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Embassy Greeting / Venezuela 12/7/90 [OA 8320]
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323153166
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Embassy Greeting / Venezuela 12/7/90 [OA 8320]
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13742-010
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S, 2009-0704-F
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13742
Folder ID Number:
13742-010
Folder Title:
Embassy Greeting / Venezuela 12/7/90 [OA 8320]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
21
2
2
Ray state Dept.
Smith/Garmey) done
Desk 647-
November 18, 1990
2 P.M.
VENEZ
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: EMBASSY GREETING
CARACAS, VENEZUELA
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1990
PatBroe Pat Philipm Clane's seed der 647-6754
Ambassador and Mrs. Skol friends. Barbara and I are
"X"
ast.
pleased to meet with the American Embassy Community at the home
of America's first family in Venezuela.
Let me say that I am glad the Ambassador and Claudia
made it here before I did. I imagine for a while you were
uncertain who would get here first. //
X
But now that the long wait for a new Ambassador is
Frank Ray
over, I am sure you will be delighted. It is a privilege to
greet you here in this magnificent setting.
( (Incidentally, XXY XXX XX I am told that the view from the
X X X XXX
Frank
chancery building to be constructed in Valle Arriba will be even
XXXXX XXXXX
Ray
more majestic. So just bear with us. Before long our embassy in
X XXTT XX +
Caracas will be among the most beautiful in the world. )) //
As you know, I have come to Venezuela a number of
Xx
Frank Ray
times. XX I was last here in 1981 as Vice-President
My son, Jeb,
and his wife, Columba, lived in Caracas for several years. x
+
X
X
X
one
year
Barbara and I will always treasure our visits.
As guests, we knew from our experience in China that
there is no more dedicated group than the men and women --
American and foreign -- who staff our embassies. Our Embassies
evoke a touch of America so many miles from home. //
Nine XXXXXXXX years ago, I met with the Embassy community. The
X
X
O
%
hank
American staff members who were here then have all rotated out
But XXXX most of the Venezuelan members of the Embassy team are the
Ray
same. This shows how without you we would have no continuity and
little institutional memory. I am especially grateful for your
work, and your dreams.
O
I am also proud of the U.S. staff. I understand that
Frank
one of you was once a prisoner in Castro's jails, and has gone on
+
to win awards for valor in our foreign service, / Another
survived a North Vietnamese prison camp and is making a fine
contribution to USIS / The commercial counselor was the last
X
American on the roof of our embassy in Saigon and helped save the
Frank
lives of many others. //
Today -- like then -- you are serving freedom and
democracy. Helping Venezuela consolidate its democratic
institutions and restructure its economy. Showing -- under
President Perez -- that a prosperous Venezuela can make ours a
better, more decent world.
It's public servants like you -- and Ambassador Skol -
- who make me proud of Americans serving abroad. Thank you for
what you've done to make our visit a success. God bless the
United States of America.
#
#
#
#
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Neal name of Am. transable in Verezuela. &wife's name
Michael & Claudia Skol
"serwer (Sur-wur]
Also - Bush's Son Jes marked in Uezak
hv seel - is is the 6 men his mile
Columba yes in 1978 for
from - For Rhodes
one yr.
from Jeb's office
worked for
a Jexas bank
asst to the Ch. BD. of
asst UP
rep. in fbant Caracas, ven. Aug. in 74 ven - from May til 78 79 79
VENEZUELA: SUGGESTED DEPARTURE STATEMENT
It has been a real pleasure visiting Venezuela once again,
and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet and
consult with President Perez, an international leader whom I
respect and admire.
Although President Perez and I talk regularly, this was a
welcome opportunity to exchange views in greater length and
detail, and to enjoy the warm hospitality of the Venezuelan
people.
At this moment of great historical change -- not only in
Latin America, but throughout the globe -- I value discussing
the regional and world situation with a leader of such standing
and experience. I can tell you that our bilateral relations
have never been better, and I look forward to continuing the
close working relationship we have enjoyed with Venezuela.
