NORTH AMERICAN UNION MEETING TEXT

AT THE SPP SUMMIT IN MONTEBELLO QUEBEC HARPER,BUSH AND CALDERON MADE SPEECHES AFTER THE SUMMIT. HERE IS THE SPEECHES. PAY ATTENTION TO CALDERON HES THE ONE MOST UPFRONT WITH THE GLOBAL REGION IDEA.

President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with Prime Minister Harper of Canada, and President Calderón of Mexico
Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello AUG 21,07
Montebello, Canada - In Focus: Global Diplomacy - 11:57 A.M. EDT

PRIME MINISTER HARPER: (As translated.) Might I, first and foremost, thank all the people here and the citizens of Montebello for giving such a warm Quebec welcome. You are quite right to be proud of your beautiful Montebello manoir and the area.

As the leaders of the three countries, our discussions between President Bush and myself were very cordial, constructive. Our three countries maintain peaceful, productive relations and give great contributions to our people. It is part and parcel of our commitment to democracy, free market, NAFTA, and the equality of chances to all citizens. This is a unique moment to look at the individual aspects that we could look at and the challenges that we have to face. We agreed to discuss the protection of the consumer and looking at the non-secure products entering the nations, in particular those going to our children. We also recognize the fact to find practical, pragmatic solutions to our mutual environmental challenges. Our countries are working to find our own sustainable energy and to find national standards on energy efficiency. Finally -- and this is particularly important for Canada -- we realize that border security must not threaten the friendly relations that we have. We undertook agreements on cooperation, standards, regulations, intellectual property, and research in the energy field. In the framework of this summit, we met the North American Competitiveness Council. Their leaders provided us with valuable information on how we could exploit our partnership in the field of security and prosperity to strengthen our economies and to create good jobs here in North America.

Our discussions did not merely deal with North America. We also discussed a number of other international and hemispheric questions: climate change, and to the next meeting of the Middle East discussions, where our countries are defending democracy and freedom, and protecting the have-nots. This summit enabled us to discuss our singular bilateral discussions. President Bush and myself met yesterday afternoon. We discussed a number of subjects, in particular our joint commitment to have a secure border that shall remain open to goods and services, and to the interaction between the our respective citizens. President Calderón and myself also had a meeting yesterday evening, and I would like to thank President Calderón and his wife Margarita and their children, Maria, Felipe, for having passed a wonderful time with us last weekend. We understand that you have had to shorten your stay, due to the consequences of Hurricane Dean on your country. I sincerely regret the terrible aspect of this Hurricane Dean on Mexico, but I understand the concern, that the Mexican authorities have assisted in evacuating a Canadian citizen.

We have also been able to arrange our agenda yesterday to discuss important matters for our respective nations. We were able to discuss a number of different matters, and the flourishing development of trade between our two countries, and that we shall pursue in the future Canada, United States and Mexico, our good neighbors and good friends. As sovereign nations in our modern world, we are not merely independent but also interdependent. And we are determined to cooperate for our mutual security, our continued economic growth, and the improvement of our North American relations are unique in the world. (Speaks in English.) -- the staff here and the people of Montebello for their warm Québécois hospitality. You have every reason to be proud of this magnificent resort and this beautiful region.

As host of this year's North American Leaders Summit, it's my responsibility and pleasure to report that the discussions between President Bush and Calderón and myself were as cordial as they were constructive. Our three countries share peaceful and productive relations that are of considerable benefit of the people of our respective nations. These relations are rooted in our common commitment to democracy, free and open markets through NAFTA, and equal opportunity for all of our citizens. This week's summit has provided an opportunity to share individual perspectives and to take stock of the challenges that we face together. We agreed to work together on consumer protection. We have to identify and stop unsafe goods from entering our country, especially those designed for our children. We also agreed on the need for practical solutions to our mutual environmental challenges. Our countries are already working together to develop clean and sustainable energy, and we're cooperating on national fuel efficiency standards. Finally -- and this is especially important for Canada -- we agreed that border security measures, critical as they are, cannot threaten the bonds of friendship or commerce between us.

