Pacheco and the Rest of the Central American Presidents Discuss Free Trade With George W. Bush
US President George W. Bush met at the White House on Thursday the presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to discuss free trade and regional cooperation.

"The best way to achieve peace and prosperity for our hemisphere is by strengthening democracy and continuing the economic transformation of Central America and the Dominican Republic," Bush said after the meeting.

Bush was joined by presidents Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador, Oscar Berger of Guatemala, Ricardo Maduro of Honduras,  Enrique Bolaños of Nicaragua and Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic.

Bush's meeting with Central American leaders occurred as he tries to win approval of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that would eliminate most tariffs and trade barriers between the United States and the six Latin American countries.

CAFTA was signed in May 2004. The Dominican Republic joined the group shortly afterward. The agreement has already been ratified by the legislatures of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

"All of us agree that the Central American Free Trade Agreement presents us with an historic opportunity to advance common goals in an important part of our neighborhood," Bush said.

Bush signed the pact last May, but it needs the approval of Congress. Central American nations hope the US Congress will vote on it in late May or early June.

President Bush touted the pact, which faces an uncertain future in the Congress, during a brief appearance in the Rose Garden.

If ratified by Congress, CAFTA would remove tariffs and import restrictions between the United States and the six nations. A vote could come this month.