 President Betancourt, it's a pleasure to have you visit us here in Washington. I in particular am pleased to have had this opportunity to reciprocate the hospitality that you extended to me during my visit to Bogota in 1982. Your visit, Mr. President, gives us the opportunity to affirm once again the solid ties of friendship and goodwill between our two countries. As the leaders of free people, we share a commitment to the democratic ideals which are at the heart of our societies. Today we have renewed our mutual commitment to promoting democracy in this hemisphere, pursuing peace in Central America, and eliminating the scourge of narcotics trafficking from our societies. We have also explored areas of cooperation which can enhance the economic well-being. Colombia and El Salvador, for example, have invited talks with their opponents and encouraged them to be part of a truly democratic process. Those who seek democracy in Nicaragua have asked the Sandinistas to engage in talks as a step toward peace and democracy in Nicaragua. We hope that the Sandinistas will take that step toward reconciliation. Later today I will be talking to the American people in greater detail about this subject. I am glad that President Betancourt and I were able to discuss how the United States can best help the Contadora countries achieve all of the agreed-upon objectives for Central America, including national reconciliation in Nicaragua. Mr. President, we admire your determination to end the strife which has plagued your country. The citizens of Colombia are indeed lucky to have a leader of vision, courage and compassion. We wish you success and hope that those who have fought with weapons learn to work within the democratic process. It is appropriate that we praise your efforts to foster peace and brotherhood during this holy week. Mr. President, your personal courage and dedication are also evident in your government's all-out battle against narcotics traffickers. You have my unbounded respect for what you are doing. The production of illicit narcotics and the peddling of these drugs corrupt our societies, our children, and with them our future. The struggle against this unmitigated evil unites all good and decent people. We look forward to Mrs. Betancourt's return here later this month to join Nancy and other First Ladies in discussing the problem, especially as it affects our young people. In the United States, the fight against drug use has a top priority. We're trying to help those on drugs get off, to prevent those not involved from starting, and we're doing our best to smash the trade in illegal drugs. This matter is of vital concern to us both, and in finding solution to the problem, Colombia and the United States are full partners, as we affirm today in our joint statement on narcotics. The illegal drug trade, as we both agree, is a cancer. Commercial trade, on the other hand, serves the interest of both our peoples. While Americans enjoy Colombian products such as coffee, cut flowers, and tropical fruits, Colombians benefit from U.S. technology and goods such as heavy machinery, chemicals, and wheat. At a time when both our governments grapple with trade deficits in a world of many trading partners, let us build on our history of cooperation to develop trade policies which strengthen our economies, give incentive to enterprise, and encourage exchange between our people. I look forward, Mr. President, to working closely with you on these and other significant matters. On behalf of the United States, I extend warm wishes to both you, President Betancourt, and to the Colombian people. We bid you farewell. We wish you a safe and happy journey home, and a happy Easter. Mr. President, members of the Cabinet, my visit to the United States, which was planned some months ago, at the invitation of President Reagan, comes to an end today in the cordial climate of the White House. It has been a good opportunity to speak with President Reagan, with Vice President Bush, with Secretary Schultz, and with other members of this administration on several issues, some bilateral, other multilateral, which are of interest to the people of the Americas, and in particular to our two nations. The first is the Central American crisis, the process of democratization of Latin America, the problems derived from the external debt, the strengthening of the international coffee agreement and the multilateral credit organizations, and the international fight against drug trafficking. Among the second is the program of economic adjustment with self-discipline and development of Colombia and the commercial-columbian-American exchange. I have also taken this opportunity to exchange ideas with distinguished members of the Congress, with high dignitaries from the financial institutions and international, with outstanding personalities from the academic sector and prominent leaders from the private sector of North America. Today, at your invitation, we have met in Washington to examine a number of multilateral and bilateral issues. Among the first, the Central American crisis, the process of greater democracy in Latin America, the problems stemming from the foreign debt, the strengthening of the international coffee agreement, and of multilateral lending institutions, and the international fight against drugs, against the drug traffic. Among the latter, the macroeconomic adjustment program with self-discipline and economic growth, and the trade relations between Colombia and the United States. I have also taken advantage of this visit to exchange ideas with distinguished congressmen, with senior officials from the international financial institutions, with outstanding personalities from the academic world and important leaders from the U.S. private sector. Regarding the Central American issue, I was able to bring up my concern with the problems that affect that region. I insisted on the urgency of reactivating the negotiating process of Contadora and of exhausting all efforts of conviction to implement the principles, commitments, and recommendations which are part of the document of objectives of the act of Contadora. During a recent visit to the Central American region countries, I was able to see for myself the renewed desire on their part to provide new possibilities for a dialogue, and