 Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, and the Mrs. Reagan. Ladies and gentlemen, the National Anthems of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the United States of America. Mr. President, as the elected leader of a free and democratic Uruguay, you have our respect, our admiration, and our heartfelt welcome. Uruguay is a friend and a country that shares with us the heritage, traditions and values of the Americas. Our countries, as is true of so many in this hemisphere, were born of independence movements seeking to break away from colonial power. Yet those who founded our two countries fought not only to be rid of domination, but also for freedom. Our histories run parallel. Both are the stories of people struggling to be free, people striving to live up to the ideals expressed at the time of their nation's birth. Today, the people of Uruguay are reaffirming their faith in democracy. And all those who love liberty applaud this giant step forward. President Sangenetti, we appreciate that your official delegation includes representatives from the judicial and legislative branches, as well as your executive branch of government. Division of powers, protection of the rights of all citizens, and a healthy respect for the opinions of others, are hallmarks of a truly free society. And that is what you and the current leaders of Uruguay are building. In recent years, we have witnessed an unprecedented expansion of democracy in the Americas. Just a decade ago, only one-third of the people in this hemisphere lived in democracy. Today, 90 percent of the people live in countries that are democratic or in transition to democracy. We should not be satisfied until all Americans, and that means every living soul from the North Slope of Alaska to the tip of Deira del Fuego live in freedom, as is their birthright. In this hemisphere, the days of dictatorship, left or right, are numbered. The peaceful process used to reestablish democracy in Uruguay can serve as a model for others. Authoritarian regimes should take notice. Yet, while we celebrate the progress that has been made, no one should overlook the decisive battle in the cause of human freedom now taking place in Central America. The outcome will determine, ultimately, whether the people of that region will enjoy a future blessed with peace and development or, instead, be engulfed in tyranny and conflict. We who enjoy the fruits of liberty understand that just and lasting peace is built on freedom. Our search for peace in Central America must, above all, be an effort to continue the expansion of democratic freedom that has reached four of the five nations of this troubled region. We must continue to press for a negotiated solution, and in this work we must uphold our democratic values and insist that they be the basis for any agreement that is worthy of our support. The Western Hemisphere still holds the promise of liberty and opportunity that drew our forefathers and mothers from the old world. Uruguay, like the United States, is a nation of immigrants. They came to our shores in quest of freedom and looking for the chance, through hard work, to improve their well-being and that of their families. Uruguay's commitment to economic growth and revitalization is well appreciated here. You have set out to attack not just the symptoms but the underlying causes of your country's economic problems by protecting Uruguay's good name and credit worthiness by avoiding simplistic solutions and quick fixes, and by strengthening your private sector. You are building the confidence at home and abroad needed to carry your country into better and more prosperous times. Mr. President, in a speech to your people on April 7th, you said, the state sets the direction, but it does not move the boat. The boat is moved by the private sector. Well, this appreciation of the essential role of profit, motive, and enterprise bodes well for Uruguay. Already, your country is enjoying its first real economic growth in four years, and there's every reason to be optimistic that this upward trend will continue. Let me just add that, as Uruguay's largest trading partner, nothing makes us happier than to see your country prosper. Mr. President, I'm looking forward to getting to know you and discussing some of the issues that are of importance to both of our countries. These are exciting times, and we're proud to have you here with us, and thrilled that Uruguay is again in the family of free peoples. President Sangadetti, welcome. Our countries were born at the same historical time. They were part of the same liberal revolution that inspired them, the same ideals. The century and a half of independent existence, since then, has shown us faithful to those same principles, and that's why we were in the same attitude in the two great world wars of this century, ideologically defined ideals of the people's philosophy. If this is so for any Uruguayan citizen, it's bad for those like me who come here, as President of the Republic, representing a people who have imposed with their vote the difficult task of driving peacefully to our republic after a government of fact to a full and secure institutional regime. You know, Mr. President, that in these 15 months, Uruguay has done everything, has made a great effort, and has made a beautiful exchange experience in peace, with the full and restricted functioning of its institutions and rights, without violence for anyone. Uruguay is the heir to a long democratic tradition and has particularly suffered from the fall of its institutions. He feels today that he has returned to that old history and that he has done it in an exemplary way that enriches that tradition. For this reason, Mr. President, as you have pointed out, it is not here only the title of the executive power, nor its ministers, but also the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, representing the main party of the opposition, and the first senator of my party, son besides the last President Uruguayo who was here in this house 31 years ago. This climate of coexistence between powers of government and democratic parties is the best testimony that we can show the world of what we have achieved in such a short time. It would not be legal if it were not, however, that our country still lives serious problems and that they derive so much from their own matters as international. It is not easy, Mr. President, to fight for consolidating democracy, sadly achieved, and to order domestic economy, when they still persist, economic or financial conditions external that, in some cases, are difficult, and in others, the fruits of the internal process of our people. We must respond to the legitimate popular emergencies by recovering the levels of life lost and face, at the same time, the heavy indebtedness that we have inherited within a commercial world, increasingly more protectionist and closed. The tendency of his government, Mr. President, has committed to face and to whose purposes we have added to preserve thus the advantages of an open and fair world trade, which we all will undoubtedly benefit from. On many of these problems we came to change opinions with Ted and his government, speaking with the sincerity with which we