It has also a pleasure to be able to discuss regional
issues with President Collor of Brazil, President Menem of
Argentina, President Lacalle of Uruguay, and President Aylwin
of Chile. As I travelled throughout the continent over the
past week, what came through most clearly is that there is a
new, modern South America which has emerged out of the era of
military dictatorships and centralized economies. The Latin
America of today is blossoming under the freedoms and
opportunities offered by true democracy, and governments
throughout the region are making the tough economic decisions
which will carry this continent into the 21st century with
unprecedented growth and momentum.
- -2-
Again I would like to express my thanks to President Perez
and the Venezuelan people for the warm welcome that was
extended to Barbara and me.
SEARAAND 2079: VE: Bush Trip Departure
Drafted by AmEmbassy Caracas
ARA/AND: ESchuler x7-3360
Cleared by ARA: BAronson
ARA: PMcLean
ARA/AND: BMcMullen Daron
ARA/AND: JMack
ARA/PPC: VBrod }estor
C:MFoulon
PA: RBoucher
S/P: PSimons
1:00
VENEZUELA: Q's AND A'S FOR PRESS AVAILABILITY
Q. What special concessions is the U.S. willing to give
Venezuela for serving as a secure supplier of oil during
the crisis in the Middle East?
A.
:
VENEZUELA'S PRODUCTION INCREASE HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTION TO STABILITY IN THE WORLD OIL MARKET
DURING THE GULF CRISIS.
-- KEEPING SUPPLIES AND PRICES STABLE HAS BEEN IN
VENEZUELA'S INTEREST AS WELL AS IN THAT OF THE U.S.
-- HIGH OIL PRICES ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE WORLD
ECONOMY, THREATENING TO SEND THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
INTO RECESSION AND DEVASTATE THE FRAGILE ECONOMIES OF
THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
-- THIS IS WHY VENEZUELA'S ROLE HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT.
AS A RELIABLE SUPPLIER, VENEZUELA ENHANCES THE
PROSPECTS OF ENERGY COOPERATION AMONG THE COUNTRIES OF
THE HEMISPHERE, A CONCEPT THAT WE ENDORSE.
:
VENEZUELA'S PARTICIPATION, ALONG WITH MEXICO, IN
SUPPLYING OIL UNDER THE SAN JOSE ACCORDS TO SUPPORT
THE GROWTH OF DEMOCRACY IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION WE
RECOGNIZE.
-2-
Q. Is the U.S. prepared to invest in increasing Venezuela's
oil production capacity?
A.
:
THE QUESTION OF U.S. INVESTMENT REALLY PERTAINS MORE
TO OUR PRIVATE SECTOR THAN TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE, HOWEVER, THINGS THAT BOTH GOVERNMENTS CAN
DO TO PROMOTE U.S. INVESTMENT IN VENEZUELA.
:
VENEZUELA HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS TO LIBERALIZE
ITS INVESTMENT REGIME. THIS MAKES FOREIGN INVESTMENT
HERE AN ATTRACTIVE PROPOSITION. AS A MATTER OF FACT,
OVER HALF OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN VENEZUELA IS
U.S. INVESTMENT.
:
SHOULD VENEZUELA DECIDE THAT IT WANTS TO WORK WITH
FOREIGN FIRMS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE AMERICAN
FIRMS TO EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITIES.
:
OF COURSE, THE TERMS OF THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE
EXPANSION OF VENEZUELA'S OIL INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH VENEZUELAN LAW AND ITS OWN BUSINESS
INTEREST.
:
RENEWED ACTIVITY OF THE U.S. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM (TDP) IN VENEZUELA HAS MADE FUNDING AVAILABLE
FOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS IN
THE PETROLEUM AND PETROCHEMICAL SECTORS -- A
REFLECTION OF U.S. COMMITMENT TO VENEZUELA AND THE
WILLINGNESS AND INTEREST OF OUR PRIVATE SECTOR IN
SUPPORTING YOUR DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
-3-
Q. What do you feel you have accomplished with this trip to
Latin America?
