Remarks to the Press by the Vice President and Dominican President Medina

The Presidential Palace
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2:30 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT MEDINA:  (As interpreted.)  Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome Vice President Joe Biden and his delegation in the name of the government and the people of the Dominican Republic, as well as in my own name. 

I would like also to take the opportunity of our distinguished guest to send a message of friendship and solidarity to President Barack Obama and to the people of the United States.

In his public, as well as his private life, Vice President Biden is an example of tenacity and strength before adversities, qualities that determine the leadership that he has in his country and the world.  His visit to our land, crib of the expansion of the Western world to the Americas comes to deepen our relations with the United States based in respect and mutual collaboration.

In the meeting that we just concluded, we have overviewed the bilateral relation and touched on points of mutual interest, amongst which security in the area of the Caribbean and Central America, the fight against the scourge of illegal drug trafficking, the topic of energy and trade may be underscored. 

The Dominican Republic and the United States work hand in hand to guarantee security in the area of the Caribbean and Central America.  The joint efforts are crucial to combat illegal drug trafficking, but also trafficking in persons, and containment of illegal immigration.  In this respect we thank you for your support that is now manifested also through the initiatives promoted by the United States in favor of regional security in the actions of the Central American Integration System. 

As you all know, the United States is our main trade partner.  And since the signing of the free trade agreement, DR-CAFTA, exports to that market have grown by 24 percent, from $3 billion in 2007 to $4.2 billion just last year.  Trade between our nations amounted $12 billion in 2012.  And the Dominican Republic is the ninth place for U.S. exports to the Western Hemisphere. 

We are aware, however, of the fact that DR-CAFTA also presents challenges.  As a product of the great asymmetries between our economies, we trust to have the collaboration of the United States so that our trade be undertaken always under conditions of fairness that are sustainable for our producers.  Our concern -- sustainable for our producers.  In this respect, I must indicate that we are very pleased with the answer that President Obama gave to the letter that we sent related to the dangers that the Trans Pacific Partnership represents for the Dominican economy.  We trust that the United States will take into consideration our concern, and that we will not be forced to compete at a disadvantage in the U.S. market.

Another fundamental aspect of our agenda has been energy security, a topic of vital importance for this government because of its profound repercussions in our national budget, and of course in the development of our nation.  The Dominican Republic has launched an ambitious transformation agenda in energy, an integral project that should take us to overcome the energy deficit once and for all.

Amongst our objective, we have diversification of the energy matrix, with emphasis in use of renewable sources of energy, strategy in which we are receiving the technical support of the United States.  And I take this opportunity to thank you for it. 

We attach great value to the interest of the United States to support our energy self-sufficiency.  As a country with limited resources, we must explore the different sources of energy to find a balance between clean energy and generation cost.  In this respect, aware of the fact that the United States very soon will be exporting natural gas, we want to underscore our wish to be included as one of the priority markets for gas exportation.  This will help us notably reduce energy costs, one of the crucial strategic objectives for competitiveness and development in our country.

I must underscore, however, that beyond trade relations, the United States and the Dominican Republic are brought together by brotherhood ties, by living together of thousands -- of hundreds of thousands of families, more than 1.5 million Dominicans that live currently in the United States, and approximately the same number of U.S. tourists that visit our country, in addition to the 250,000 U.S. citizens that live in the Dominican Republic.  That is a tie that cannot be broken, that makes both countries responsible to create better conditions for our citizens within and outside our own borders. 

In this regard, I would like to once again express our gratitude to the government and the people of the United States for the support offered to put into operation of what is already an initiative without precedence in our country for protection of our citizens.  And I am referring to the 911 Security and Emergency System.  Into its third week of operations, we can now say that it is already transforming attention and services to the public for always.  This good result promotes that we work with enthusiasm in its expansion into other zones of the country.  And we count on the support of the United States. 

Our relations with the United States are and will continue to be excellent.  Our purpose, our objective has been that they reflect the maturity of both democracies manifested as a partnership with a common purpose of moving forward for the development of our people.  As in all partnerships, mutual respect must be an inviolable rule.  Understanding that always amongst partners, we can have disagreements.  What is important, however, is to be able to discuss them through dialogue and convince that the dignity of one country transcends beyond its borders.

In summary, our conversation has been a frank, open, respectful dialogue, as it should be among friends.  To the United States, we are brought to by geography, democratic values and love of freedom, our interest is that today such close relationship may come even closer in the future.  I trust that that will be the case after this memorable visit. 

