THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to Visit Latin America Oct. 12-17

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will make an official visit to four countries in Latin America Oct. 12-17. Her visit to Nicaragua, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay is part of the Administration's continuing efforts to strengthen U.S. relations with countries in our own Western Hemisphere.

"At the Summit of the Americas, the leaders of our hemisphere agreed that our mutual prosperity depends upon the welfare of our children, families and communities. With her deep interests in health and education, and in women and children, the First Lady will be a strong spokesperson for this administration's commitment to the fundamental social values that unite this hemisphere," said the President.

In Paraguay, Mrs. Clinton will attend the Fifth Conference of Wives of Heads of State and of Government of the Americas. Mrs. Clinton will address the conference on the goals established at the Summit of the Americas in Miami last December, with special attention to the summit initiatives in health, education and women's rights, particularly as they relate to children.

Throughout her trip, Mrs. Clinton will meet with governmental leaders and with women representatives from official agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), education, health, business, religious institutions and the arts. The First Lady will visit communities to see first hand the progress being made in eradicating poverty and investing in people, through better schools, health services and employment opportunities.

"The United States has a vital stake in the economic prosperity and social well-being of our hemispheric neighbors. In Miami, the leaders of our hemisphere committed their nations to a powerful agenda for addressing our common social concerns in a better future for our children and families. I look forward to meeting with the men and women who are working to build a hemisphere that is more democratic, more prosperous and more just," said Mrs. Clinton.

At the Summit of the Americas, Mrs. Clinton hosted The First Ladies' Symposium on Children of the Americas to discuss the summit's initiatives in health and education as they related to the needs of children. Since then, Mrs. Clinton addressed the Pan-American Health Association as it launched its campaign to eliminate measles from the Western Hemisphere.

The administration has given its relations with the Western Hemisphere a high priority. Among his many meetings with hemispheric leaders, President Clinton has hosted visits to the White House by President Chamorro of Nicaragua, President Frei of Chile and President Cardoso of Brazil.