in his or her sole discretion, pursuant to such standards and procedures as the Secretary may establish.

Sec. 4. For purposes of this proclamation, "serious adverse effects on the national interests of the United States" means serious adverse effects on the international economic activity of U.S. businesses, U.S. foreign assistance goals, the security of the United States against transnational crime and terrorism, or the stability of democratic institutions and nations.

Sec. 5. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to derogate from United States Government obligations under applicable international agreements.

Sec. 6. The Secretary of State shall have responsibility for implementing this proclamation pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary may, in the Secretary's discretion, establish.

Sec. 7. This proclamation is effective immediately.

Sec. 8. This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party, against the United States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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PRESS GAGGLE WITH SCOTT McCLELLAN

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Monterrey, Mexico

January 12, 2004
12:03 P.M. (Local)

MR. McCLELLAN: All right, good morning, everybody. I hope everybody is looking forward to traveling to Monterrey today. The President had his usual briefings this morning before departing the ranch. Right now he is participating in a briefing on the Special Summit of the Americas with others including Dr. Rice and Secretary of State Powell.

And then, when we arrive in Monterrey this afternoon, the President will participate in a bilateral meeting with President Fox, and they will participate in a press availability afterwards. Then the President will participate in a brief meeting with the Caribbean leaders -- we'll have a photo release from that. It's really pretty much just a photo opportunity with those leaders.

Then the President has a bilateral meeting with President Lagos of Chile later this afternoon, and we will have pool at the bottom for that coverage. Then he will go over and participate in a greeting to the United States Mission in Monterrey. Then he will participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Special Summit of the Americas, before beginning the first plenary session, which today will focus on economic growth and reducing poverty by creating opportunity for all.

Following that plenary session, the President will participate in a bilateral meeting with President Lula of Brazil. That will be pool at the bottom. And then this evening he participates in a dinner being hosted by President Fox of Mexico. And that's the general schedule for today.

Let me just kind of go back over the goals of the Special Summit of the Americas. The Special Summit of the Americas will focus on creating opportunity for all by strengthening democracy and promoting greater prosperity. We will be working with other nations in the hemisphere to look at ways to sustain economic growth, reduce poverty, invest in people through health and education, strengthen democratic institutions, and encourage greater governmental transparency in the fight against corruption in our hemisphere. So we'll be looking to build a consensus on specific commitments to achieve measurable progress in our collective neighborhood.

As I said, first we need to promote growth and reduce poverty by creating jobs. We need to work together to significantly reduce the time required to start a business. We need to expand access to credit by small and medium-size businesses. As you've heard the President repeatedly say, small business is the backbone of economic growth. We should also work together to lower the cost of remittance transfers, so that people can more easily send money back home to their families and local communities.

We need to -- secondly, we need to work to invest in people. Each country has to work to improve health and education if we're going to improve the quality of life in the hemisphere. When it comes to education, we'll be focusing on accountability. You've heard the President often talk about the importance of measuring progress so that we know where we need to improve. And on health, there's nothing more important than working together to combat HIV/AIDS, by expanding prevention programs and providing treatment for more people.

And finally, we will work together to increase accountability and reduce corruption. Corruption remains an impediment, an obstacle to economic growth and to strengthening democracy and improving hemispheric security. And so we believe governments need to set high standards to be more transparent and accountable to the people. And we will work to have a strong commitment at this summit to fight corruption together.

And I would just say that the United States has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to the summit agenda, and worked hard at achieving our common summit goals, which are strengthening democracy, creating prosperity and realizing the full potential of humans. This summit represents an important next step towards realization of this shared hemispheric vision.

So the President looks forward to spending today and tomorrow in Monterrey participating in these bilateral meetings and continuing to build on the progress we're making in this hemisphere on those issues.

Q Before I ask my question, the key phrase, if I heard you right, as you previewed the plenary session remarks was "property rights"?

MR. McCLELLAN: Today is focused on economic growth and reducing poverty.

Q Did you not say the words, "property rights"?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't believe I specifically did. I mean, but, obviously, we're talking about private sector growth, and issues such as you're mentioning are important parts of all that.