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality.  I think we worried our teams that we were going to stay down in your office and continue to talk we were getting on so well and leave them out of the discussion.  But we’re about to have lunch, and we’re going to pursue some of the things we’ve already discussed.

I want to thank you -- and I want to apologize to you, Mr. President, for having to postpone my trip.  I was due here a month or so ago, and events called me into an emergency, prevented me from being here.  And the only one more disappointed than me was my wife, Jill, who was scheduled to come with me at the time, and now is not able to be with me.  So I’m in a little bit of trouble for not having been able to keep the first date.

But I did bring along with me, Mr. President, because I wanted her to see your beautiful country and become more acquainted, I brought along my granddaughter.  My granddaughter is with me.  She is 13 years old.  And I brought along my nephew.  And so we came to the Dominican Republic.

As you pointed out to me, I’m the first Vice President to visit the Republic since 1980.  And I’m here for a simple reason, on behalf of the President of the United States, because as you do, Mr. President, we believe very, very deeply in the importance of the relationship.  And I said to you and I’ve said throughout the hemisphere that it is no longer the United States, this administration looking to the hemisphere, looking to the Dominican Republic and concluding what can we do for you.  It’s not about doing anything for anybody.  It’s about doing with you. 

We have an inordinate respect for your democracy, respect for you, and respect for the people.  And this is about equals -- equal sovereign nations dealing with one another.  And as you point out, we mostly agree on almost everything.  Where we disagree, we have an opportunity to tell each other where and when we disagree.  We’re not there yet so far.  But the truth of the matter is this is the relationship that is based on mutual respect.  And they're not just words.  That is what our policy is about.  It’s mutual respect.

We can see how close we are.  As you pointed out, we have a million and a half Dominicans, many of whom are my friends and constituents, who live in the United States of America.  And there are more than a million tourists that flock here.  And the only thing you didn't mention is baseball.  (Laughter.)  Baseball is the sinew that holds us together at the end of the day, as a baseball fan.  And so that is -- that should not be underestimated:  the consequence of our -- both of us having a national pastime called baseball.  And I know that's overshadowed in light of the World Cup going on right now.   But -- I’m a baseball fan.

But anyway, we have so much in common, Mr. President, that it’s only natural that our interests and our values overlap with one another. 

And today the President and I discussed all that he said, and I’m hopeful we’re going to be able to discuss more in our lunch.  But with regard to trade, we spoke about trade between our countries.  And since the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, it has grown to $11.5 billion.  And today the President and I discussed what the next steps are in fully implementing CAFTA-DR, including efforts to provide predictable business environment under the rule of law, as well as to put in place protections for intellectual property, labor and the environment.  They're essential elements of that agreement, and very, very important to the United States, and I’m sure to the Dominican Republic.

And these aren’t just the terms of the trade agreement, they're the ingredients for future growth.  They are the basis for future growth.  Where there is not labor protection, environmental protection and protection of intellectual property in this 21st century, there’s not likely to be growth consistent with capability.

And the other ingredient to growth is education.  My wife is a professor and teaches full-time while being Second Lady.  And she has an expression.  She says that, show me a country that out-educates you, and I will show you a country that out-competes you.  And it’s obvious you understand that.  That's part of your DNA, Mr. President.  Because I applaud you for your robust investment in education, including the constitutional mandate for a minimum share of the budget devoted to education.  That is remarkable.  That is notable, and we wish you every bit of luck in any way we can be of assistance in that regard.  And the Ambassador and I discussed last night ways in which we think we can.  But at up to you to decide whether we can be a value-added.

On security, the President and I also spoke about our countries’ shared efforts to protect our citizens from crime.  We’re working together to reduce illicit drug trafficking, increasing public safety and security, and to promote social justice, human rights, and the rule of law because security depends on much more than arrest and confiscation of contraband.

As you know, Mr. President, I spent the bulk of my professional life on the security side of this arrangement when I was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which has control over our criminal justice system.  And I know we share a common sense of what need be done, and we’re prepared to be of help.

And to give one small example, you’ve mentioned, Mr. President, that together we’ve now put in place 911 emergency response for Santo Domingo.  We see no reason why that cannot be -- if you decide that's what you want -- extend this to the whole country.  There is no reason why it has to be limited to Santo Domingo.  We’re prepared to work with you to expand the 911 system.   And we hope your government is -- shares our view that it should be expanded to your entire country.  But that's for you to decide, not for us to decide.

