The Secretary may be wheels up for Sharm el Sheikh, but she made certain to wish a Happy Independence Day to our Central American neighbors today. We all join her in wishing them well.
Nicaragua's Independence Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCSeptember 13, 2010
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Nicaragua on the 189th anniversary of your independence this September 15.
As schoolchildren throughout the country read the Act of Independence of Central America and honor Nicaragua’s long history, we offer our best hopes for a future of opportunity and prosperity for the Nicaraguan people and all the people of the Americas. The United States is committed to working with Nicaragua to deepen the relationship between our countries based on mutual respect and cooperation.
I wish all Nicaraguans a happy independence day and a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful future.Guatemala's Independence Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCSeptember 13, 2010
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Guatemala on the 189th anniversary of your independence this September 15.
As Guatemalans all over the world commemorate this festive occasion, we join in celebrating your rich culture and honoring the growing ties that unite our countries. I have enjoyed the warmth and generosity of the Guatemalan people on each of my visits, and the Guatemalan community in the United States has made great contributions to our nation. These deep connections between our people reinforce our close partnership.
On my trip to your country last March, President Colom and I affirmed our commitment to work together on expanding economic growth, improving transparency and accountability, and increasing access to health care and education. Through our Pathways to Prosperity initiative and the Central American Regional Security Initiative, we are working together to widen the circle of opportunity for our citizens and promote stability throughout our hemisphere.I wish all Guatemalans a happy independence day and a prosperous year. I look forward to continuing the partnership between our countries as we work to build a better world for our children.
El Salvador's Independence Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCSeptember 13, 2010
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of El Salvador as you celebrate the 189th anniversary of your independence this September 15.
As Salvadorans around the world enjoy patriotic festivities and honor the heroes of your struggle for independence, we join in celebrating your rich culture and our shared traditions. I was honored to be present for the inauguration of President Funes last year and reinforce our common commitment to building strong democratic institutions, promoting the rule of law, and expanding economic growth and opportunity to more people. We have also made great strides working together to combat terrorism, crime, and drug trafficking. These ties of friendship extend beyond our governments with our strong business and deep people-to-people connections. We are committed to working closely with El Salvador to further strengthen the close relationship between our nations.
I wish all Salvadorans a happy independence day -- ¡Felicitaciones! I look forward to continuing our work together building a future of lasting security and prosperity for all our people.
Costa Rica's Independence Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCSeptember 13, 2010
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Costa Rica on the 189th anniversary of your independence this September 15.
Costa Rica has long been a champion of the values and interests we share throughout our hemisphere – democracy, human rights, open markets, and regional unity and stability. Your strong democratic traditions have set a shining example for over 100 years. During my visit last March, I was honored to meet with Costa Rica’s first female president-elect and discuss avenues for further cooperation and partnership between our nations. As the host of this year’s Pathways to Prosperity Ministerial, Costa Rica provided valuable leadership in our common mission to expand economic opportunities to more people throughout the Americas.
Today, we honor your country’s many accomplishments, and we reaffirm our commitment to further deepening the ties of friendship and cooperation between Costa Rica and the United States. We look forward to continuing our work together on public safety, economic inclusion, environmental protection, clean energy development, and many other initiatives as we strive to build a more secure and prosperous future for us all.
I wish all Costa Ricans a joyous Independence Day. In the words of Jose Maria Zeledon Brenes: “Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz.”
Honduras's Independence Day
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCSeptember 13, 2010
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Honduras as you celebrate 189 years of independence this September 15. Our countries share a history of cooperation based on mutual interests, values, and friendship. Americans have long enjoyed the beauty of Honduras and the hospitality of its people, and we look forward to further strengthening our connections.
Honduras is emerging from a very difficult period. Your resumption of democratic and constitutional government this year has been a testament to the resilience of the Honduran people, and we will work with you to strengthen safeguards for human rights and the rule of law.
The United States supports Honduran efforts to win international recognition for the progress you have made and to fully reclaim your rightful place in the inter-American community. I look forward to our continued work -- as partners and friends -- to promote freedom, prosperity, and citizen security throughout our hemisphere.
I wish all Hondurans a safe and happy independence day.