Over the past year we've achieved agreements on regulatory cooperation, pandemics, intellectual property and research in energy. As part of our summit, we also met with the North American Competitiveness Council. The Council's business leaders have provided us with good, practical advice on how we can build our Security and Prosperity Partnership, to strengthen our economy, and create good jobs right here in North America. But our discussions were not focused exclusively in North America. We also discussed a range of international and hemispheric issues from climate change to the upcoming APEC meetings, from the Middle East to Haiti, where all three of our countries are working to advance freedom, democracy, and development for the most impoverished people. Moreover, the summit provided opportunities for one-on-one discussions about our unique bilateral relationships. President Bush and I met yesterday afternoon. We discussed several matters, including our joint commitment to a secure border that remains open to the exchange of goods and services and the interaction of our people. President Calderón and I met last night. First let me take the opportunity to thank the President, his wife Margarita, and their children Maria, Felipe, and Juan Pablo, for spending some time this past weekend with our family. I understand you're cutting your visit short, given the impact of Hurricane Dean on your country. I regret the cost of this terrible natural disaster. At the same time, we appreciate the efforts of the Mexican authorities to secure the evacuation of Canadian citizens. I'm grateful we were able to arrange our schedules yesterday to meet and discuss matters formally before your departure. We had the opportunity to discuss many issues related to the growing relationship between Canada and Mexico that we're going to lead forward together. Canada, the United States and Mexico are good neighbors and good friends. As sovereign countries in the modern world we are both independent and interdependent, and we're committed to working together on mutual security, continued economic growth, and expanding our unique North American relationship.

President Bush.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Prime Minister. Thanks for having us here. I, too, want to thank the good folks of Montebello for their wonderful hospitality. The food was good, the hospitality was warm. You picked a great place to come. I expressed my country's concerns for the citizens whose lives will be affected by Hurricane Dean. I respect the fact that President Calderón has decided to get back to Mexico as quickly as possible in a safe way. I want you to know that U.S. agencies are in close touch with the proper Mexican authorities, and if you so desire help, we stand ready to help. The American people care a lot about the human condition in our neighborhood, and when we see human suffering, we want to do what we can to help alleviate that. So we wish you all the best. These meetings are -- I'm not going to try to reiterate what Stephen said. He went through the list of the meetings. And he's a -- he's right, that we talked about a lot of issues. I just want to give you the spirit of the discussions and why I think they're important. It's our people's interests that Canada and Mexico work closely together. In other words, there's a good reason why our leaders should come together on a regular basis. First reason why is to figure out ways to continue to enhance prosperity. It's in our interests that the Canadian lifestyle be as strong as it is, and it's in our interests that prosperity spread to Mexico. If you're a U.S. citizen, you want people that live close to you to be prosperous. The more prosperity there is in your neighborhood, the more hopeful your neighborhood is.

NAFTA, which has created a lot of political controversy in our respective countries, has yielded prosperity. Since NAFTA came to be, trade between our respective countries has grown from $293 billion a year to $883 billion a year. Now, for some, those are just numbers; for many, it's improved wages and a better lifestyle and more hope. And the question that we're faced with is how do we continue to enhance prosperity so the average citizen understands the benefits of three countries working together? And I think we made some good progress toward eliminating barriers and toward harmonizing regulations to a point where more prosperity will come to be.

And we discussed a lot of other issues. We discussed bilateral issues. Stephen and I talked about border issues. Of course, Felipe Calderón and I talked about border issues and migration. These are complicated issues, but they're issues that we can work out in good spirit as friends. One reason one meets is to reconfirm friendships, is to make sure that not only at the leaders' level is there conversations taking place that are friendly, but that that spirit translates throughout our governments. And I think we've accomplished that objective today.

We also talked, as Stephen mentioned, about international issues, issues concerning South America, the Middle East. These are meaningful discussions. I'm glad I came and I'm looking forward to hosting them next year. Matter of fact, it's in the interests of our countries that we have these meetings on an annual basis and then have working groups follow through on the discussion items that -- during our meetings with the business leaders or our own Cabinet Secretaries.

And so thanks for having me. It's been worthwhile. I appreciate it.

PRIME MINISTER HARPER: Señor Calderón.