Q The President meets with Fox for almost an hour today. It's one of the longest bilateral meetings of the whole summit. Is this a chance to air out some old grievances? Will they iron out some of the details of the immigration proposal today?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I do expect that they will talk about the President's temporary worker program that he proposed last week. I also expect they'll continue to talk about building upon the progress we're making to strengthen our borders by border security. And I think they will talk about continuing to build on economic growth and the free trade -- our shared commitment to free trade.

Q Will they talk about older disagreements at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: What's that?

Q Older disagreements at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, look, we have a good relationship with Mexico. President Fox is a good friend of the President's. They have a long relationship that started when the President was governor of Texas. And whatever differences have been there in the past, we have a lot of common challenges that we're working very closely together on, some of which I just mentioned. And we will continue to have a close and good friendship with Mexico and a good working relationship with them on our shared challenges.

Q Scott, on the O'Neill book, did the former Treasury Secretary make false claims or accusations? And if so, what were they?

MR. McCLELLAN: David, you've heard me say repeatedly that we're not in the business of doing book reviews. I don't get in the business of selling or promoting or critiquing books. I would say that you all are well aware of a lot of these facts on issues that have been raised over -- that some of you raised over the weekend.

But this -- I think it appears to be more about trying to justify personal views and opinions than it does about looking at the results that we are achieving on behalf of the American people. And the President is someone who is always forward looking, and he's going to continue to be forward looking. He's going to continue to focus on the results that we are achieving and building upon those results, to strengthen our economy even more and to make our world -- continue to make our world a safer and better place.

Q You're declining to take on specific assertions, such as --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, one, you didn't make any -- you didn't ask a specific question. But again --

Q I asked you if you if he made false accusations -- like on Iraq, he claims at the very first national security meeting, there was a discussion about targeting Saddam Hussein and that it was his impression and interpretation that, essentially, the President wanted to find a way to make that happen. Is that --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, let me remind you of a few of the facts. First of all, the President exhausted all possible means to resolve this -- resolve the situation in Iraq peacefully. You will recall that he went to the United Nations Security Council and they passed a 17th or 18th resolution giving Saddam Hussein one final opportunity to comply. He was given a final opportunity to comply. He continued to defy the international community and was in material breach of Security Council Resolution 1441, which called for serious consequences.

And the President believes, in the aftermath of September 11th, that it's important to confront threats before it's too late. And, certainly, I think everyone recognizes that Saddam Hussein has been a dangerous man for a long time, and his regime -- the international community recognize that his regime was a threat for a long time.

Q Does the President consider Paul O'Neill's book an act of disloyalty?

MR. McCLELLAN: Look, people -- one, people have the right to express their views. That's one of the strengths of our democracy. And the President is going -- as I said, the President is going to continue to be forward-looking. He's got plenty to focus on, on behalf of the American people, and he is someone who focuses on getting things done, and focuses on the results that we're achieving.

Q But he's not holding a grudge against Paul O'Neill?

MR. McCLELLAN: Look, that's -- like I said, that's just not the way the President looks at this. The President is someone that is forward-looking.

Q Can I just ask a follow-up on that? One of -- the portrait O'Neill seems to portray, at least in the excerpts that we've seen on TV or seen in print -- I haven't read the book, so I have to make that clear -- but he paints a portrait of a President who is somewhat disengaged, whether it's in Cabinet meetings or other discussions on policy. One of the strengths that the White House has always said that the President has is his leadership, his sort of setting an agenda and following it. Do you think O'Neill -- this portrait that O'Neill presents -- do you have any concern that it might change that perception of the President as a strong leader?

MR. McCLELLAN: As I just said, I don't get into book reviews. But I've known the President for a long time, and I think the American people know this President well. The President is a strong leader who acts decisively on our big priorities. The President is someone who asks tough questions and makes tough decisions to make America more prosperous and our world more safe, and to make our world a better place.

Q Did O'Neill or anyone acting on his behalf make any effort to contact the White House or administration officials in advance of the publication of the book?