And, Mr. President, on energy, we also spoke about energy.  The central issue for the Caribbean economies that are the most dependent in the hemisphere on energy imports that affects the lives of families and drains government budgets.  It holds back economies, and people feel it.  People feel it.

Later today I’m going to travel to a local solar facility to speak to this issue in greater depth.  But we did have a chance to go into some detail on this, and I assume we’ll continue the conversation at lunch.

The President and I also talked about regional issues.  And we’ll talk more at lunch about this, at least I will ask to talk more about it, about Venezuela and our mutual interest in bringing greater political inclusion, stability, and protection of basic human rights beyond the issue of energy production and availability. 

And with regard to immigration, we discussed immigration downstairs at some length.  In my country, we’re working to bring about change for 11 million undocumented women, men, and children, and to bring them out of the shadows of American life and give them the dignity and the -- that they deserve.

We also are aware that it is also in our economic interest to do that.  Every independent study shows when we do that, our economy actually grows.  Our deficit shrinks.  Our security system -- our Social Security system gains additional leverage.  And so as I told the President, I personally think that one of the secrets to America’s ability to constantly renew itself is  a consistent flow of immigration and integration into our population.

And this is difficult.  This is difficult.  But we consider it a matter of economic self-interest, as well as a moral imperative.  And the Dominican Republic faces its own challenge of improving the conditions of Haitian migrants and descendants who were born here in the Dominican Republic.  I congratulated the President on the swift and decisive way and the overwhelming support he received in the legislature, in the Dominican Congress for the passage of a new naturalization law that is a serious piece of business.

And now it’s about implementation.  And we’re confident that it will be implemented, and I spent time telling the President how pleased and quite frankly how surprised I was that he was able to act so swiftly in dealing with your Supreme Court decision.  And it took a bold step that required bold leadership.  And you exercised and showed you have both, Mr. President.  And as I said, now implementation will be equally as important.

We had a wide ranging and full discussion reflecting the close ties between our people, and the wide range of issues that connect us.  So, Mr. President, I thank you for the discussions we’ve had so far.  I look forward to continuing those discussions at lunch.  And rest assured, rest assured, we -- the United States, our government values this relationship.  We value it very highly.  And make no mistake about it.  We view you with -- and your country with great respect, and view you as a sovereign nation that is equal in every discussion that takes place between us.  And notwithstanding the asymmetries you referred to, it is born out of genuine respect.  I look forward to continuing our conversation.

Thank the press for being here.  And if there’s any new fundamental breakthroughs, we find out how to establish peace in our time around the world, we’ll come back out and tell you.  (Applause.)

END
2:50 P.M. EDT

Readout of the Vice President's Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Poroshenko about the Ukrainian government’s efforts to resolve the crisis in the eastern part of the country. The Vice President offered his condolences for the tragic loss of life of Ukrainian service members over the last week. He commended President Poroshenko’s commitment to move ahead with his peace plan, and for further steps taken to unify the country and work towards a better, more prosperous future for all of Ukraine. The Vice President underscored that G-7 Leaders have clearly called for Russia to stop the flow of weapons and militants across the border and to exercise its influence among the separatists to lay down their weapons and renounce violence, both of which Russia has thus far failed to do. The Vice President noted that the United States would work with our partners to impose further costs on Russia if it continued on its current course. The two leaders pledged to stay in touch in the run-up to the European Union leaders meeting on June 27.

Remarks by the Vice President and President Santos of Colombia in a Joint Press Statement

Presidential Palace
Bogotá, Colombia

PRESIDENT SANTOS:  (As interpreted.)  Well, good morning, all of you.  I would like to start off by extending the most cordial welcome to the Vice President of the United States, Mr. Joe Biden.  Vice President Biden has been a great friend of Colombia’s, not just now but for a long time -- ever since he was the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Senate in the United States.

He was always fair.  In all the circumstances that regarded Colombia, he always supported us.  And I remember when he came and we launched the Colombia Plan in Cartagena.  Well, now he is visiting us for the second time as Vice President, because he was here in May of last year.  So welcome, Mr. Vice President.

I would like to start off congratulating you because of the soccer match in Brazil.  You won -- the United States won.  And I hope that your team goes on.  I think we’re also struggling, and tomorrow we are going to have to face another big team, the Ivory Coast, where we also hope to be winners. 

