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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release August 19, 1999

U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE AMERICAS PRESSES FOR INCREASED ECONOMIC

COOPERATION ON EIGHT-DAY TRIP TO SOUTH AMERICA

President's Clinton's Special Envoy for the Americas, Kenneth H. "Buddy" MacKay, Jr., will depart the United States August 22 on an eight-day trip to Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Having recently returned from a trip to the Eastern Caribbean States, Governor MacKay will continue on to South America in his efforts to support economic cooperation and growth in the hemisphere by seeking ways to strengthen democratic institutions and stimulate trade and investment.

In each country, Governor MacKay will meet with the president, cabinet officials, political and business leaders. The fundamental themes for these sessions cover issues that will include promoting the development of trade and investment, encouraging institutional transparency and anti-corruption efforts, working toward economic integration, and sharing views on the consolidation of democratic government in the hemisphere.

"There are those who believe that the U.S. only concerns itself with ongoing crises in this hemisphere," Governor MacKay responded recently to a query about his upcoming trip. "While the Americas indeed face many difficult challenges, we must also continue to strive toward our goals of developing dynamic and economically sound trade and investment relationships, deepening democratic institutions, and promoting political cooperation and partnership. I believe this will reduce the likelihood and the impact of future crises, and will help prepare the countries of this hemisphere to compete in the global marketplace."

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