 of the United States of America and Mrs. Reagan, and His Excellency the President of the Republic of Venezuela and Mrs. Herrera. Ladies and gentlemen, it's indeed an honor to welcome His Excellency the President of Venezuela and Mrs. Herrera campaigns to Washington. President Herrera and I had the opportunity to get to know each other at last month's summit in Cancun. While we were there, we reaffirmed that our two nations share common goals and mutual concerns, especially about liberty and progress in the American family of nations. While we were there, we reaffirmed that our two nations share common goals and mutual concerns, especially about liberty and progress in the American family of nations. The challenges facing the people of the Americas are greater than ever before. Maintaining independence and freedom will require the same dedication demonstrated during the struggle for independence that is common to every American nation. The challenges facing the American people are greater than ever before. Maintaining independence and freedom will require the same dedication demonstrated during the struggle for independence that is common to every American nation. Venezuela played a unique role in America's struggle for independence. Its role in the future of the region is no less important. Venezuela played a unique role in the struggle for independence in Latin America. Its role in the future of the region is no less important. The great liberator Simone Bolivar once said, It is harder to maintain the balance of liberty than to endure the weight of tyranny. He lamented that all too often, mankind is willing to rest unconcerned and accept things as they are. President Herrera, if Bolivar were alive today, he would be proud indeed of the current generation of Venezuelans and what it has accomplished. President Herrera, if Bolivar were alive today, he would be proud indeed of the current generation of Venezuelans and what it has accomplished. President Herrera, if Bolivar were alive today, he would be proud indeed of the current generation of Venezuelans and what it has accomplished. President Herrera, if Bolivar were alive today, he would be proud indeed of the current generation of Venezuelans and what it has accomplished. Well, in two decades, you have built a free nation that is a beacon of hope for all those who suffer oppression. After courageously casting off the chains of dictatorship, Venezuelans rejected the tyranny of left and right and held firm in their commitment to dignity and freedom. While still in its infancy, your young democracy withstood a serious challenge from an external force that still threatens other emerging nations, undermining a lot of the world's legitimate attempts at social change in order to exploit chaos and promote tyranny. But clearly, in a tribute to the decency and values of your people, the love of liberty has prevailed. It is to Venezuela's credit and in keeping with Bolivar's dream that you are now helping others overcome similar challenges to their freedom and prosperity. I know that we will stand together, Mr. President, in our opposition to the spread to our shores of hostile totalitarian systems and in our dedication to true liberty and democracy. Venezuela's development program, particularly in the Caribbean region, is an example of humanitarianism and farsightedness that has the highest respect and admiration of the people of the United States. Your recognition of the private sector's role in development is much appreciated here, but this, too, is in your tradition. Over a century ago, André Bale, an intellectual giant in Venezuela, noted a relationship between liberty and enterprise. Liberty, he suggested, gives wings to the spirit of enterprise wherever it meets it. It breathes breath into where it does not exist. Your recognition of the private sector's role in development is appreciated here, but this, too, is in your tradition. Over a century ago, André Bale, an intellectual giant in Venezuela, noted that there is a relationship between liberty and enterprise. Liberty, he suggested, gives wings to the spirit of enterprise wherever it meets it. It breathes breath into where it does not exist. We have a lot to learn from the people of Venezuela. Your recognition of the private sector's role in development is valuable, and we have much to learn from the people of Venezuela. Your knowledge of developing nations is invaluable, and President Herrera, I'm personally looking forward to your counsel on this vital subject. We have a lot to learn from the people of Venezuela. Your recognition of the private sector's role in development is valuable, and President Herrera, I'm personally looking forward to your counsel on this vital subject. Venezuela reaches out today in the spirit of Bolivar and Beo, the liberator and the educator, to better mankind and to unite the freedom-loving peoples of this hemisphere. Venezuela now stretches its hand with the same spirit with which Bolívar and Beo, the liberator and the educator, to improve humanity and to unite the people-loving peoples of this hemisphere. Just a few months ago, President Herrera, you spoke to the United Nations and eloquently outlined your nation's commitment to principle. There you stated, Venezuelans believe in and practice democracy. We do not attempt to impose our values and concepts of society on anyone, but we know that freedom is the road of history. A few months ago, President Herrera, you spoke to the United Nations and eloquently outlined your nation's commitment to principles above everything. In that place, Venezuela affirmed that it believes and practices democracy. We do not attempt to impose our values and concepts of society on anyone, but we know that freedom is the road of history. Let me say to you as clearly and directly as I can. In this expression of Venezuela's cherished goals, you have the firm and lasting support of the people of the United States of America. Mr. President, our two peoples will walk that road together as equals, as friends who share common values. And so, as one American to another, we bid you a heartfelt welcome. Let me say to you as clearly and directly as I can. In this expression of Venezuela's cherished goals, you have the firm and lasting support of the people of the United States of America. Mr. President, our two peoples will walk that road together as equals, as friends who share common values. And so, as one American to another, we bid you a heartfelt welcome. Thank you. Excellent, Mr. President of the United States and Mr. President of the United States. Distinguished guests, Mr. President, thank you in the name of my wife, of the team that accompanies me and in my own for its kind words of welcome. The United States and Venezuela have had, throughout history, friendly and cordial relations with the inevitable coincidences and divergences, but as constant and unchangeable friendship and understanding within a mutual and strict respect to the national dignity of each of our parts. Excellent, Mr. Ronald Reagan, President of the United States. Distinguished guests, Mr. President, thank you on behalf of my wife, the people who accompany me and in my own name for your kind words of welcome. The United States and Venezuela have enjoyed, throughout their history, friendly and cordial relations with inevitable