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 "We know our responsibilities across the world.
We know that the world is uneven, and the United States
and Brazil can work together. We will work together."
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
By
American president's remarks in photo opportunity with President
Cardoso of Brazil. Transcript of the conversation
held March 30 and released by the White House.
The Oval Office
2:15 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all for coming. It's my honor to welcome our friend from
Brazil. Mr. President, we are honored—we're honored to have you here. We've got a lot
in common. Brazil is a vast nation. It's a democracy. It's a country with a huge economic
potential. It's a government run by a good man.
We've had a good, frank discussion about a lot of subjects. There's no question in my
mind that we'll have good relations over the next years. And there's no question in my
mind that as we cooperate together, the people of both our countries will benefit.
We've discussed a lot of topics, including trade. We've agreed to work closely together
to see if we can't come up with a way for our nations to continue to interface with each
other. This country invests a lot of money in Brazil, because Brazil's a safe place to
invest money. And we're going to keep it that way, keep our relationship strong. So Mr.
President, welcome, glad to have you here.
PRESIDENT CARDOSO: Thank you very much, sir. Let me say that I am very glad to be here,
be with you. I knew your father. Now I'm very glad to see the way you are. As I said
yesterday, I will put—take off my glasses to see your eyes, because you said that you
would like to see my eyes directly.
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT CARDOSO: I must say that it was a very pleasant conversation about several
issues. And I do agree with you, sir, on the sense that Brazil and the United States have
to be close, and close not just in terms of trade, but in terms of the hemisphere in
general, in terms of security, in terms of democracy. We have shared values; so why not
work together?
And also because we know our responsibilities across the world. We know that the world
is uneven, and it's necessary to work—to do a lot of things to offer more perspective
to the world, to the hemisphere, to Africa and other parts. And the United States and
Brazil can work together. We will work together.
I also see that you are a very informal kind of people, as I am, so I am very glad.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT CARDOSO: If you allow me now, I speak a little bit in Portuguese because
there are lots of Brazilians over there.
(Remarks in Portuguese.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: We'll have one question from the American press, one question from the
Brazilian press, and then everybody can go home for the weekend.
Q: Mr. President, there seems to be an effort underway in Belgrade to arrest Mr.
Milosevic. Does the United States support this? Will the United States contribute in any
way to getting it done? What do you think should happen to him?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we've always said that Mr. Milosevic ought to be brought to
justice. I had a visit with the Secretary of State about this very matter. We're watching
it very carefully. We will cooperate in any way that we're asked to do so.
Q: Mr. President, in terms of trade, have you, Mr. President, President Cardoso and
President Bush, have you been able—do you think that you are going to be able to
bridge the differences between the two countries? Are you ready as free traders to fight
the protectionists in each of your respective countries?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Absolutely, we can work together. We had a very good discussion about
trade. The President and I have made a decision that we'll work closely to iron out any
differences that may exist. Obviously, each of us have got different issues that we have
to deal with within our own borders. I'm mindful of that, so is the President.
But the thing that's important is the spirit of cooperation. There are no differences
when it comes to the desire to cooperate. I'm confident we'll have a very fruitful
relationship. It's in our nations' best interests that we have close relations with
Brazil.
For those of you who have never heard me say this, good relations in our neighborhood
is not going to be an afterthought for our foreign policy in America. The best foreign
policy starts with making sure that relations in our own hemisphere are very positive. And
the fact that the President would come here to Washington and have a fruitful dialogue
with me is an indication that not only are we interested, but so is the President. For
that, I'm very grateful.
PRESIDENT CARDOSO: That's true. I do agree with the President. I believe that—we
have, of course, from time to time some difference. That's normal between nations.
Yesterday the President said, American—to be American first. Well, I would say the
same, to be Brazil first. That's normal. But then let's see how to cooperate.
And the point is that regarding trade—you asked what about trade—our problems
are going—are being discussed in several meetings. We have been making progress
toward a more free trade. Of course we're going to have to take into account the situation
in Brazil, Brazilians' interests, and we'll have to see how to solve, eventually, what can
be a conflict of interest. But very localized interest, very specific interest. We cannot
generalize as if America and Brazil will clash.
No, by being one point to have the difference. So let's try to work together to solve
the difference. That's the way.
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