For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 16, 2001

Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity with President Lagos of Chile
The Oval Office

4:55 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm very honored to welcome the President of Chile here to the Oval Office. Chile is a remarkable country. It's a country that is a strong democracy that has shown people in this hemisphere the importance of rule of law. I look forward to renewing a friendship with the President.

I also look forward to talking about free trade. I'm confident that by the time this year is over we will conclude a free trade agreement with Chile. It's in our nation's best interest to do so. And, finally, I think some members of Congress could take a good -- could take some lessons from Chile, particularly when it comes to how to run our pension plans. Our Social Security system needs to be modernized, Mr. President, and I look forward to getting some suggestions as to how to do so, since you have done so, so well.

But anyway, I welcome you to our country. And thank you very much for being here.

PRESIDENT LAGOS: I would like to take this opportunity and I would like to say that I agree with the President that our team has to work hard, very hard, in order to be able to conclude an agreement by the end of the year. And this is so, I'm sure, that the shared investment in our countries are going to increase for the benefit of our population, in order to give equal opportunities to everybody.

We have common shares and common goals. Not only common interests, but common shares and values with the U.S., in democracy, respect to human rights, a market economy. And we are trying to do the best to have equal opportunities for everybody. And I think that these are the major goals for your administration, our administration. And we have to work in that direction. I'm sure that the trade agreement, if we are able to conclude, is going to be important to go in this direction. Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Mr. President.

Q Mr. President, thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT BUSH: The ground rules are a question from the American side and then a question from the Chilean side.

Q Sir, last August, when you were a candidate, you said in Miami that, "When the next President sits at the American Summit, other nations must know that fast track trade authority is on the way." Why are you going to Quebec with no promise of fast track authority, and are you willing to compromise with Democrats to get it?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I'd certainly like to have what they call fast track authority. It would -- most presidents have had it. It's important for the President to fight for the right to be able to negotiate trade agreements without amendment. I believe we're making progress toward regaining that power for the President.

In the meantime, we can negotiate a bilateral treaty with Chile. It's a separate issue. I'm confident we can get it done, Mr. President. Ambassador Zoellick is here. Ambassador Zoellick and the rest of my administration are committed to not only having a good trade agreement with Chile, but also giving the President the trade promotion authority. And we'll discuss ways to get it out of the Congress when the Congress gets back.

I had a meeting with the leadership on both sides of the aisle to talk about trade promotion authority. I believe we can get -- I believe we can get it done. It's going to require a lot of hard work and effort to do so.

Q Are you willing to compromise to do it, sir?

PRESIDENT BUSH: See, what happens here in American politics, Mr. President, is people are always trying to get me to put my cards on the table. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT LAGOS: That's the same down there, you know? (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: That happens in Chile, too? (Laughter.)

Q Mr. President, Chile is looking to buy F-16 planes to the United States, to modernize their army. What do you think of the sales of sophisticated arms to Latin America? Are you willing to support the requests of Chile?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm willing to discuss this matter with the President. I look forward to this being on the agenda that we're about to have. And we will listen to any request that our friends in our hemisphere make. I will tell you this, I am confident that Chile is a peaceful nation. I'm confident that they're a democracy that's -- that intends to make the world more peaceful. And that's a good place to begin our discussion.

Thank you, all.

END 5:01 P.M. EDT

Printer-Friendly Version   Email this page to a friend

• Afghanistan
• Africa
• Budget Management
• Defense
• Economy
• Education
• Energy
• Environment
• Global Diplomacy
• Health Care
• Homeland Security
• Immigration
• International Trade
• Iraq
• Judicial Nominations
• Middle East
• National Security
• Veterans

more issues

News

• Current News
• Press Briefings
• Proclamations
• Executive Orders
• Radio
• Setting the Record Straight

more news

March 2007   |   February 2007

News by Date

•   |   February 2007
•   |   January 2007
•   |   December 2006
•   |   November 2006
•   |   October 2006
•   |   September 2006
•   |   August 2006
•   |   July 2006
•   |   June 2006
•   |   May 2006
•   |   April 2006
•   |   March 2006
•   |   February 2006
•   |   January 2006
•   |   December 2005
•   |   November 2005
•   |   October 2005
•   |   September 2005
•   |   August 2005
•   |   July 2005
•   |   June 2005
•   |   May 2005
•   |   April 2005
•   |   March 2005
•   |   February 2005
•   |   January 2005
•   |   December 2004
•   |   November 2004
•   |   October 2004
•   |   September 2004
•   |   August 2004
•   |   July 2004
•   |   June 2004
•   |   May 2004
•   |   April 2004
•   |   March 2004
•   |   February 2004
•   |   January 2004
•   |   December 2003
•   |   November 2003
•   |   October 2003
•   |   September 2003
•   |   August 2003
•   |   July 2003
•   |   June 2003
•   |   May 2003
•   |   April 2003
•   |   March 2003
•   |   February 2003
•   |   January 2003
•   |   December 2002
•   |   November 2002
•   |   October 2002
•   |   September 2002
•   |   August 2002
•   |   July 2002
•   |   June 2002
•   |   May 2002
•   |   April 2002
•   |   March 2002
•   |   February 2002
•   |   January 2002
•   |   December 2001
•   |   November 2001
•   |   October 2001
•   |   September 2001
•   |   August 2001
•   |   July 2001
•   |   June 2001
•   |   May 2001
•   |   April 2001
•   |   March 2001
•   |   February 2001
•   |   January 2001

Appointments

• Nominations

Federal Facts

•   |   Federal Statistics

West Wing

•   |   History