coincidences and divergences, but with the unalterable constant of friendship and understanding in a spirit of mutual and strict respect for the national dignity of our countries. Venezuela ha adquirido un peso creciente en el campo internacional. Somos hoy un punto de referencia obligada en toda la temática del diálogo hemisferico y en las relaciones entre el mundo industrializado y el mundo en desarrollo. Realizamos una política internacional digna, independiente y seria, que trata siempre de proyectar una orientación institucionalmente democrática y ceñida a las exigencias de la libertad. Venezuela has acquired a growing weight in international affairs. Today, we constitute an obligatory point of reference for all issues related to hemisferic dialogue and relations between the industrialized and the developing worlds. We follow an honorable, independent and serious international policy attempting at all times to project the image of our democratic institutions observant of the demands of freedom. Hemos alcanzado y consolidado desde 1958 la estabilidad democrática tras un esfuerzo de entendimiento y respeto entre las organizaciones políticas democráticas y las fuerzas armadas nacionales y después de superar las amenazas de una subversión de impiración marzista que pretendió desestabilizar nuestro proceso democratizador. We have attained and consolidated since 1958 our democratic stability following the effort made by our democratic organizations and the national armed forces to achieve mutual understanding and respect and after overcoming the threats of a marxist-inspired subversion that meant to destabilize our process of democratization. La presencia hemisferica y mundial de Venezuela se acentúa por ser país productor y exportador de recursos energéticos de valor estratégico por promotor y fundador de la organización de países exportadores de petróleo y por tener una privilegiada posición geográfica en una zona afectada por las tensiones internacional. Trabajamos incansablemente para que la paz no sufra menoscabo ni lesiones. The presence of Venezuela in the hemisphere and in the world is enhanced by our position as a producer and exporter of strategically valuable energy resources. Our status of promotor and founder of the organization of oil exporting countries and holder of a privileged geographical position in a region afflicted by international tensions. We labor indefatigably so that peace will not suffer impairment or wrong. Señor Presidente, la acción exterior de mi gobierno no se caracteriza por anti de ninguna índole. Se rige por un pro-indoblegable los intereses de Venezuela, de América Latina, del mundo en desarrollo y de toda la humanidad. En el cumplimiento de esa línea, cuando coincidimos con otras naciones, no estamos en plan de sumisión. Y cuando discrepamos, no es por ningún sentimiento de aversión. Cuando coincidimos, lo hacemos sin complejos. Cuando discrepamos, lo hacemos sin temor. No somos ni seremos sujetos, pasivos o instrumentos en la lucha entre los superpoderes que dirimen la supremacía mundial. Mr. Presidente, the foreign policy actions of my government are not characterized by any kind of notion against anti anything. They are governed by an unyielding purpose of acting in favor of pro. In favor of the interests of Venezuela, of Latin America, of the developing world and of all of mankind. In our observance of this principle, when we coincide with other nations, we do not do so in submission. And when we disagree, it is not because of aversion. When we coincide, it is without complexes. When we differ, it is without fear. We are not, and shall not be, passive subjects or instruments in the struggle between the superpowers over the issue of world supremacy. Our foreign policy is, as you well know, autonomous and sovereign, which corresponds to a country that is one of the liberators of Simón Bolívar, father of independence and fighter for the integration of Latin America. It is the legal, intellectual and political legacy that serves as an orientation to our internal and external policy. Our foreign policy is, as you well know, autonomous and sovereign, as is fit for a country that is the birthplace of Simón Bolívar, the liberator, father of our independence and fighter of Latin American integration. It is this intellectual and political legacy that inspires our domestic and foreign policies. It is my visit to this great nation, Mr. President, in a delicate moment of the global situation. I hope that, from the conversations that we will hold to flower in greater measure, the meeting points that the discrepancies, both in the political order and in the social economy. My visit to this great nation, Mr. President, comes at a precarious moment in world affairs. I hope that the talks we will hold will produce more points of coincidence than discrepancy, both on the political and the socio-economic issues. We will talk about the tense reality of the Central American area of the Caribbean, with all the complexity of the factors that influence it and that serve as a basis for convulsions caused by social injustices taken advantage of because of the hegemonic pretensions in the political and ideological radicalisms of destabilizers. We want to preserve that area of the tensions of the blockish policies. We shall speak on the tense reality of the Central American and the Caribbean regions all the complex factors that affect it and serve as breeding ground for convulsions resulting from social imbalances which are seized upon by political hegemonic aspirations and destabilizing ideological radicalisms. We want to preserve this region from the tensions of block politics. We will continue, with the same constructive purpose, our dialogue initiated in Cancun on the urgency of substantial modifications to the current international economic relations. The peoples continue to wait for global negotiations in the United Nations framework that from its initial fragility will be robust with the development of the exchange. We will pursue, led by the same constructive spirit, the dialogue begun in Cancun on the urgency of making substantial changes in the present international economic relations. The peoples of the world continue to hope to see global negotiations held within the framework of the United Nations and even if they are to be initially frail they will build up gradually as trade develops. We will treat bilateral relations between our two countries that enjoy democratic regimes of popular election and that historically have the commitment to defend the freedom of man. We shall discuss the improvement and expansion of bilateral relations between our two countries, both of which enjoy systems of freely elected democratic governments and a historical commitment to defend the freedom of mankind. Our conversations will be clear in their wording, specific in their subject matter and positive in their results. That is the deepest hope I harbor on the occasion of my visit here. Mr. President, to you, to your government and to your people, thank you very much for this invitation to talk about the future of our countries, the continent and peace. Mr. President, I thank you, your government and your people for this invitation you have extended to me to hold a dialogue on the future of our countries, of our continent and of peace. Thank you.