27 April 2005
U.S., Brazil Affirm Commitment to Stronger Bilateral Relationship
Statement also mentions political crises in Ecuador, Haiti
The United States and Brazil have signed a joint statement committing their countries to a closer and stronger bilateral relationship.
The statement, released by the U.S. State Department April 26, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirmed with Brazilian officials that day in Brasilia the two countries' commitment that representative democracy and the rule of law are indispensable to societies that promote growth, social development, accountability, transparency and stability.
The statement also reaffirmed that countries in the Western Hemisphere and around the world should embrace policies that promote growth and social inclusion, "which are the key to increasing incomes, improving standards of living, and ending poverty and hunger."
The statement also mentioned the political crises in Ecuador and Haiti. For Ecuador, the statement said the United States and Brazil reiterated their support for an April 22 resolution of the Organization of American States, which encouraged all political sectors in the Andean nation to create an "atmosphere of understanding" that fosters peace.
In Haiti, the statement said the international community should remain engaged in the Caribbean country. The statement said the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which is led by Brazil, is making an "indispensable" contribution.
To advance stability in Haiti, international donors must "hasten" the delivery of assistance already pledged to that country, the statement said.
The following is the text of the statement:
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U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
(Brasilia, Brazil)
April 26, 2005
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL
In June of 2003 President Lula and President Bush met in Washington and signed a joint statement committing the countries to a closer and stronger relationship.
Today, in Secretary of State Rice's meeting with Foreign Minister Amorim and her visit with President Lula, our two governments' representatives discussed our commitment to working together to further enhance our bilateral relationship, and also to reach out to other nations, particularly in our region, guided by their shared vision of freedom and democracy and social justice. In this regard, with our meetings today and in this joint statement:
-- We reaffirm our commitment to our shared view that representative democracy and the rule of law are indispensable to building modern societies and political systems that promote growth, social development, accountability, transparency, and stability.
-- We reaffirm that countries should embrace policies that promote growth and social inclusion, which are the key to increasing incomes, improving standards of living and ending poverty and hunger. We also reaffirm our conviction that governments should work to empower their people through good governance, fighting corruption, ensuring personal security, encouraging enterprise, and providing all citizens with access to high-quality education, adequate health, and nutritional care. We jointly support the creation of a UN Democracy Fund and pledge support for this important effort.
-- We undertake to continue to engage in regular consultations, working together for prosperity, democratic governance and peace in the hemisphere and beyond. In this regard, Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Amorim reaffirmed their commitment to biannual consultations at the level of Under Secretary to review on a regular basis the broad scope of issues, both regional and global, on which our two governments cooperate and coordinate.
-- We reiterate our support for the April 22, 2005 Resolution of the Organization of American States which encouraged all political, social, and economic sectors in Ecuador to strengthen governance and ensure full respect for democratic order, the constitutional framework, and the rule of law, through dialogue and constructive participation, and which called for creation of an atmosphere of understanding that will foster peace.
-- In our bilateral relationship, and in the spirit of the June 2003 Presidential Summit Initiatives, we undertake to enhance and invigorate the efforts of the working groups established by the summit to address issues and coordinate cooperation in science, technology, environment, health, energy, agriculture, poverty alleviation, economic growth and small and medium business development.
-- We agree that the international community should remain engaged in Haiti, noting that the contribution being made by the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH) is indispensable. We agree that free elections should be held this year, with a view to the formation of a democratically elected government. In order to advance stability, international donors must hasten the delivery of assistance already pledged to Haiti.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
