Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2002

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Part V

The President

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Proclamation 7540--Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2002

Proclamation 7541--Jewish Heritage Week, 2002

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7540 of April 12, 2002

Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Pan America comprises a set of regional relationships
that connects the nations of the Western Hemisphere in
an increasingly interdependent network of commercial
and cultural communities. Every nation in Pan America,
with one notable exception, is committed to promoting
freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Over the past
year, the Pan American nations have become increasingly
united in purpose, seeking to ensure the preservation
of the freedoms inherent in democracy, to promote good
governance, to enhance economic development across the
hemisphere, to protect human rights, and to combat
terrorism, transnational crime, and narcotics
trafficking. Continued progress in achieving these
goals will greatly improve the future of the Americas.

As a testament to the enduring spirit of cooperation
that binds us together as citizens of North, Central,
and South America, the Pan American nations have built
a common front against the threat of terrorism. Meeting
in consultation on September 19, 2001, the Organization
of American States (OAS) Permanent Council invoked the
Rio Treaty, declaring that the terrorist attacks of
September 11, were attacks against all of the Americas.
Later that same month, the OAS Foreign Ministers called
for measures to strengthen hemispheric cooperation and
adopted binding commitments, demonstrating that this
hemisphere is prepared to guard the freedoms that form
the foundation of democracy.

This firm response to the terrorist acts followed
another milestone for the region, namely, the adoption
of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. In approving
this document by acclamation, the nations of the
Western Hemisphere established democracy as the
birthright of every person in the Americas. The words
of this charter affirm that governments cannot be
democracies in name only, but must build upon the
guiding principles of our time and struggle to ensure
the preservation of essential civil liberties.

Pan America's unprecedented spirit of cooperation bodes
well for the 2004 Summit of the Americas, when we will
have the opportunity to review our progress and renew
commitments to enhancing hemispheric relationships.
Communication, trade, travel, and advances in
technology have all combined to produce unprecedented
levels of integration and interdependence in the
Western Hemisphere. And our continued efforts toward a
Free Trade Area of the Americas exemplify our
commitment to building a legal framework that opens the
way to self-sustaining and wide-ranging prosperity. The
free exchange of ideas and goods brings a unique
vitality to our region, and serves as a catalyst for
continuing economic development at the local and
national levels.

This past year provided sobering evidence that our
freedoms are not free. We must continue to work
together as a unified community to support and defend
all peoples that are denied their rights and privileges
by governments that fail to respect the essential
elements of democracy and human rights. In countering
the threats of tyranny, poverty, and lawlessness, our
collective goal must be to further the partnership we
share as standard bearers of a bold vision. By working
together to promote democracy, free

trade, economic prosperity, effective governance, and
human rights, we will keep the new Pan American spirit
of freedom and cooperation alive and well for
generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim April 14, 2002, as Pan
American Day and April 14 through April 20, 2002, as
Pan American Week. I urge the Governors of the 50
States, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag
of the United States of America to honor these
observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B