We’ve had a long meeting this morning, a very fruitful one, where we looked at the agenda, at the program that we have with the United States, ratifying the fact that Colombia is very proud to be a strategic partner with the United States.  The United States not only are our first trade partner, but we have many common denominators.  We’ve been working on all these common denominators, and our agenda with the United States has become larger and larger.

During my visit to Washington, when I saw President Obama, we introduced topics that unite us not only in bilateral relations, but with the rest of the region as well.  We analyzed and we went through all these topics -- the energy item, which we’ve been working on together, not only to develop our own technologies in order to be able to get the utmost out of these resources, but see how on a regional basis we can work with our energy in a more efficient and rational manner. 

I would like to thank Mr. Vice President and the American government, because only a week ago we started the process through which the constitution of a commission on what is called the visa waiver, so that we can get rid of visas for Colombian nationals.  This is a process that requires certain procedures that will require a certain amount of time.  But a week ago, we started this process, which for us is obviously a very important step.

I’d also like to point out that we spoke about the topic regarding security, and these are topics that have united us over a long period of time.  We keep on working on all this, not only a bilateral level, but in terms of third countries we have a number of programs where we have been working together to offer help, aid, cooperation in matters pertaining to security, the struggle against drug trafficking in various Central American countries, the Caribbean. 

And we also talked about technology.  We talked about education, which is something that I personally broached with President Obama when I was in Washington.  We, of course, are hugely interested of this.  And we also went through the evolution of the free trade agreement.  This agreement is advancing.  I think it is going in the right direction.  There are more and more Colombian companies that are exporting to the United States and vice versa.

So as we had forecasted, this is a so-called win-win situation for both our countries.  Both our countries are reaping the benefits of this trade agreement.

I would also like to thank Vice President Biden and the American government for their support for the peace process.  This has been reiterated.  It’s a very important step for us.  They know that we are in a very delicate phase, very delicate stage, and we consider all this an immensely important aspect.  And through institutions like the USAID, we are receiving help, aid in order to elaborate politics that will deal with the post-conflict period. 

I’d also like to welcome the Ambassador, who also presented the credentials last week, Mr. Kevin Whitaker.  We want to thank you, and we are willing to keep on working with your government. 

Mr. Vice President, I also want to tell you that this alliance, this friendship -- this friendship with the United States is something that is hugely important for me, personally it is.  And as always, in any relationship, there’s always a margin to strengthen it, and that’s what I wish to do.  Now that I have my new mandate, I want strengthen our relationship with the United States and allied country.  We consider the United States our friend, and we consider the United States a country that we can work with on many fronts, both with the American citizens, as well as for the Colombian citizens.

Thank you once again, Mr. Vice President.  And welcome to Colombia.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, thank you, Mr. President.  We’ve been acquaintances for a long time.  And congratulations.  Congratulations to you personally on your re-election.  Congratulations to your security forces who made this one of Colombia’s safest elections in history.  And congratulations, maybe most importantly, to the Colombian people who kept faith through some difficult times to become the oldest uninterrupted democracy in South America -- no small feat.  And congratulations to you all.

And thank you for your congratulations for the United States team winning in Natal.  We’re in a pretty tough division.  And we’re not accustomed over the last 30 years to be expecting to do well like you always do well.  But we are very hopeful, and we’re looking forward to the rest of the games.

I came here just three days after your re-election and because the President, through me, wanted to send to you and to the people of Colombia an unmistakable message:  The United States of America always stands with Colombia.  And to your last comment about wanting to continue to build this relationship, which is already strong, it is a central element of our policy, and we strongly, strongly agree with your assertion.

And thanks to Colombia’s remarkable progress under the leadership of Presidents Santos and Obama, our relationship has broadened on many fronts -- trade and investment, which can even grow beyond what it has; energy and the environment; human rights, political and security cooperation -- all across the hemisphere.  And that’s what was reflected in my conversations with the President today.

Mr. President, your country has an absolutely genuine leadership position.  You founded the Pacific Alliance, which is taking a very ambitious approach, which we look at with admiration, on integrating the open-market economies in the region.  It’s a very important example to set not just in the hemisphere, but around the world.  And more progress can be made as Colombia continues to raise labor standards, environmental protections and human rights.  And greater opportunities will be open to connect the global economies, and particularly the growing markets in the Pacific.  So, Mr. President, we look forward to continuing to work with you on these issues, and your leadership is very much appreciated. 

And the President and I also spoke about events in the Western Hemisphere.  And as I’ve noted before, Colombia is a nation transformed through an awful lot of blood, sacrifice and genuine leadership.  And its role in the hemisphere has grown accordingly.  And from my perspective, I see no reason why it will not continue to grow to the benefit of the hemisphere.