PRESIDENT CALDERÓN: Gracias. (As translated.) Thank you, Prime Minister Harper and President Bush. In the first place, I would like to thank very specifically -- I thank you for the solidarity, the understanding and the support that I have received from you in order to adjust my schedule to exhaust pending matters and allow me to return in good time in order to personally tend to the emergency situation that we have to face in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Your understanding and support is also accompanied by the offers of help and solidarity to the victims of this natural disaster. So far -- well, it would be too early to assess the scope of the damages. So far there have been no fatal victims. We can't be sure yet, but we are monitoring the situation every minute, monitoring the hurricane. And as a matter of fact, I'm returning to Yucatan right away, as soon as my aircraft can land, and supervise the rescue missions.

I would also like to thank very sincerely -- thank you for the hospitality and for the human warmth, for the very welcoming attitude of Mr. Harper's family. And I do value this. It was a marvelous weekend for my family, such a typically Canadian place -- typically Canadian places are amongst the most beautiful in the world. And I would like to thank your wife, Laureen, and your children for your offer to spend this time with my family, with my wife, with my children. And I hope I'll be able to return your very nice present in Mexico.

Now, this meeting allows me to reenforce the conviction that North America as a region still has not developed the enormous potential it has, and I'm more convinced about this today than ever before, that it has to be developed. There's no doubt that the globalization process that we are currently experiencing is definitely pressuring throughout competitiveness of our countries -- and not only countries, but the competitiveness of the countries that have joined into regions.

Now, Canada, U.S. and Mexico have to act together in order not only to improve the quality of life of our people, but also to prevent the vast integration process that we've seen in other parts of the world -- Asia, Europe, very specifically. We don't want this to displace our producers and displace opportunities for our consumers.

Now, through working groups that we've established, through the opinions of the businessmen of all three countries and their recommendations to our respective governments, it's clear to me that there's an enormous agenda that has to be developed, carried out. So I believe that we must relaunch in a stronger way the strength of the relationship between the free countries of North America. That is to say that each country, each government is facing within their own public opinion -- particularly in Mexico, maybe in the U.S. -- they're encountering resistance in relation to one or another aspect -- investments, integration, border crossings, and regulatory aspects.

And all these matters, which most of them are covered by the recommendations of the businessmen that we met, they come to stand still. And this is a result of the concerns in each country, obstacles to economic integration of our region. I believe we should reassess -- or we should have our people reassess -- what all this means to the common citizen, the region; what it means to the consumers to have better prices and better quality in the products they consume; also in what it represents for companies to have access to commodities that are more efficient, more productive, better quality and better priced; also what it represents to our workers to have available work, thanks to the fact that North America can be a fully integrated region.

Now, at the same time, there are complementary characteristics between the three countries, and this has got to be very specifically addressed in order to leverage the situation in this new century of globalization.

And we agreed also to prioritize certain issues that have been followed up on. For example, when it comes to regional competitiveness, it's quite clear that this is a very important priority. Also the border area issue; we all want secure and also efficient borders -- borders that will allow the border crossing of those who build, who contribute, and of course, prevent border crossings to those that damage our societies: organized crime, drug trafficking, all the trade in illegal goods.

Also we talked about sustainable development and the challenges facing our countries by a region and by humanity as a whole. We talked about our common purpose to find reliable alternatives that will allow us, on the one hand, to preserve the environment, and at the same time, that will not force us to detain or stop our development and thereby have an impact on the prosperity of our people.

We also talked about security. This is a topic that concerns us all, but as President Bush said, we talked about prosperity. And I believe that this meeting -- in my case, it's my first meeting, first meeting I'm participating in -- I think this meeting could be the beginning of a new age in the framework of the relationship of the three countries, and particularly if we relaunch trade exchange, and also if we are able to take advantage of our potential.

I also thank President Bush for his invitation to come to Texas next year in order to continue with these talks. And also Mexico is interested in hosting the meeting in 2009 in my beloved, dear, beautiful country.

Therefore the issues were multifarious and we took advantage of the time we had, although it was reduced because of this emergency situation that we're facing. I'm very happy that the environment within which we worked was very positive, very constructive on the part of everyone in attendance. And we hope that we'll be able to follow up on all the commitments, on the priorities that we've established and on the recommendations that we've received from the business sector.