for the countries which are part of the Contadora Group, their determination to offer whatever possibilities there may be in this same respect. I am pleased to state that in my talks today with President Trump, I am pleased to state that in my talks today with President Trump, I am pleased to say that the government of the United States, in this crucial moment, is taking on the problems of the Central American community with an open mind, and I am confident that this same attitude prevails throughout the region. I am pleased to state that in my talks today with President Reagan, I have encountered the same constructive spirit, and his decision to provide propitious conditions to carry out reconciliation dialogues that will ultimately lead to the full participation of the political and social forces in the democratic process of the countries affected by violence and civil strife. I am pleased that the U.S. government at this critical moment is approaching the problems of Central America with an open mind, and I am certain that this attitude will prevail throughout the region. I am pleased to state that in my talks today with President Reagan, I am confident that in my talks today with President Reagan, I am confident that the U.S. government at this critical moment is taking on the problems of the Central American community with an open mind, and I am confident that this same attitude will prevail throughout the region. I am pleased to state that in my talks today with President Reagan, I am pleased to state that in my talks today with President Reagan, I am confident that in my talks today with President Reagan, I am confident that this same attitude will prevail throughout the region. President Reagan, I am pleased that in my talks today with President Reagan, We are carrying out a frontal assault in my country in this respect. I refer you to the communique that President Reagan and I have issued, which clearly and categorically expresses the will of both countries to work together to rescue humanity from this couch. During the conversations with the authorities of the United States, I underscored the link that there is, the existing link that there is between the external debt and democracy, and requested that a new round of negotiations, multilateral negotiations, be held to ease exports from developing countries. I have noted with interest that the United States looks upon the coming economic summit to be held at one as a good occasion to examine this important subject. In connection to Colombia's autonomous program of macroeconomic adjustment, I wish to place on record the positive support that we have received from the Inter-American Development Bank, from the World Bank, from the International Monetary Fund, as well as from the government of the United States, through its Federal Reserve, and from the Treasury Department. I have personally seen tangible proof of this support while on this visit. Mr. President, we believe that the time has come, as I had the opportunity to express it in the Congress, so that the United States and Latin America redefine the parameters of their mutual relationship. We need, Mr. President, a new deal, a new understanding, a common doctrine, an alliance for peace and development in Latin America. It is the desire to pass on the simple tolerance that most of the relationships in Latin America with the United States to the elaboration of a new scheme of frank, constructive, and fecundation cooperation. This new deal, this alliance for peace, does not only seek to improve economic relations in the hemisphere, but also the adoption of political proposals around the defense of democracy, which is the great spiritual value of American civilization. We believe that the time has come, as I said before, Congress, for the United States and Latin America to redefine the parameters of their mutual relations. We need what I would call a new treatment, a new understanding, a common doctrine, an alliance for peace with the determination to go from mere tolerance that has marked the relations between Latin America and the United States to the formulation of a new scheme of open, constructive, and fruitful cooperation. This new treatment, this alliance for peace, will not only improve economic relations in the hemisphere, but it will also mean the adoption of political objectives to defend democracy, which is the great spiritual value of American civilization. This consensus would allow us to strengthen the hemisphere's political institutions, would enhance the likelihood of peace, and the possibilities of an enduring economic growth. Finally, Mr. President and Mr. Ministers, it is not possible in these short words to collect in its integrity the achievements of this visit to the United States, accomplished through an intense program. I have transmitted to the authorities with frankness and without subterfuge the totality of my thoughts on the issues of common interest. I have been listened with attention and respect, as corresponds to the free and democratic tradition of this great nation. Finally, Mr. President, I trust that my opinions and comments serve for a better understanding in the United States about Latin America. This extensive, beautiful, and dynamic subcontinent that loves freedom and understands that to preserve it and strengthen it is fundamental to the essential and essential justice of development. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Finally, Mr. President and members of the Cabinet, it is not altogether possible in these brief remarks to bring out the significance that I assign to this historic visit to the United States, which has had a very tight schedule, as you know. I have made known to the authorities candidly and without subterfuges the totality of my ideas on issues which are of interest to us both. I have been heard with attention and respect as befits the tradition of freedom and democracy of this great nation. I am pleased to state that it has been so, and that I hope that my views and remarks will create a greater climate of understanding between the United States and Latin America. This vast, beautiful, and dynamic subcontinent that cherishes freedom and understands that to maintain and strengthen it, we need justice and we need development. Thank you very much, Mr. President.