I was pleased to see that each of these areas was addressed at the Santiago Summit. First, there is a need to do more to reinforce democracy. Elections are only a pre-condition for successful democracy. In many countries, much more needs to be done to guarantee a free press, to guarantee free expression of political views, and to strengthen confidence in the just and impartial rule of law. This leads to the second challenge, which is strengthening of the judiciary and law enforcement systems.
Corruption can hold back an entire country.
Not only does it ensure that the public has no confidence in government and a just society. It prevents the creation of a marketplace where businesses can feel confident about predictable and fair treatment. In the world of global markets, those businesses will go elsewhere. And, of course, corruption severely impedes our efforts to combat drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Third is the imperative to improve the level of education in our hemisphere.