always speak, especially to a country that we consider as always friendly, with which we can discredit sometimes, and for the same we have the duty of being loyal, to talk with a clear dialogue and constructive spirit. We know that in this democratic country public opinion is very important and will understand our reasons. Thus, as we have the conviction that your government will be able to consider them to study together the means to improve our relations and overcome the consequences of these evil that we face. Whether the international trade opens or all of us should resign to live locked up in a new feudalism, the most powerful, perhaps last longer, but condemned to live in an aggressive, unstable and full of violence, the smallest, like us, condemned to a mediocre life, but all ultimately pointing towards poverty or lack of freedom. George Washington highlighted the importance of this aspect more than two centuries ago and said, the good politics of humanitarianism and interest itself recommend a harmonious and liberal exchange with all nations. However, even in our commercial policy we must maintain a equitable and impartial position, without seeking to concede favors or exclusive preferences, respecting the natural course of events. Therefore, we do not claim philanthropies or stop in tutorials of any kind. We only need co-operative partners, strong in capital and technology, with which we can work together to forge a better world, guided by the same ideals of freedom that inspired our elders. Mr. President, in a world attributed to our country, I am, as it was in the past, land of peace and democracy, that peace and that democracy that today we would like to see empire in all of America, achieved by us, the Latin Americans, as a result of our historical commitments and our responsibilities towards the future. Uruguay will continue to add to all political efforts in favor of peace in the world and especially in our America. Peace and democracy are indissoluble terms, we will not have one without the other. Uruguay once again affirms its conviction in both objectives that are today, the virtual column of its reason for being as a free and independent nation. It is this spirit that today we greet you, your government and this people, friends of ours, from the origins of our nations and our states. It is a great honor for any Uruguayan citizen to come to this house. There are strong reasons for this. Our countries were born during the same span of history and were part of the same liberal revolution which inspired them with the same ideals. Our century and a half of independent life since then has demonstrated our faithfulness to those principles. Because of this, we stood together in the two great world wars of this century, milestones which have defined the political philosophies of the peoples of the world ever since. If this is true for any Uruguayan citizen, how much more so is it true for someone like me arriving here as the president of the republic and representing a people that has, by its vote, entrusted me with the difficult task of peacefully guiding our republic back after a de facto government to a full and stable institutional life. You know, Mr. President, that during these last 15 months all of Uruguay has made a great effort and lived a wonderful experience of peaceful change with the full and unrestricted interplay of its institutions and rights with violence toward none. Uruguay is heir to a long democratic tradition and therefore suffered all the more from the collapse of its institutions. Today it feels it has returned to its old legacy and has done so in exemplary fashion, one that enhances those traditions. For this reason, as you yourself have pointed out, Mr. President, you have before you today not only the chief of the executive branch but also the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, the president of the House of Representatives, who represents the main opposition party and my party's leader in the Senate, who happens to be the son of the last Uruguayan president to visit here 31 years ago. This environment of harmonious cordiality among the different branches of government and democratic parties is the best evidence we can offer the world of what we have achieved in such a short time. I would not be sincere, however, if I did not mention that our country is still experiencing serious problems that stem from both domestic and international causes. It is not easy, Mr. President, to strive for the consolidation of our hard-won democracy and to put our domestic economy in order while external economic and financial conditions subsist that in some cases hamper and in other cases actually cancel out the fruits of our own internal efforts. We must respond to the legitimate and urgent call of our people to recover their past standard of living and at the same time confront the heavy debts we have inherited all within the context of an increasingly closed and protectionist world trading system. These are trends which your government has committed itself to fight, a position we wholeheartedly endorse in order to preserve the mutual advantages of fair and open world trade. We have come to exchange views with you and your government on many of these problems. We shall speak frankly as we always do, the more so in a country we have always considered a friend. We may at times disagree, but precisely because of our friendship we feel that it is our duty to speak to each other with loyalty clearly and constructively. We know that public opinion is very important in this democratic nation and will therefore understand our positions. We are also confident that your government will take them into consideration when we look together to a life of mediocrity, but all of us sooner or later will be staring poverty in the face. George Washington foresaw the importance of this over 200 years ago when he said, sound policy, humanitarianism and our own self-interest all suggest a harmonious and liberal exchange with all nations. However, even in our trading policy we must keep a fair and unbiased position without seeking or granting favors or exclusive preferences, respecting the natural course of events. For this reason, we seek neither charity nor protectors of any kind. We need only cooperative partners, strong in capital and technology with whom we may work together to build a better world guided by the same ideals of freedom that inspired our forefathers. Mr. President, in a troubled world, our country is today, as it has been in the past, a land of peace and democracy. We would wish to see the same peace and democracy all over the Americas, achieved by us Latin Americans as the result of our own historical commitments and our sense of responsibility to the future. Uruguay will continue to participate in all political efforts aimed at promoting peace in today's world, especially within our America. Peace and democracy are inseparable. We cannot have one without the other. Uruguay today reaffirms once again its faith in both principles, which constitute the backbone of its very existence as a free and independent nation. Mr. President, it is in this spirit that we greet you, your government, and our friends, your people. Thank you.