Secretary General Gaviria , we would not be here without your deep commitment to promoting and consolidating democracy in the Hemisphere.

You, Assistant Secretary General Einaudi, and all of your team are to be congratulated.

Foreign Minister Rojas, your successful management of the San Jose General Assembly helped the Organization of American States implement Summit of the Americas mandates to incorporate democracy guidelines into our inter-American system.

My appreciation to the government of Colombia for chairing the Permanent Council's Working Group on the Democratic Charter, and to Ambassador de la Calle for his invaluable expertise.

I believe, however, that all who worked so hard to bring this conclave about would agree that the true heroes of this Special Assembly are the men and women of Peru, whose bravery and determination inspired the Democratic Charter we are about to adopt.

In fact, it can be said that the Democratic Charter which we adopt for our Hemisphere today was born in the town plazas of Peru.

The Peruvian people insisted that their voices must count. They refused to be threatened, bribed, or manipulated into accepting a tainted election. They demanded that their government respect their votes. That it abide by the rule of law. And that it respond to their needs.

They reminded us all that freedom is never a given, and that it can be lost if we are not vigilant. That freedom is both a powerful and a fragile force. That men and women who cherish it must be prepared to defend it.

Peru's example sent a powerful signal to leaderships throughout the Hemisphere and the world that their citizens would not permit their hard-won democratic freedoms to be undermined.

The Peruvian people were magnificent and they succeeded.

And Peruvian democracy was fortunate indeed that at that crucial time when it needed visionary civic leaders, so many patriots rose to the challenge.

Patriots like Alejandro Toledo, who, despite a relentless state-sponsored campaign against him, with great tenacity and courage led the opposition peacefully down the road to free elections.

Peru's interim government, led by Valentin Paniagua, who put the good of the country above personal ambition, and proved that it is possible to govern effectively and democratically at the same time.

Peru's electoral authorities, led by Fernando Tuesta and Judge Manuel Sanchez-Palacios, who worked night and day to ensure the integrity of the 2001 elections, and whose results were respected by winners and losers alike.

And the blue-smocked volunteers from Transparencia, the monitoring organization, which mobilized thousands of young Peruvians to ensure a free and fair vote.

I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge the valiant efforts of the OAS's own chief election monitor in Peru, Eduardo Stein, who sounded the alarm bells on the 2000 elections. And the highly constructive role of the OAS played during the transition period reflects great credit upon it. This was a case where a regional institution, backed by the United States and other determined governments, responded resolutely to the call of a democracy in distress. The Peruvian people had presented us all with a democratic imperative that we could not ignore, and that we are very proud to have met.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, the vibrant democracy we see here in Peru is not simply the product of a few political leaders or an idea imported from abroad. It is the collective will of ordinary citizens who care about the future of this country. So too, the Democratic Charter that we adopt today reflects the will of all the peoples of the Americas who care about the future of our hemisphere. It is the fulfillment of the promise that our heads of state made to our peoples at the Summit of the Americas in Quebec in April.

It is a response to the demands of all of our peoples that they be assured a voice in shaping their destinies. That they have the means to hold their political leaders and institutions to account. And that they have the opportunities, resources, and security to claim their God-given right to personal and civic freedom -- what the Founding Fathers of my own country called the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Indeed, protecting and securing these fundamental rights has been a primary task of the OAS since our governments committed in 1948 to making the Americas a " land of liberty."

In keeping with the spirit of democracy itself, this Democratic Charter was not drafted behind closed doors. The negotiating process was highly transparent. And the Charter is the outcome of an unprecedented process of broad public debate and consultation among institutions, governments and civil society throughout the Americas.

Indeed, it represents the first time ever that the OAS and member governments used the Internet to foster comment and discussion from all around the Hemisphere on a major diplomatic initiative.

The outcome is a Charter that declares democracy to be a birthright of all the peoples of the Americas.

A Charter that sets representative democracy as the only legitimate form of government in the hemisphere, and makes democracy an essential condition for participation in the OAS.

A Charter that addresses the elements of a working democracy � respect for human rights, a lively civil society, independent media, accountable institutions.

A Charter that recognizes that the hard work of democracy is not just done on election day, but every day.