MR. McCLELLAN: Look, I understand that there is a media interest in this book. But it's just not something this administration gets caught up in. We are focused on what we are trying to accomplish on behalf of the American people. And that's what we will continue to do.

Q So there was no effort?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know what contacts may or may not have been made. But I can tell you what I know speaking for the White House.

Q But he chose O'Neill to be part of his administration. So you may have known him a long time, but why shouldn't the public believe what the former Treasury Secretary of the United States says about the President?

MR. McCLELLAN: And, David, we very much appreciate his service. That's the President's view. We appreciate his service. Again, I think I would say what I said a minute ago, that while I certainly haven't seen the book, I've just seen what you all have seen, but it just appears to be more about trying to justify personal views and opinions than it does about looking at the results we're achieving on behalf of the American people. And that's where the President is going to keep his focus, on the results we're trying to accomplish for the American people.

Okay, thank you, everybody. See you in Monterrey.

END 12:16 P.M. (Local)

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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT FOX
OF MEXICO IN PRESS AVAILABILITY

Quinta Real Hotel
Monterrey, Mexico

January 12, 2004
2:12 P.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT FOX: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. President Bush, welcome to Mexico, and welcome to Monterrey. We receive you with great enthusiasm, the way we are receiving the leaders of the countries of America. We have great expectations in order to work in this extraordinary Summit of the Americas.

In order to know each other better -- all of us leaders have had responsibilities in America -- it's best to analyze extraordinary matters that have been brought about in the last few years, since the last meeting of the Americas. While checking and making a revision on these matters, we can give broad solutions to the problems -- economic and poverty problems in a great part of the continent; perhaps solutions to the problems of human capital, social capital in our respective countries; and likewise deal, as we have been doing in every single meeting, with the safety and security matters, going deep inside the problems of corruption, making sure that in our countries democracy should be there and the state of law should be there. So this meeting will enable us to give steps forward in all these multilateral topics.

Likewise, we have had a bilateral meeting -- and I will mention this later on -- a couple of matters, important matters in reference to this bilateral conversation. First of all, relating to that migration topic, President Bush has given us in full detail and has told us once again the proposal made in the United States for the migration matters and the policy that should be checked upon that -- that topic. It's a sovereign matter of the United States.

Consequently this migration proposal is analyzed according to the different conversations that President Bush and President Fox, myself, even when he was a governor in the state of Texas and I was a governor in the state of Guanajuato. Since that time, we have been touching upon this subject. And we did that in the first meeting in Rancho San Cristobal in the state of Guanajuato. We did it once again and we spoke about migration. We have been doing this in each one of the different meetings.

So I would like to give full acknowledgement that part of the conversations, a great part of the conversations have been collected and analyzed. But this is a proposal made by the President of the United States. We totally agree, and are aware that the proposal should be discussed, broadly discussed, analyzed, particularly in the Congress of the United States. Consequently, we should give full time so that the idea -- well, the idea should mature and it should definitely be approved.

So, for us in Mexico, this is a very important step forward on what has to do with the relationship between the two countries on what has to do with the migration flow. It is a topic with a great priority for our countries, for both countries. This proposal opens an opportunity to have a certain movement, a certain situation, important for many millions of Mexicans. It is a priority. It is a valuable proposal, and by all means, it will have to do with the improvement of the situation of these migrants, but it will have to do, as well, with a strengthening of our respective economies -- that on the one hand.

On the other, the topic that we have been dealing with is the initiative of North America, by means of which both governments want to work with very specific objectives, so as to create a greater economic growth, increase productivity and competitiveness within the region through the reduction of costs, and facilitating trade flows, promoting development of common markets in different specific sectors. And it has as an objective, to establish a security regional framework protecting Mexico, the United States, and Canada from terrorism.

Several tables, working tables analyze the normalization of different standards within the market in automobiles, food, agriculture products, construction materials and consumption goods. Likewise, there's a table that has to do with trade and services. Another one is working on energy; another one in scientific and technological cooperation; another one regional cooperation on trade and investment. Consequently, it is a great effort so as to achieve the objectives that I just mentioned.