Thank you very much, Prime Minister Harper, for your hospitality. Thank you to the Canadian people and to the people of Quebec for your hospitality, and to the staff of this wonderful place in Montebello that treated us so generously. And, well, we will be at your disposal when you come to us.

MODERATOR: To the press, good afternoon. We'll begin with the press conference. And just a reminder, it's one question per reporter. We will start with Ben Feller, Associated Press.

Q Thank you all. Mr. President, yesterday, Senator Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that the Iraqi parliament ought to oust Prime Minister Maliki and his government for being politically unable to deliver political unity there, for utterly failing on that point. I'm wondering what your reaction is to Senator Levin's comment, and whether you think Maliki has lost credibility.

And if I may, President Calderón --

MODERATOR: I just ask that you limit yourself to one question, please.

Q Thank you. As you three leaders meet here, there are a growing number of people in each of your countries who have expressed concern about the Security and Prosperity Partnership. This is addressed to all three of you. Can you say today that this is not a prelude to a North American union, similar to a European Union? Are there plans to build some kind of superhighway connecting all three countries? And do you believe all of these theories about a possible erosion of national identity stem from a lack of transparency from this partnership?

PRIME MINISTER HARPER: Well, let me begin. And I guess I read some things from my opposition in Canada -- I'm not sure these are generally expressed concerns, but a couple of my opposition leaders have speculated on massive water diversions and superhighways to the continent -- maybe interplanetary, I'm not sure, as well. (Laughter.) I even -- there were reports of a former Prime Minister lurking in the hallways -- I have yet to see him. (Laughter.)

Look, we have an enormous trading commercial relationship. It's important that the leaders of that trading relationship get together periodically, have discussions, just as it's important at every level -- ministerial level, official level -- that they're getting together and talking and making sure they're working out problems.

You know, we had some business leaders in front of us today; one in particular said, you know, the rules for jelly beans -- he manufactures jelly beans -- the rules for jelly bean contents are different in Canada and the United States; they have to maintain two separate inventories. Is the sovereignty of Canada going to fall apart if we standardize the jelly bean? I don't think so. Maybe Mr. Dion thinks so, but I don't think so.

So these are pragmatic, practical discussions. In fact, it was my predecessor in the Liberal Party who initiated them. And ultimately, of course, for the decisions, we're responsible to our respective populations. We're a democratic system and, as President Calderón mentioned, I have to listen to that practical input every single day in parliament.

PRESIDENT CALDERÓN: (As translated.) Well, in fact, I'll be happy with one step in Mexicali and one in Tijuana. In actual fact, there are several myths about this meeting, some more jovial, funnier than others. What we tried to do is simply to meet, talk about our common problems and see what we can do in practical terms in order to improve the lives of our people. Whether it's to standardize the parameters for chocolates or medicines, I think these are common-sense things, and moreover, I think -- I'll tell you this very clearly -- I think that as a region, we are losing competitiveness in comparison with other regions in the world.

And it's not a question of customs unions, let alone having an integration that would actually encroach on the sovereignty and culture and resources of each country. We simply have to take advantage of this opportunity of being neighbors and allies in order to generate prosperity and security for our people. That is the purpose of these meetings.

Now, let me tell you, at times I would even like to work faster, review more issues, but we have to be very patient. And something that we did talk about also, which is part of my responsibility, or our responsibilities as leaders, is to talk to the people and tell them why it's important to have better trading rules, why it's important not to have so many barriers between ourselves, why it's important to resolve issues such as immigration, investment, because that could actually improve the quality of life for our people. It could mean the Mexican consumers could have better products, Canadian products, U.S. products and -- well, Mexican products also -- because there would be more investment in our country, which requires thousands and thousands of jobs in order to resolve the problems of the people. And when that happens, when there's investment -- and there's only investment when there is competitiveness. And we do have a way to go in that regard.

PRESIDENT BUSH: We represent three great nations. We each respect each other's sovereignty. You know, there are some who would like to frighten our fellow citizens into believing that relations between us are harmful for our respective peoples. I just believe they're wrong. I believe it's in our interest to trade; I believe it's in our interest to dialogue; I believe it's in our interest to work out common problems for the good of our people.

