North American Leaders Hold Summit to Discuss Security and Trade Issues
US President George Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon met in Montebello, Quebec this week for their annual North American Leaders’ Summit. The meeting covered a range of issues the three countries mutually face: cooperation on consumer protection, ensuring the safety of imported foods, environmental challenges, natural disasters, climate change, and efficient and secure borders. Also discussed were the Middle East and Haiti and other world security hot spots. Prime Minister Harper held bilateral meetings with Presidents Bush and Calderón separately.
Host Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed satisfaction with the meeting. “Canada, the United States and Mexico are good neighbours and also good friends. As sovereign countries in the modern world we are both independent and interdependent,” said the Prime Minister. “This week’s Summit has provided an opportunity to share individual perspectives and take stock of challenges we face together.”
U.S. President George W. Bush hailed Canada’s military sacrifice in Afghanistan, saying the country and its soldiers had "performed brilliantly" in "writing the first chapter of laying the foundation of peace in the 21st century."
"We agreed that border security measures, critical as they are, cannot threaten the bonds of friendship or commerce between us,'' Harper said.
The final joint communiqué from the three leaders set priorities for the coming year that are of interest to the security community:
· Strategies to draw on risk-based border management, innovative use of new technologies, coordinated border infrastructure development, and moving, where possible, inspection and screening away from the land border.
· Cooperation on law enforcement, screening and facilitation of legitimate trade and travellers across our borders.
· Strengthen cooperation on identifying and stopping unsafe food and products before they enter the three countries
The meeting's highlight was perhaps what did not happen – acrimony, sectarian intrigue and demagoguery. It was a meeting that respected the bonds of friendship and commerce between the three important countries. All three democratic countries are working to advance freedom, democracy and development. Leaders from other parts of the world could learn a lesson from these three amigos.
“Our three countries share peaceful and productive relations,” added the Prime Minister. “These relations are rooted in our common commitment to democracy, free and open markets through NAFTA, and equal opportunity for all our citizens.”
The United States is to host the North America summit in 2008.
Source: Security International's North American Correspondent
