 we really have had a couple come to Washington that has taken Washington by storm in the last two months a distinguished diplomat a distinguished public servant Who I think can really bind together all that we have felt should be bound together between Mexico and the United States Acknowledged many times that the formative years he had in the land of Lincoln Contributed immensely to what he is today. I give you the president of the United States Ronald Reagan Thank you very much. Thank you Thank you very much. Oh, please Senator Percy. I thank you very much my fellow illinoisian But you'd find you'd find how lovely it was to be a transplant to California yourself if you wanted to try that now I'm Temporarily down here and to show my simpatico with all of you. I am I'm looking forward to returning to Rancho del Cielo We can't helicopter because the California sunshine is shut out today But waiting me up there is a wonderful gift from south of the border from President Portillo an Anglo Arab Horse that's waiting for me and I'll be riding as soon as I get back up there on him But the senators the representatives the delegates Excellencies ambassadors you ladies and gentlemen I've always had a great regret that in that little school in Illinois where I was compelled to study for a couple of years of foreign language They did not offer Spanish. I Find a great beauty in it and a great desire in that language and my desire to speak in that was heightened some several years ago when I was governor of California and I went on a mission to Mexico City representing the president of the United States found myself addressing an audience there and then that thing that any speaker Hates more than anything else. I sat down to very unenthusiastic and scattered applause The next speaker it only heightened my pain when he speaking in Spanish was being interrupted frequently with the warmest kind of applause I'm trying to hide my embarrassment. I clapped louder and longer than anyone else and started before anyone else each time Till our then ambassador leaned over and said to me. I wouldn't do that if I were you he's interpreting your speech This distinguished series of conferences began 21 years ago in the Magnificent city of Guadalajara, Mexico and you've often enticed each other to meet outside of the capital cities And I applaud that that practice. I'm especially pleased that this year's conference is being held in My now home state of California in this beautiful place by the Pacific Ocean Santa Barbara is very much a part of the historic relationship between our two peoples As you know, we value as the senator said our candid and friendly relations with our closest neighbors And I appreciate the efforts that you're making in this conference to build upon our goodwill. I Have the greatest admiration and respect for President Lopez Portillo Who I understand addressed this conference during its meeting last year at a similarly beautiful location at Manzanillo, Mexico Mexico I've learned that much During my 16 months in office. We've developed a rapport fitting good neighbors and good friends President Lopez Portillo and I have met a total of four times last year The Mexican and United States cabinet members of exchange frequent visits and secretaries Hague and cast and Yedda Are on such cordial terms that they call each other Al and Jorge Even when debating fine points on our respective approaches to Central America's problems And you know in the world of diplomacy most diplomats forget they have first names And while occasionally there are differences in approach between our two countries the honest goodwill Which exists between us has ensured the maintenance of dialogue and created new opportunities for cooperation After all we strive to achieve the same goal a free and prosperous America North South and Central May I call along with Venezuela took the lead in furthering economic and social development among the Caribbean Basin States Your use of oil has demonstrated a tangible commitment to this end We're pleased to be working together with you and other age nations in this area toward a more prosperous and politically stable atmosphere Much has been accomplished on our agenda of bilateral issues Last June President Lopez Portillo and I set up two groups a Binational Commission headed by our two foreign secretaries and a cabinet-level joint trade Commission No miracle cures were Expected on the issues which these two bodies have addressed But their deliberations have helped us to focus more clearly on the issues and the opportunities before us apart from some technical impediments Being addressed in the joint trade Commission trade moves largely unhindered. In fact is it is at an all-time high Mexico now ranks as the United States third largest trading partner Total two-way trade should reach 35 billion dollars in 1982 Ongoing cooperation continues in many areas ranging from our joint efforts in science and technology and cultural exchange to urban development planning and Developmental cooperation along our 2,000 mile long unarmed border as Is inevitable between two close neighbors there are problems to be worked out But by dealing with each other in good faith by working together and consulting on these problems We have demonstrated that their opportunities as much as there are obstacles We share an understanding of the enormous benefits that we can derive from a positive bilateral relationship I can honestly tell you that relations between the United States and Mexico are good The friendship between our peoples is excellent Our national legislatures have a significant role to play in our relations. I Look forward to working with all of you for the benefit of both our peoples and for the peace and progress of this hemisphere. I Know the bloodshed that is taking place around the Falkland Islands is of deep concern to every nation in this hemisphere We understand and are sensitive to Latin American sympathies in this crisis Something which made our own decisions more painful and difficult. I Hope you will also as neighbors and friends Do your utmost to understand the importance we attach to the principle that armed force Should not be used to assert claims in an international dispute as contained in resolution 502 of the UN Security Council Let's make certain that emotions don't blur the truth of how close we really are during this tragic conflict We all did our best to prevent bloodshed now that hostilities have started we are United in the desire for a negotiated settlement and a peaceful resolution of the dispute under the guidelines set down in UN Security Council Resolution 502 For our part we'll continue to push for the resumption of negotiations The essential issues of sovereignty must be addressed But this is a matter for the British and the Argentinians to decide for themselves peacefully in times like these Meetings like this one of today are even more significant Because they serve to reaffirm the common goals and the shared values that bind us together as friends and neighbors I wish you all the best in your deliberations here in Santa Barbara Bless you all in what you're doing Thank you for picking this place Thank you with the permission of the president I would like very much to introduce Ed Meese his valued colleague and a friend of all of ours and for every And now to confuse the translator señor presidente muchas gracias por su discurso Allow me to become As a citizen an extension of you mr. President so that if one of your citizens speaks Spanish then you speak Spanish and If I speak Spanish I then will be an extension of the presidency So el presidente habla espanol porque uno de sus ciudadanos habla espanol y como símbolo de cariño admiración y respeto a Nuestros colegas que nos honran con su presencia El presidente y yo en vuestro idioma les damos la más sincera bienvenida I just welcome in Spanish in your behalf and my behalf. I think we did all right And Now to introduce a very distinguished Mexican veteran legislator Truly a citizen of the world who has labored in the behalf of Mexico both in the field of labor and As a legislator that I have known for practically my tenure in the Congress The leader of the Senate of The United States of Mexico Our friend our colleague a great and distinguished Mexican senator Joaquin Gamboa Pascoe señor presidente Ronald Reagan señores co-president de la delegación norteamericana representante la Garza y senador persi tiren cuestiones que persisten en espera de la solución adecuada y no debemos diferir problemas que tengan trascendencia reciproc Haciendo un comentario general de los temas a tratar en nuestras juntas de trabajo sintetizando pudiéramos decir que al analizar las relaciones entre México y Estados Unidos se abordarán esos intercambios presidenciales se ventilarán los problemas comerciales de energéticos agropecuarios de pesca de materias primas y productos terminados Se harán planteamientos de turismo y de intercambio cultural y tecnológico Y desde luego habremos de reiterar la decisión in quebran table de llevar adelante la lucha conjunta Para abatir la producción tráfico y consumo de drogas que tanto lastima a la juventud en materia de exportaciones Nacional es decir Debe contemplarse esta cuestión con las características propias de una vecindad permanente Y de complementaridad económica que consideramos está por encima de una mera controversia a rancelaria Thank you. Thank you Thank you very much senator Gamboa Thank you, mr. President for Honoring us to be with us Your words of advice and your challenge will be fallen and with that I hereby declare closed our inaugural session and we will begin our deliberations hopefully at Shortly after 11 in the two committee rooms. Mucha. Gracias, señor presidente. Thank you very much