And I'm amused by some of the speculation, some of the old -- you can call them political scare tactics. If you've been in politics as long as I have, you get used to that kind of technique where you lay out a conspiracy and then force people to try to prove it doesn't exist. That's just the way some people operate. I'm here representing my nation. I feel strongly that the United States is a force for good, and I feel strongly that by working with our neighbors we can a stronger force for good.

So I appreciate that question. I'm amused by the difference between what actually takes place in the meetings and what some are trying to say takes place. It's quite comical, actually, when you realize the difference between reality and what some people are talking on TV about.

PRIME MINISTER HARPER: (As translated.) Might I add, in French, I did not know that there were these major plots that were mentioned by the head of the opposition, Mr. Martin, a Liberal prime minister, who initiated these discussions, I believe, for Mr. Dion. It is a rather regressive step backwards to this whole question of our NAFTA discussions and SPP.

PREMEDITATED MERGER
Bush doesn't deny plans for N. American Union
President avoids question, ridicules conspiracy theorists who believe it
August 21, 2007 - 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Note: WND's Jerome Corsi will be the guest during the first hour hour tonight of Coast to Coast AM, discussing the North American summit on radio stations across America, beginning just after 1 a.m. Eastern time. 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

The leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico conferred over the Security and Prosperity Partnership

MONTEBELLO, Quebec – President Bush today sidestepped a direct question about whether he'd be willing to categorically deny there is a plan to create the North American Union. Instead, he ridiculed those who believe that is taking place as conspiracy theorists. The exchange came at a news conference held by Bush, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who met at a resort in the rural woods outside of Ottawa, Quebec, to discuss their latest work on the Security and Prosperity Partnership. After the trio presented their prepared statement about the SPP, several reporters who had been selected in advance were allowed to ask questions. When it came time for a question from a Fox News reporter, Bush was asked if he would be willing to categorically deny that there is a plan to create a North American Union, or that there are plans to create NAFTA Superhighways.

As you three leaders meet here, there are a growing number of people in each of your countries who have expressed concern about the Security and Prosperity Partnership. This is addressed to all three of you. Can you say today that this is not a prelude to a North American Union, similar to a European Union? Are there plans to build some kind of superhighway connecting all three countries? And do you believe all of these theories about a possible erosion of national identity stem from a lack of transparency from this partnership? was the question, according to a White House transcript. Reporters at the news conference said he sidestepped, instead adopting the tactic that those who are arguing the European Union model of integrating nations into a larger continental union is being used in North America should be ridiculed. He called it an old political scare tactic, to try to create a wild conspiracy and then demand that those who are not engaged prove that it isn't happening.

Bush's answer was:

We represent three great nations. We each respect each other's sovereignty. You know, there are some who would like to frighten our fellow citizens into believing that relations between us are harmful for our respective peoples. I just believe they're wrong. I believe it's in our interest to trade; I believe it's in our interest to dialogue; I believe it's in our interest to work out common problems for the good of our people.And I'm amused by some of the speculation, some of the old – you can call them political scare tactics. If you've been in politics as long as I have, you get used to that kind of technique where you lay out a conspiracy and then force people to try to prove it doesn't exist. That's just the way some people operate. I'm here representing my nation. I feel strongly that the United States is a force for good, and I feel strongly that by working with our neighbors we can a stronger force for good. So I appreciate that question. I'm amused by the difference between what actually takes place in the meetings and what some are trying to say takes place. It's quite comical, actually, when you realize the difference between reality and what some people are talking on TV about.Harper joined in. There's not going to be any NAFTA Superhighway connecting the three nations, he said, and it's not going to go interplanetary either, he said.

Harper said the SPP discussions that were held concerned such pressing issues as jelly beans. He said the business interests expressing their desires for progress on the SPP noted there were different standards in the United States and Canada, and there was a discussion about whether those standards could be made uniform for the U.S. and Canada. Bush's comments echoed the comments published just a day earlier in the Ottawa Citizen by David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada. While conspiracy theories abound, you can take it to the bank that no one involved in these discussions is interested in, or has ever proposed, a North American Union, a North American super highway, or a North American currency,he wrote. The United States, Canada and Mexico are three distinct, sovereign countries that practice democracy differently, he wrote. Each proudly defends its own interests. But our leaders also recognize that we share a continent in this post-Sept. 11 world, where terrorism is but one threat. We have a vested interest in working together to prevent potential threats outside North America – like those posed by pandemic flu or improperly labeled foods, for example – from penetrating our borders.

