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7339144
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Text of Remarks by the President to Be Delivered to the Foreign Ministers of the O.A.S. General Assembly [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7339144
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document
title
Text of Remarks by the President to Be Delivered to the Foreign Ministers of the O.A.S. General Assembly [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7339144
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10
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1975-05-10
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5
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1975
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47a001f22df6bb13
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Digitized from Box 10 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
MAY 10, 1975
UNTIL 6:00 p.m. EDT
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TEXT OF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO BE DELIVERED TO
THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF
THE O.A.S. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THE EAST ROOM
This is my first opportunity as Fresident to welcome the distinguished
Chiefs of Delegation to the General Assembly of the Organization of
American States. I am delighted you are here -- in Washington and in
the White House. Some of you, I understand, were disappointed not to
see Henry Kissinger in your capitals. I know exactly how you feel. There
are times when we don't see much of him in our own capital.
Your presence here tonight is testimony to the wisdom of the Western
Hemisphere's pioneering effort to create a free association of soverign
nations a century ago. The durability of our inter-American system rests
on its ability to adapt to changing hemispheric and world conditions and to
respond to new problems and needs which arise. But its bedrock strength
comes from the wealth of wisdom that the member-states bring to the
solution of common problems.
Today, this General Assembly is carrying on the tradition of adaptability
to change in considering recommendations for reform. And just as the
Inter-American System was the pathfinder in the field of international
organizations, it could, likewise, become a pioneer in reforming the
traditional way in which international organizations do business. The basic
concept which holds this organization together is that strength and progress
come from cooperation rather than conflict.
In this country, we are proud of our achievements under a democratic
form of government and a productive economic system. We recogniz
that every state has the right to adopt its own system of government and
its own economic and social organization. We live in a hemisphere with
a rich tradition of diversity. One of our continuing tasks is to resolve
issues that could divide us. We are now updating our relationship with
Panama over the issue of the Canal. This new relationship will
accommodate the important intereste of both of our countries and all of
the nations of the world which depend on the Canal.
The world we now live in is increasingly fluid and complex, containing
many new centers of power. There are new and more subtle challen ges
to the well-being of mankind. And the new issues reflect the major
concerns of our people: economic development, growth of trade, sufficient
food production, a healthy environment and managing the growth of pop-
ulation.
As the world economy becomes more complex, the line between domestic
and international economic policy becomes ever less distinct. We know
we have differences and will continue to have them. But despite such
problems, I am confident we will shape the relationships necessary to
improve the lives of all our peoples.
(MORE)
-2-
The tradition of mutual cooperation, which is at the heart of our inter-
American system, adds another dimension to the requirements of global
interdependence. We must be particularly conscious of the need to avoid
unnecessary damage to each other's interests. For this reason, I am
supporting modification of recent legislation passed by the Congress which
singles out a few nations of the Hemisphere for what seems discriminatory
treatment.
International cooperation that assures mutual respect among nations is
more essential than ever. And the opportunities, particularly in this
Hemisphere, are without precedent. I wish you success in your deliberations
and hope that, together, we can take full advantage of the opportunities for
cooperation that present themselves to us, who are the fortunate inhabitants
of these Americas.
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