President Bush, once again, thank you for visiting us. Thank you for being here. This summit, this meeting will allow us to be near the different Presidents, the different leaders of Latin America, the Caribbean area, Central America, and by all means, North America. And it will be for the good of this continent in the future. Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Mr. President. Laura and I are -- really appreciate your hospitality. We want to thank you and Martha for being our friends. I remember well our visit to your ranch. And to this end, we would like to extend an invitation to both you and the First Lady of Mexico to visit our ranch on March the 5th and 6th. I hope you can find -- I hope it's a convenient date for you on your calendar because we'd love to -- we'd love to have you there.

The bonds of friendship and shared values between our two nations are strong. We have worked together to overcome many mutual challenges, and that work is yielding results. Today Mexico is America's second largest trading partner, and we are Mexico's largest. Every day thousands of Americans and Mexicans cross the border in both directions for reason of commerce and tourism. And many Americans settle -- many Mexicans settle in America, bringing with them optimism and a strong desire to succeed. They come to fulfill their dreams, and in the process they enrich our nation.

Last week, I proposed a new temporary worker program that will help further the cause of safe, legal and orderly migration. This temporary worker program will match willing foreign workers with willing American employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. Under this program, undocumented workers currently in the United States will be able to come out of the shadows and establish legal identities. All participants in the program will be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the United States without fear of being denied reentry into our country.

This plan is not amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the automatic path of citizenship. I oppose amnesty because it encourages the violation of our laws and perpetuates illegal immigration. My proposal expects that most temporary workers will eventually return permanently to their home countries when the period of work that I will be negotiating with the Congress has expired. And I think it's important to give financial incentives to those workers in order for them to make the decision to return home permanently.

I'll work with President Fox and other leaders on a plan to give temporary workers credit in their home countries' retirement systems for the time they work in the United States. I support making it easier for temporary workers to contribute a portion of their earnings to tax-preferred savings accounts, money they can collect as they return to their native countries.

Under this program the United States will benefit from the honest labor of foreign workers. Our neighbors will benefit as productive citizens return home with money to invest and to spend in their own nation's economy. This program will be more humane, humane to workers, and will live up to the highest ideals of our nations.

While my nation benefits from the dreams that newcomers bring to America, I believe that people should be better able to achieve their dreams at their own home. The best way in the long-term to reduce the pressures that create illegal immigration is to expand economic opportunity in countries at both ends of an immigrant's journey. This is why President Fox and I are committed to free and fair trade. We've seen it lift both our nations and our economies. Since 1994, trade between our two countries has grown from $100 billion to $232 billion. We will continue to work together, and with Canada, to enhance North American prosperity and security.

We're also working to reduce the cost of sending money home to families and local communities. These remittances exceed $10 billion per year. But the cost of such transfers reduces the amount of money that hardworking people can return to their families. Our two countries have made it a priority to keep hard-earned money in the hands of those who need it most.

In recent years, our efforts under our U.S.-Mexico Partnership for Prosperity Initiative have reduced the cost of remittances by almost 60 percent.

Two years ago, in this city, world leaders agreed on a vision to expand opportunity and spread prosperity throughout the hemisphere. With this year's Special Summit, we continue to put that vision into action. Through the Inter-American Development Bank, we are expanding access to credit for small business entrepreneurs, the key engines of growth and job creation for any nation's economy. We're helping nations improve their legal systems to protect property rights so that owners can use their property as collateral to finance the purchase of a home or to start a business. We're investing in the health and education of our peoples, and we're intensifying our common fight against corruption.

President Fox and I will also continue our efforts to support democracy in the region. We will work with the Organization of American States to ensure the integrity of the presidential recall and referendum process underway in Venezuela. And as part of our effort to protect the institutions of democracy in Bolivia, we will co-chair the initial meeting of the Bolivia Support Group, in Washington this coming Friday.

Our bilateral relationship is strong; this summit's agenda is full. The United States will continue to work with our friends in the neighborhood in a spirit of common purpose and mutual respect.