Today, President Santos and I spoke about how our countries can work together -- together with the island nations of the Caribbean -- on energy and on security.  And I will be discussing these challenges when I leave here tonight, tomorrow in the Dominican Republic with President Medina.  Colombia’s efforts can benefit the entire region.  And I thank President Santos.  I thank him for his leadership, his reference to Panama, the ability to begin to make progress that everyone has envisioned for some time.

And President Santos and I also spoke about the dialogue in Venezuela, and I laid out the U.S. position.  And finally, we spoke of Colombia’s peace process.  As the President mentioned, I had the honor for many years in the United States Senate to help write and shepherd through Plan Colombia, through the United States Senate.  And nothing would make me happier, Mr. President, than to come back to Colombia for the signing of the final peace accord.  And I know there’s a lot left to do, but I have absolute confidence in your determination.  And I’m confident whatever is ultimately agreed to, God-willing, will be for the benefit of the Colombian people.

As I told you here in Bogota last spring, just as the United States has supported Colombia’s leaders on the battlefield over the years, we fully support you at the negotiating table to end the country’s 50-year conflict, to bring that to an end.  In war and peace, Mr. President, we stand with Colombia.  And as Colombians walk the last mile to the road of peace -- on the road of peace, as they define for themselves the terms and as they strike the right balance for peace and justice, the United States will stand with you to support you. 

Mr. President, I want to thank you for a terrific meeting.  I always learn something when I’m with you.  I think it deepens our personal relationship.  But also, we share the same passion for making sure that this relationship between Colombia and the United States continues to grow as Colombia’s influence in the hemisphere and also its overall influence continues to grow.

So I thank you for a terrific meeting.  I congratulate you and the Colombian people again on a well-run election and your victory.  And Godspeed carrying forward the dreams of the Colombian people.  So I again thank you, and I look forward to many more meetings. 

END

Remarks by the Vice President to the Press at U.S. Embassy -- Brasilia, Brazil

Brasilia, Brazil

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  It’s good to be back in the embassy.  I am looking forward to meeting everyone in the embassy in a few moments.

Look, before I begin, on behalf of the United States, I’d like to extend my condolences for the loss of life and the destruction caused by the floods in Brazil.  I had a brief conversation with the President about that this morning, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Brazilian people and those who are in distress.

I want to thank -- I want to start off by thanking the President and the Vice President for the hospitality and warmth that they extended in welcoming me today.  It’s good to see them both again.  It’s not my first visit, and we’ve become friends and it was great to see them again.  And as you probably are aware, I always enjoy my time with President Rousseff.  We get along really well, and we enjoy each other’s company.  And I always learn something when I’m with her. 

But before I begin to speak about the conversations we had, I wanted you to know how much I look forward -- and I have my granddaughter with me, and my nephew.  This is my granddaughter’s second trip to the embassy and to Brazil.  But when she heard I was going to the World Cup, as a soccer player, she importuned me to say, Pop, I’m going with you, okay?  (Laughter.)  And it was a great -- it makes me a wonderful grandfather, I want you to know now.  (Laughter.)  I am the favorite grandfather in the family right now.

But we had -- the three of us had a wonderful, wonderful time last night.  First of all, all the talk about the stadium -- the stadium is beautiful, absolutely beautiful.  And it met every expectation.  But I must tell you, we were even more excited about what was happening on the field than what happened in the construction of the stadium.

Watching the United States win last night was a great thrill for us.  And we got to go down to the locker room afterwards and I got to renew acquaintances with some of the players, in particularly our goalie, who played an incredible game last night, because I had seen him in the World Cup down in South Africa just four years earlier.  And we committed to meeting at the next World Cup, as well.  He’ll probably have the same job; I’m not sure I’ll have the same one.  (Laughter.)  But we had a great, great, great time.

And with regard to the -- what we’ve seen so far, Brazil has done an incredible job in preparing for and getting these games underway.  And we also wanted -- the President would have liked to have traded spots with me, but we wanted to show our great support for Brazil and the people of Brazil in hosting these games.

The President and I, Dilma, we had a long private conversation.  We met alone, talking about the prospects of how to bring our nations even closer together and our people closer together.  There is already a great deal of mutual benefit that exists for our people in the existing relationship.  We already have $100 billion in a trade relationship; there’s no reason, over time, that can’t double.  There’s no reason why that can’t continue to grow. 

