Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2004

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7771 of April 13, 2004

Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2004

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each year on Pan American Day and during Pan American
Week, we honor the bonds of friendship that unite the
Pan American community. With the exception of one
country, the nations of the Western Hemisphere
recognize the importance of working together to
strengthen democratic institutions, promote economic
prosperity, invest in our people, and improve our
security. At the recent 2004 Special Summit of the
Americas, the 34 democratic nations of the Western
Hemisphere reaffirmed their commitment to the Inter-
American Democratic Charter to defend democracy and
freedom whenever they are threatened. Our unity and
support of democratic institutions, constitutional
processes, and basic liberties give hope and strength
to those struggling around the world.

The nations of the Western Hemisphere will continue to
draw upon the Charter to strengthen the rule of law,
protect human rights and freedoms, encourage economic
growth, and promote good governance. As neighbors, we
are expanding prosperity through open markets and
economic reforms--creating new opportunities for
millions of people and continued economic progress
benefiting the nations of our hemisphere. My
Administration will continue to work toward the
creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas,
scheduled for completion in 2005.

To protect the rights and freedoms of all our citizens,
the Pan American community must also combat the forces
that threaten democracy: terrorism, drug trafficking,
and other crimes that transcend national borders. The
Declaration on Security in the Americas, adopted at the
October 2003 Organization of American States Special
Conference on Security, underscores our hemisphere's
interest in collectively maintaining peace and security
across the Americas. The United States welcomes the
opportunity to work with our neighbors to advance the
Declaration's goals to safeguard our citizens as we
build for a future that is peaceful, just, and
prosperous.

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, 2004, as Pan
American Day and April 11 through April 17, 2004, 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
thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand four, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

(Presidential Sig.)B