Thank you Mr. President.

Q Question for both of you. President Fox, once more on migrating matters, what else did the Mexican government propose? What else can we expect for the Mexican workers? Can we expect the same treatment of the Canadian ones without any approaches? What are the purposes in reference to migrants? Does this have election purposes? And will the United States avoid violating the human rights in our airports? that is the question -- and the question is addressed for both Presidents.

PRESIDENT FOX: First of all, I would like to say, what else can we wish? What we want is the plan presented by President Bush. We hope that the plan has a happy ending to the political process that should be followed within the United States so that it can be approved in the Congress of the United States.

I would say that this is what we want. The plan, as it was mentioned before, is a very important step forward for many Mexican workers in the United States. Those that have the direct benefit of this will recognize and acknowledge this proposal that has a great importance for them. Not only -- not only because they can see that their labor rights and their human rights are completely respected there, but there is a human face on this proposal, a human face that has to do with the families of these workers.

Consequently, for us it is a plan that meets the demands and its measures. And our will should be to support the plan to be achieved and go on.

In reference to safety matters on the airports and the flights, that is a sovereign decision in Mexico to implement these safety and security programs within the airports and within the Mexican airlines. So we are not violating any human right of any sort of citizen. What we're doing is paying special attention so as to avoid terrorist acts, violent acts within the Mexican territory or within the Mexican airlines.

And in this same approach, we mention that there's no direct intervention of -- no official personnel, policemen, agents -- direct intervention, direct participation in operations that have to do with the assurance of this task within the Mexican airports or within the Mexican airlines. What we do have is a participation and an exchange with the personnel, the liaison personnel -- personnel for security. We exchange information so as to do our work much better.

We reject any other sort of information, different information that has been brought about. That in this activities, well, we can state that only Mexican personnel participates -- agents of the airlines, or agents of security here in Mexico. Thus, there is no intervention in the direct operation of any other official agent from abroad. It is the liaison officers that link offices.

We exchange information the way we agreed upon with President Bush since the beginning of our conversations in Rancho San Cristobal. And we have a mutual trust -- that's the way we started -- so that the security and safety institutions would trust each other. They could have an exchange of information and they could be very, very efficient in their work. Never, never before had we reached efficiency level fighting organized crime, guaranteeing the security and safety of the different passengers, stopping, let's say, loads of drug, drug trafficking the way we have been achieving this in the last few years, based upon mutual trust and based on this coordinated work between the two parts.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, I appreciate your wonderful cooperation that we've achieved between our two countries. You've just articulated that level of cooperation in a way that I don't think I ever could. So that's my answer to the second question you asked.

My answer to the first question you asked is that I proposed this change in immigration law because I think it is the right thing to do. It recognizes the reality of our country. The President and I talked about whether or not -- the ramifications of this initiative to Mexico. But the migration policy applies to all foreign workers. But the truth is, the vast majority of foreign workers in America are from Mexico. We know that in Texas very well. And I repeat to you that this is -- these workers are a benefit to my country. These are hardworking, decent, honorable people that are in our country because -- to fill jobs that others won't take, on the one hand, and also to make a living, to put money -- to get money and to send money back to their families.

There is a deep human desire for a mother or a father to provide for his or her family. And that's how I view the motivations of good, decent Mexican citizens working in our country. And it seems like to me it makes sense to have laws that treat people with respect. We are a country of law. Rule of law is important in America. And, therefore, we ought to not have a system that is based upon an undocumented under-class, but a system that is based upon law.

And so I -- you said something about politics -- yes, there's politics involved. But the reason I made -- and there will be politics probably involved in whether or not it passes Congress. But the reason I proposed the initiative is because it is the right thing for America to do.

Q Thank you, Mr. President, President Fox. My question is about Iraq. The death toll in Iraq, the American death toll is approaching 500. I wonder whether you have any reservations now about whether that toll is worth it to achieve your objective in Iraq and the Middle East.

