Leaders of Americas pledge cooperation

MONTERREY, Mexico -- Leaders from across the Americas pledged to strengthen democracy and unite against terrorism Monday, despite regional conflicts and cross-border disputes that threaten the unity of the hemisphere.

As one of the first speakers at the 34-nation Summit of the Americas, President Bush reached out to Latin America, saying his government was committed to "embracing the challenge of . . . bringing all the hemisphere's people into the expanding circle of development."

Bush added that all countries "must work to provide quality education and quality health care for all our citizens, especially those who suffer from HIV/AIDs."

But the president also made reference to the issues that have led many Latin Americans to criticize his administration, including a proposal to ban corrupt nations from the Organization of American States.

"I signed a proclamation denying corrupt officials entry into my country. I urge other governments to take similar action," he said.

He took aim at Venezuela, whose president, Hugo Chavez, recently accused the United States of "sticking its nose" into his country's affairs when it urged that he allow a referendum on recalling him from office.

Bush said American leaders must support "democratic institutions . . . whether in Venezuela, Haiti or Bolivia."

Chavez told reporters earlier that the United States was lacking information. "We are working to make clear to the world what we are. . . . Venezuela has a vigorous, participative democracy with a country rebuilding itself from scratch."

In addition to opposing the U.S. anti-corruption initiative, both Venezuela and Brazil have argued against setting a firm deadline in the summit declaration for a free trade agreement of the Americas.

On Sunday, Mexico President Vicente Fox indicated he didn't believe the trade agreement should be included in the summit's agenda.

Although disagreements on various issues threatened to hold up the summit's final declaration, leaders made an effort Monday to show that relations between their countries were growing stronger.

The most visible example of that effort came when Fox reiterated his support for Bush's new migration program and Bush asked his counterpart to visit him at his Texas ranch in March. Fox accepted the invitation.

Fox had planned to travel to Bush's ranch in 2002, but canceled his trip in protest after U.S. authorities refused to halt the execution of a Mexican convicted of killing a Dallas police officer. That, and Fox's refusal to back the Iraq war, strained ties between Mexico and the United States.

Bush's migration plan is already being compared to a World War II program that allowed migrants to work in the United States temporarily to fill a labor shortage.

Similar to what Bush has proposed, many of those migrants, known as Braceros, were given savings accounts that they would receive when they returned to their native countries. But many workers complained they were never paid. Dozens of the Braceros protested Monday near the U.S. consulate, urging the United States to pay them before starting up a similar program.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, who was scheduled to meet privately with Bush on Tuesday, said the countries should work for a "more secure and prosperous world for all of us," and "maintain our commitment to the social safety net."

"For some of the countries here, this is not going to be easy," he said.

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