The United States invests roughly $80 billion in foreign direct investment in Brazil, and more than 25,000 Brazilian students are presently studying in 200 universities in America in 46 states.  Our scientists and engineers are collaborating with one another on a whole range of technical issues, including energy.  And our diplomats are working on regional and global problems together.

As evidence of how tightly connected we are, one of my staff members last night said -- when he ordered a Budweiser beer, to the host said, well, it’s nice of you to have an American beer here, and they smiled and said, no, no, Brazil owns Budweiser.  (Laughter.)  So there is a lot closer ties than we’re given credit for.

But as Dilma and I talked, there was -- we talked about a lot more we could do together.  We are two strong diverse democracies with a generous and entrepreneurial people.  The fact of the matter is -- I was telling her about one of the conversations I had with Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore and about how the nations of the future that will lead the world are those nations with diverse populations that are fully integrated and are open societies.  And on that score, we have a clear convergence of values with Brazil, and no obvious conflict of interest with Brazil.

And so there’s great, great potential for strengthening this partnership, and that was reflected in our conversation today.  And like any global partners, we began the conversation today with a fairly long discussion of the situation in Iraq.  We talked at length about our common interests in seeing a stable, united Iraq, a democratic Iraq, an Iraq that is continuing to make an even greater contribution to the world energy supply in order to stabilize markets around the world, and -- we had a long discussion about Iraq. 

And we also talked, as partners do, about Venezuela and our mutual interest in bringing greater political inclusion, stability, and, quite frankly, the protection of basic human rights.  We discussed the work that Brazil and other regional partners have already done to find a solution.  We discussed how she and I had spoke in Chile and -- the inauguration of the president, and how the notion was hatched that we would begin a process including the Vatican in the process.  We talked about how it has to move beyond where those talks are now so that we can deliver for the people of both our countries some progress in the area of Venezuela. 

We also talked about our relationship to be able to deliver to the people of both our countries on economic issues, energy issues and people-to-people ties.  We discussed the common effort we have to protect and secure the Internet.  That is not a tool of government repression; it is owned by the people of the world.  And there is -- this is an area where Brazil has shown important leadership, and we discussed how we can continue to cooperate.

Of course, we also -- and I’m sure this is what most of you are here to find out -- we discussed -- U.S. surveillance programs were disclosed last year.  I know the issue matters a lot to people here; quite frankly, it matters a lot to the people of the United States, as well.  And President Rousseff and I had a chance to have a candid conversation about it, and I told her what she already knew -- that President Obama ordered an immediate review after we learned of the disclosures.  And based on his instructions, we have made real changes in our process, and we are taking a new approach on these issues.

Last January, the United States announced important reforms, including applying many of the same privacy protections that are accorded under our Constitution to the people of our country to citizens of the world.  And we will keep consulting closely with our friends and partners like Brazil as things proceed.

And finally, I was pleased to announce that the United States is standing up a special project to declassify and share with Brazil’s National Truth Commission documents that shed light on Brazil’s 21-year military dictatorship, which is obviously of great interest to the President.  And we turned over an initial batch of those documents today to the Brazilian government.  And I hope that by taking steps to come to grip with the past, we can find a way to focus on the immense promise of the future.

Because when it comes to the United States and Brazil and our relationship, the sky is literally the limit of what we could achieve together.  And we can do it to the immense benefit of both of our people, and, quite frankly, the entire hemisphere and the world in the decades to come. 

Before I conclude, I would like to say a word about Iraq, as well.  We have been -- the United States government has been working to support the Iraqi government and all of Iraq’s communities in their common fight against this vicious threat of terror, so-called ISIL.  We are consulting closely -- and I’ve been on the phone with their leaders as well over the past week -- we’re consulting closely with a full range of Iraq’s leaders on an inclusive political path forward, even as we provide assistance to Iraq’s security forces. 

Urgent assistance is clearly required.  But we also need to help Iraq build the capacity to confront threats over the long term.  And that’s going to require setting aside sectarianism, dealing with legitimate grievances, building up an inclusive security force, and ensuring that all communities live together and have their voices heard.  This is particularly important now, and the opportunity exists in government formation after the Supreme Court of Iraq has certified the election results I believe yesterday.

The bottom line here is that Iraqis have to put together and pull together in order to defeat this enemy, and then move toward building a better future for Iraqi -- all Iraqi people.  And we will help them in that effort.

Thank you all very much, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the folks in the embassy.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END