President Fox, you had a disagreement with the President going into the war. I wonder whether you aired that out during your meeting just now, whether you now see eye-to-eye on postwar Iraq. Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: A democratic, free Iraq is in the national interests of our country. A free country in the midst of the Middle East will make America more secure, and matter of fact, make any country more secure. And the decision I made was a tough decision.

We've had discussions prior to the decision and after the decision. Vicente Fox is a good enough friend for him to be able to express his opinion to me without the loss of friendship. And he didn't agree with the decision I made. But the decision I made was the right one for America. And history will prove it's the right one for the world. And we will stay the course until the job is done.

And the job is getting done. Iraq is more free every day. The citizens are beginning -- the lives of the citizens are improving every day. And one thing is for certain; there won't be any more mass graves and torture rooms and rape rooms. The tyrant will no longer come back to threaten the Iraqi people. These people will be able to live in -- these Iraqi citizens will not only be able to live in a free society, they'll be able to live in a society that is free from one of the most brutal dictators in the world's history.

PRESIDENT FOX: As a democratic nation, to meet the challenge of terrorism, to make sure that terrorism is eradicated from the face of this world -- that's our challenge today, and that's what we work on. It is why we congratulate the U.S. government that they withheld Saddam Hussein and he will be taken to trial, to judgment. We fully support that and we congratulate President Bush and the United States for that very important accomplishment, which is for the better of all nations, all families, all people in the world that we want to live in peace without terrorism.

Q Good afternoon. My question is addressed for both Presidents, if you can really talk about a free trade agreement -- North America, between Mexico, United States and Canada, in the midst of all the problems of commercial exchange such as transportation, food, agricultural sector. Second question: Can you achieve a free trade agreement of the Americas with the opposition of many countries such as Brazil and Venezuela?

PRESIDENT FOX: Well, in the case of a Free Trade Agreement of North America we have clearly pointed out many a time that it has been successful for Mexico. We are very much satisfied with what has been achieved in the last 10 years. Mexico is the ninth economy in the world. It has enabled Mexico to have the size of the seventh power for exports in the world, and a per-capita income going beyond, let's say, $6,000, the highest in Latin America. These are things that have been brought about because of this relation that has been established. And we have worked upon that for 10 years.

I read a report of the ILO about Latin America and unemployment and wages and salaries of the different workers. And Mexico has the best, let's say, rate on unemployment in Latin America, improving the situation, improving the actual wages of the workers in Latin America -- the only one in Latin America. And by all means, this is coming from the free trade agreements. Consequently, we are satisfied with our free trade agreement. And it should continue operating and working with success.

On a parallel basis, we have thought about the initiative of North America to thrust and develop our economies much more, achieving competitiveness and productivity, generating jobs and quality of life in our respective countries. It is a parallel, an additional pathway.

And as President Bush already mentioned in reference to the Association for Prosperity -- the document known as Partnership For Prosperity, that's the name of the document -- it has many --we work day by day so as to thrust and improve the document. So we're giving steps forward in this direction.

That on the one hand. On the other, as a consequence of this, Mexico is a passionate promoter of the free trade agreements in the Americas. We are totally in favor of the free trade agreement for the American continent. By all means. And we're working in favor and working actively so that it will be achieved as soon as possible.

We received with great satisfaction the results of the last meeting in Miami, Florida, where the agreement is to continue building this free trade agreement so as to have it ready on the foreseen dates that we thought about. So we are working enthusiastically in this field.

By all means, we do not only want a free trade agreement, but we want a very good free trade agreement, an agreement with quality and that has to do with trade that would take development to the less developed countries, the poorest countries in our continent; that could take development to the different regions where there's greater poverty on our continent. And that is the fundamental purpose of this agreement.

Trade promotes development, undoubtedly. Trade undoubtedly promotes a reduction of poverty. And trade and relations amongst countries promote human capital. So we are absolutely in favor of trusting and supporting this agreement.

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's helped America; it's helped Mexico; it's helped Canada. I think we need to move the process forward -- the President and I discussed that earlier today -- with the North American Initiative.

