Joint Statement by the United States and Brazil

Joint Statement by the United States and Brazil, In June of 2003 President Lula and President Bush met in Washington and signed a joint statement committing the countries to a closer and stronger relationship.

Today, in Secretary of State Rice's meeting with Foreign Minister Amorim and her visit with President Lula, our two governments' representatives discussed our commitment to working together to further enhance our bilateral relationship, and also to reach out to other nations, particularly in our region, guided by their shared vision of freedom and democracy and social justice. In this regard, with our meetings today and in this joint statement:

We reaffirm our commitment to our shared view that representative democracy and the rule of law are indispensable to building modern societies and political systems that promote growth, social development, accountability, transparency, and stability.

We reaffirm that countries should embrace policies that promote growth and social inclusion, which are the key to increasing incomes, improving standards of living and ending poverty and hunger. We also reaffirm our conviction that governments should work to empower their people through good governance, fighting corruption, ensuring personal security, encouraging enterprise, and providing all citizens with access to high-quality education, adequate health, and nutritional care. We jointly support the creation of a UN Democracy Fund and pledge support for this important effort.

We undertake to continue to engage in regular consultations, working together for prosperity, democratic governance and peace in the hemisphere and beyond. In this regard, Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Amorim reaffirmed their commitment to biannual consultations at the level of Under Secretary to review on a regular basis the broad scope of issues, both regional and global, on which our two governments cooperate and coordinate.

We reiterate our support for the April 22, 2005 Resolution of the Organization of American States which encouraged all political, social, and economic sectors in Ecuador to strengthen governance and ensure full respect for democratic order, the constitutional framework, and the rule of law, through dialogue and constructive participation, and which called for creation of an atmosphere of understanding that will foster peace.

In our bilateral relationship, and in the spirit of the June 2003 Presidential Summit Initiatives, we undertake to enhance and invigorate the efforts of the working groups established by the summit to address issues and coordinate cooperation in science, technology, environment, health, energy, agriculture, poverty alleviation, economic growth and small and medium business development.

We agree that the international community should remain engaged in Haiti, noting that the contribution being made by the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH) is indispensable. We agree that free elections should be held this year, with a view to the formation of a democratically elected government. In order to advance stability, international donors must hasten the delivery of assistance already pledged to Haiti.
2005/T6-04

SOURCE: state.gov Released on April 26, 2005 Joint Statement Office of the Spokesman Brasilia, Brazil April 26, 2005