A.
:
THE RESURGENCE OF DEMOCRACY IN EASTERN EUROPE HAS
CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD, BUT THE SWEEP OF
DEMOCRACY THROUGH THE AMERICAS IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO
THE U.S.
-- THIS TRIP HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SOME
OF THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH ARE JUST BEGINNING TO SAVOR
AGAIN THE TASTE OF LIBERTY, AS WELL AS TO SPEND SOME
TIME WITH THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADERS OF
COUNTRIES LIKE VENEZUELA, WHICH HAVE WELL-ESTABLISHED
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS.
-- WE KNOW WELL THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN
ENSURING DEMOCRATIC STABILITY, AND THIS TRIP HAS GIVEN
ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFER WITH THE KEY ECONOMIC
POWERS OF THIS CONTINENT ABOUT OUR ENTERPRISE FOR THE
AMERICAS INITIATIVE.
:
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE APPLICATION OF FREE MARKET
ECONOMIC FORCES, BY OPENING THE TRADING AND INVESTMENT
RELATIONS AMONG OUR COUNTRIES, WILL ASSURE OUR
PROSPERITY INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. THIS WILL GIVE
VENEZUELA THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT FUNDS FROM OUR
LARGE, FLEXIBLE CAPITAL MARKETS, AND PROVIDE STILL
GREATER ACCESS FOR ITS EXPORTERS TO AN AFFLUENT U.S.
MARKET OF 240 MILLION PEOPLE.
-4-
Q. What does the Bush Enterprise for the Americas initiative
have to offer Venezuela?
A.
:
THE PROGRAMS WHICH WE ENVISION UNDER THIS NEW
INITIATIVE WILL BENEFIT VENEZUELA PRIMARILY BY
PROMOTING INCREASED TRADE AND INVESTMENT.
:
WE ENCOURAGE VENEZUELA TO JOIN US IN WORKING TOWARDS
OUR GOALS OF FREE TRADE AND AN OPEN INVESTMENT CLIMATE
THROUGHOUT THE HEMISPHERE.
--
WE ARE WORKING ON A BILATERAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON
TRADE AND INVESTMENT THAT WILL GIVE US A MECHANISM
WITHIN WHICH TO WORK FOR REDUCED TRADE BARRIERS AND
INCREASED FLOWS OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT. OUR TWO-WAY
TRADE TOTALLED ALMOST 10 BILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR,
WITH A SIZABLE BALANCE IN VENEZUELA'S FAVOR:
VENEZUELAN EXPORTS TO THE U.S. GREW 31 PERCENT FROM
THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
-- A THIRD PILLAR OF THE INITIATIVE INVOLVES REDUCTION OF
BILATERAL OFFICIAL DEBT. FUNDING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
BECAUSE VENEZUELA'S DEBT TO THE U.S. IS VERY SMALL,
ITS DIRECT BENEFITS FROM THIS ELEMENT OF THE
INITIATIVE WOULD BE LIMITED. VENEZUELA COULD,
HOWEVER, EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS THROUGH THE
REDUCTION OF THE BILATERAL DEBTS OF ITS SMALL REGIONAL
TRADING PARTNERS.
-5-
--
WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO NOTE THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION
OF VENEZUELA'S COMMERCIAL DEBT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL BANKING COMMUNITY. THE OUTCOME IS A
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN VENEZUELA'S FUTURE.
Q. Is it true that Venezuela is increasingly important as a
transit point for drugs and are the Venezuelans doing
anything about it?
A.
-- THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE TRANSHIPMENT OF
ILLICIT DRUGS AND PRECURSOR CHEMICALS THROUGH
VENEZUELA IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AS THE
TRADITIONAL "LANES" OF SHIPMENT ELSEWHERE HAVE BEEN
SHUT DOWN OR MADE MORE RISKY FOR THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
--
VENEZUELANS SHARE OUR CONCERN ABOUT THIS SITUATION.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINISTRY OF STATE FOR DRUGS,
PRESIDENT PEREZ'S RECENT DRUG POLICY SPEECH (NOTE:
SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 23) AND THE ONGOING EFFORT IN
THE VENEZUELAN CONGRESS TO REFORM THE 1984 DRUG LAW
ARE INDICATIONS OF THE GREATER IMPORTANCE WHICH THE
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO THE DRUG ISSUE.
:
WE APPLAUD THESE MEASURES AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO
ASSISTING THE VENEZUELANS IN THEIR ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS.
-6-
Q. What levels and what type of anti-drug assistance is the
United States providing to Venezuela?
A.
:
IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING TO DETECT AND INTERDICT DRUGS,
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING MATERIALS,
INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON SUCCESSFUL DRUG AWARENESS
AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH
COULD BE ADAPTED FOR USE HERE IN VENEZUELA.
--
CURRENTLY, THE U.S. IS SPENDING OVER $1 MILLION
ANNUALLY ON COUNTRY-NARCOTICS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR
VENEZUELA.
Q. Is Venezuela becoming a major money laundering center?
What measures have the Venezuelan authorities been taking
to prevent money laundering in the country?
A.
--
VENEZUELA HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT MONEY LAUNDERING
CENTER, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA IS WORKING TO
DEVELOP MECHANISMS TO PREVENT DRUG TRAFFICKERS FROM
USING VENEZUELAN BANKS TO LAUNDER THEIR MONEY. THE
RECENT SIGNATURE OF A U.S.-VENEZUELAN BILATERAL MONEY
LAUNDERING AGREEMENT PROVIDES A GOOD FOUNDATION ON
WHICH OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS CAN BUILD A STRONGER
COOPERATIVE EFFORT.
-7-
Q. What gives the U.S. the right to resort to the use of
force, like you did in Panama?
A.
:
THE U.S. DOES NOT AND WILL NOT USE FORCE
INDISCRIMINATELY. WE WILL ACT TO PROTECT AMERICAN
LIVES, BUT IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A PARALLEL SITUATION
IN THIS HEMISPHERE TO MANUEL NORIEGA'S DICTATORSHIP.
-- AN INDICTED DRUG TRAFFICKER, HE BRUTALLY DEFIED THE
RESULTS OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN WHICH GUILLERMO
ENDARA WAS FREELY ELECTED PRESIDENT. HE DENIED THE
WILL OF THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE AND THEN PROCEEDED TO
CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHICH THREATENED, AND ULTIMATELY
CLAIMED, AN AMERICAN LIFE.
-- I KNOW THAT OUR FRIENDS IN LATIN AMERICA HAVE A
HISTORIC CONCERN ABOUT U.S. USE OF FORCE, BUT I ALSO
KNOW THAT THEY SHARED WITH ME THE SENSE OF FRUSTRATION
AT THE INABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO
TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO GET NORIEGA TO RESPECT THE
DEMOCRATICALLY EXPRESSED WILL OF THE PANAMANIAN PEOPLE.
SEARAAND 2077: VE: Bush Trip Press Availability
Drafted by AmEmbassy Caracas/ARA/AND: ESchuler x7-3360
Cleared by ARA: BAronson
ARA: PMcLean
ARA: JFMack
ARA/AND: DBecker
ARA/AND: BMcMullen year
EB: RHecklinger
EB/ERF/EPC: DPeashock
ARA/ECP: DFinnerty
ARA/PAN:RDotson
}am
INM/P:MTrejo
USTR: BStillman
TREASURY: WMcGrewCya
C:MFoulon
PA: RBoucher
S/P: PSimons
}erson