The President is absolutely right; the best way to eradicate poverty is to encourage trade between nations. Trade gives people hope and provides opportunity. Obviously, that must be coupled with anti-corruption measures, like the President has done here in Mexico. It must be coupled with good education measures. At this meeting we're going to talk about ways to get capital into the hands of the entrepreneurial classes of respective countries. But without trade, there's going to be -- it's going to be hard for some people to find opportunity.

And so I hope those who have expressed some opposition about the free trade agreement of the Americas, look at the facts. And the fact is that NAFTA has lifted lives and ended poverty in some parts of our -- in our neighborhood. And to this end, the United States will not only push for the free trade agreement of the Americas, we will continue free trade agreements with countries like Chile -- we just concluded one with Chile -- but with the Central American countries, Andean countries. We believe in trade. We believe it's in the interest of the neighborhood that we trade freely.

Q Thank you, President Fox. President Bush, is it true, as your former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill says, that you started planning for the invasion of Iraq within days of your inauguration? Do you feel betrayed? And should he have released those documents?

PRESIDENT BUSH: First, let me say, I appreciate former Secretary O'Neill's service to our country. We worked together during some difficult times. We worked together when the country was in recession, and now we're coming out of recession, which is positive news. We worked together when America was attacked on September the 11th, which changed how I viewed the world. September the 11th made me realize that America was no longer protected by oceans, and we had to take threats very seriously no matter where they may be materializing.

And, no, the stated policy of my administration towards Saddam Hussein was very clear. Like the previous administration, we were for regime change. And in the initial stages of the administration, as you might remember, we were dealing with Desert Badger, or fly-overs and fly-betweens and looks, and so we were fashioning policy along those lines. And then, all of a sudden, September the 11th hit. And as the President of the United States, my most solemn obligation is to protect the security of the American people. That's my -- to me that's the most solemn thing an American President -- or any president -- must do. And I took that duty very seriously.

And as you know, not only did we deal with the Taliban, we gave -- working through the United Nations and working through international community, we made it clear that Saddam Hussein should disarm. And like he had done with a lot of previous resolutions, he ignored the world's demands. And now he's no longer in power, and the world is better for it. The Iraqi people are better for it; America is better for it; Mexico is better for it. The world is more peaceful as a result of Saddam Hussein not being in power.

And the task at hand, Mr. President -- and he and I -- he knows this fully well -- is to make sure that the aspirations of the Iraqi people are allowed to flourish. And we'll get there. It's a tough task right now. It's hard work, but we've done hard work in the past. And a free Iraq is going to be in the world's interest.

Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT FOX: Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon.

END 2:45 P.M. (Local)

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INTERVIEW OF FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH BY TELEMUNDO

The Map Room

January 9, 2004
10:27 A.M. EST

Q Happy New Year and thank you for having us.

MRS. BUSH: Thank you. Thanks so much.

Q We are beginning a new year and our soldiers still are on the front in Iraq and in Afghanistan. What would you say to their families?

MRS. BUSH: Well, I hope their families know how strongly the President and I feel about all of them and how much we appreciate the sacrifice of our military men and women who are serving in Iraq and in Afghanistan and in other places around the world, and how much we think about the families. And we understand the special burden that are on the families of military men and women, as they worry and are anxious and as they're away from their loved ones.

So this New Years, I want to send them our special wishes, good wishes, and love.

Q How was when the President, your husband, received the phone call announcing the -- Saddam's capture?

MRS. BUSH: We actually heard it on the Saturday afternoon before it was announced, and we were at Camp David for the weekend. And when he got the phone call, he was -- he and I were both very cautious. We didn't know for sure, and Secretary Rumsfeld said, you know, we're not positive. So we waited to see. And then we were really, really glad that he was captured.

Q It's worth the war in Iraq, even though the hundreds of the lives have been taken?

MRS. BUSH: Well, I think the freedom of the Iraqi people is very, very important. It's just like the freedom of the people of Afghanistan, who suffered under the Taliban. Women, for instance, and little girls were not even allowed to go to school. And now it's up to both of those countries.

And Afghanistan is doing a really good job. They've had a struggle, as they