A Charter that consolidates and enhances the ability of the OAS to help democracies in crisis.

A Charter that develops new ways to address the nascent and subtle threats facing democracy in the region.

A Charter that recognizes that the pressing social, economic, and environmental problems facing our Hemisphere can only be meaningfully addressed within a democratic context.

A Charter that also recognizes that democratic governments must make it a priority to address the basic needs of their citizens.

A Charter that makes the vital link between democracy, prosperity and peace.

The United States of America is proud today to join its partners in democracy throughout the hemisphere in adopting this groundbreaking document.

By doing so, the people of the United States stand with men and women of this hemisphere who cherish freedom and seek better lives for themselves and their children. And we look forward to the day when the people of Cuba will also enjoy the rights and benefits of democracy.

Those who live in peaceful, democratic societies with accountable leaders and institutions, open economies, and vibrant private sectors have the greatest chance of escaping the cruel grip of poverty.

Democracy and free markets are closely linked. Political and economic freedoms are prerequisites for sustained growth and prosperity.

That is why President Bush is so deeply committed to pursuing another objective established at the Quebec Summit, the creation by 2005 of a Free Trade Area of the Americas. The great success of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in building ties and spurring prosperity among Canada, Mexico and the United States provides a compelling argument for a larger, hemispheric trade pact.

Democracy and trade are partners in freedom. Each creates conditions for the other. As President Bush has said, " when we promote open trade, we are promoting political freedom� open trade reinforces the habit of liberty that sustains democracy over the long haul."

And so, in adopting this Democratic Charter, my government also reaffirms its commitment to working with our fellow signatories to ensure that this hemisphere becomes, as President Bush has said, a region that " trades in freedom."

Expanded trade leads to more and better jobs, safer working conditions, bigger paychecks, and more competitive businesses. It creates opportunities, and, and provides the resources that foster development. As President Bush noted, " Open trade is not just an economic opportunity, it is a moral imperative. Trade creates jobs for unemployed. When we negotiate for open markets, we are providing new hope for the world's poor."

To help realize the full potential of free trade for our own citizens and for our trading partners all around the globe, the Bush Administration is working to obtain trade promotion authority form our Congress.

Beyond trade promotion, my government is also working with other governments in the hemisphere to create conditions conducive to growth and development by defending human rights, combating drug trafficking, fighting corruption, and improving the administration of justice.

President Bush's proposed Andean Regional Initiative (ARI), for example, addresses compelling societal problems and recognizes the role that democracy can play in resolving them. It is no coincidence that half of ARI's funding destined for security and law enforcement and half is destined for development and democracy. The two must go together.

At the same time, my country is doing its part at home to reduce the demand for illegal drugs. Our funding for demand reduction programs has grown more than 60 percent over the last decade to $ 5.8 billion in fiscal year 2001 alone.

Ladies and gentlemen, my government's strong support for the Democratic Charter, and our ongoing efforts to work with our hemispheric partners on issues affecting us all, underscore the dynamic community that exists among our governments and peoples.

Because we share fundamental values and important responsibilities, it is possible for us to achieve substantial results through multilateral cooperation. Results that rise well above the lowest common denominator. Results such as this Charter that advance our highest common ideals.

This is multilateralism at its finest. It is multilateralism that resonates throughout this hemisphere because it reflects the needs and hopes of our peoples. It is multilateralism that can be an example for the rest of the world.

For hundreds of years the Americas have been seen as a hemisphere of limitless potential. President Bush and I believe that the 21^st century will be the one in which this great potential will be realized.

The immense promise of this hemisphere will be realized because for the first time, the right conditions will be put into place. Together, our nations have resolved that the Americas are to be guided by the principles of democracy. We have resolved that sovereignty resides in the people. That the rule of law must defend individual liberty. That human rights are to be enjoyed by all. That economic freedom promotes prosperity that can lift millions out of poverty. That political and economic freedoms are the instruments of lasting peace. And we have resolve to work together to put these principles into practice.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Democratic Charter that we adopt today establishes democracy as nothing less than the foundation upon which together we will build the future. It is now for all of us � citizens, governments and institutions together � to put the Charter's empowering provisions to work for the ordinary men and women of this hemisphere.