Wilkins wrote that the nations also are exploring ways to detect radiological threats and coordinating emergency efforts along our borders in the event of a man-made or natural disaster. It just makes sense when you share thousands of miles of common border to share a common emergency-management plan.He said another goal is to reduce the cost of doing business across national borders. The Late Great USA, which was criticized by President Bush at the conclusion of the SPP summit in Quebec However, Jerome Corsi, a Harvard Ph.D. whose newly published book, The Late Great USA, uses the government's own documentation to show the advance of a North American Union, said ridicule is the last resort of someone who is losing an argument.Such tactics, Corsi said, underestimate the intelligence of people listening, and people realize that the argument wasn't answered.At the news conference, he noted, Bush failed to respond to the Fox News question with a denial of the plans for a North American Union.

And, Corsi said, Bush did not address the fact that Texas Gov. Rick Perrry vetoed a two-year moratorium on the Trans-Texas Corridor project, believed to be the starting point for an eventual continent-wide grid of NAFTA Superhighways. Just to ridicule the idea, when he had a change to categorically deny it, raises doubts in peoples minds, especially when these meetings aren't transparent, Corsi added. The meeting this week, which focused on economic issues, was attended by representatives of dozens of multinational corporations anxious to have their manufacturing and sales processes smoothed. However, Corsi said, not one person who objects is permitted inside the room.At the same time, Bush did affirm that there is a plan under consideration for the United States to provide military assistance to Mexico's military in its battles in the drug war, although officials were not ready to announce what that plan includes. The three national leaders simply affirmed that drug trade is a continental problem and would demand a continental solution.

The formal statement from the three leaders referred to the opportunities and challenges facing North America and [the need] to establish priorities for our further collaboration.They said the three nations already have agreed to a North American plan for avian and pandemic influenza, a Regulatory Cooperation Framework, an intellectual property action strategy and a Trilateral Agreement for Cooperation in Energy Science and Technology.The North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), announced last year in Cancun, has provided us with thoughtful recommendations on how we could strengthen the competitive platform for business, the statement said.
The statement said the Regulatory Cooperation Framework will allow various rules to be streamlined across borders. In the coming year, we ask our ministers to consider work in areas, such as the chemicals, automotive, transportation, and information and communications technology sectors, the statement said. And the Intellectual Property Action Strategy also gives us an invaluable tool for combating counterfeiting and piracy, which undermine innovation, harm economic development and can have negative public-health and safety implications, the three said.

Food safety and border security also were discussed. Our governments will continue to address the safety of food and products imported into North America, while facilitating the significant trade in these products that our countries already have and without imposing unnecessary barriers to trade, the leaders said. It is sometimes best to screen goods and travelers prior to entry into North America. We ask our ministers to develop mutually acceptable inspection protocols to detect threats to our security, such as from incoming travelers during a pandemic and from radiological devices on general aviation, the statement said. But protesters who staged events in Ottawa as the meetings were moving forward, warned of the integration and harmonizing the SPP seeks. The SPP is pursuing an agenda to integrate Mexico and Canada in closed-door sessions that are getting underway today in Montebello, Howard Phillips, the chairman of the Coalition to Block the North American Union, told an earlier press conference in Ottawa. We are here to register our protest, Phillips added, along with the protests of thousands of Americans who agree with us that the SPP is a globalist agenda driven by the multi-national corporate interests and intellectual elite who together have launched an attack upon the national sovereignty of the United States, Canada and Mexico.Connie Fogel, head of the Canadian Action Party, agreed with Phillips. Canadians are complaining that the SPP process lacks transparency, Fogel told the press conference. Transparency is a major issue, but even if the SPP working groups were open to the public, we would still object to their goal to advance the North American integration agenda at the expense of Canadian sovereignty.