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July 21, 2005

Raul Yzaguirre on behalf of the Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade introduced and endorsed President Bush’s speech promoting the US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC - Raul Yzaguirre, executive director of the Center for Community Development and Civil Rights at ASU, welcomed President Bush to speak in support of the US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) at an Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade forum on “Promoting Democracy in the Americas.” Hispanic and Latin American leaders and diplomats gathered at the Organization of American States headquarters to listen to Bush’s address and offer their unified support of CAFTA.

Urging Congress to pass CAFTA, Bush highlighted benefits of the trade agreement, and thanked the Hispanic community for their support of the treaty.

“I appreciate your commitment to democracy and freedom,” said Bush, applauding the audiences mobilized efforts to lobby Congress for the passage of CAFTA.

Bush praised Yzaguirre, a fellow Texan, for his strong leadership in the Latino community. “I can’t thank you enough for being the leader you have been,” he said.

Yzaguirre representing the Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade, a non-partisan group of more than 130 of the most influential Hispanic organizations in the country, recognized Hispanic and Latin American’s common interest in backing CAFTA.

“As a Hispanic community we share economic, cultural and language ties to Central America. For many of us this not just about economics…it is about improving a region. We believe passage of CAFTA is the next step in the development of this hemisphere, in its security, stability and democracy,” said Yzaguirre.