Your Excellencies resident and Mrs. alvaro Arzu and Heads of States of Central American nations, distinguished guests, I Would like to express my profound gratitude to President and Mrs. Arzu for warmly welcoming me and my wife and the members of my delegation and hosting such a sumptuous dinner for us. I would also like to thank all Your Excellencies, the Presidents of Central American nations, for coming here to attend the summit.

As the first head of state of the Republic of Korea to visit Central and South America, I believe it is highly significant for me to start my trip in Guatemala. Guatemala is known to us as the center of the historic Mayan culture. The Korean people, who have inherited 5,000 years of history, feel a particular affinity and love for the Guatemalans as fellow conveyors of a great civilization.

Moreover, Guatemala is one of the close friends of our country; there are more than 180 South Korean companies doing business and some 2,000 Koreans living here.

I hope that my present visit will be a turning point toward enhanced friendly ties and mutual understanding between our two countries.

Your Excellency, President Arzu,

In your inaugural address last January, you declared to the world that you would work for national reconciliation and the firm establishment of democracy in your country. Under your strong leadership, conditions for the restoration of peace have been established and the economic climate is improving greatly. I firmly believe that efforts by you and the people of Guatemalan for the settlement of peace and economic revitalization will surely bear fruit. I applaud such efforts.

The Republic of Korea, overcoming the devastating effects of war, poverty and dictatorship over the past half century, has simutaneously achieved industrialization and demo cratization. I would like to share this previous experience with the Guatemalan people and hope to be of help in your nation's development efforts

over the past half century, has simultaneously achieved

As the ancient Mayan people built a brilliant civilization in the isolated jungles, I sincerely pray that Guatemala will be able to overcome the present difficulties and become a nation brimming with peace and prosperity.

Guatemala has a great potential for economic development based on youthful and active manpower and various natural conditions. Your country is also located at the center of exchanges and cooperation between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and at the point where North and Central America meet.

If Guatemala, which has such a potential, cooperates closely with the Republic of Korea, the gateway to East Asia, mutual profits and common prosperity will increase greatly.

Your Excellencies, Presidents of five Central American nations,

The five Central American countries once existed as one federation and share many historic and cultural legacies. Such homogeneity and strong ties, I believe, were the spiritual power behind this region's drive for the restoration of peace and democracy in th 1980s.

You are now stepping up efforts for political and economic stability and unity to further develop the region. I firmly believe that efforts such as these will bring successful results, and I hope that the Republic of Korea will be able to play an important role in the region's growth.

This morning, we held the first ever joint ROK-Central America Summit. We reaffirmed the traditional friendship among our countries and confirmed anew our determination to build a new cooperative partnership. In particular, the establishment of the Korea-Central America Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation is the first valuable fruit born of our cooperative partnership. We have to concentrate our wisdom and strength in order to turn this Forum into a path toward stepped-up cooperation.

The Republic of Korea is willing to share our development experience with each of the Central American nation and will not spare efforts for the common prosperity of the countries in the region. I believe that solid cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Central American countries will become and engine for the construction of a new Pacific community.

Leaders of the Central American nations,

The Korean people will never forget the broad support your nations have accorded us in international arenas including the United Nations.

I sincerely hope that my current visit will become an epochal milestone in the strengthening of Korea's relations with each of the Central American nations.

Finally, I would like to thank President Arzu once again for inviting us as state guests and hosting the ROK-Central America Summit.

Distinguished guests,

Please join me in a toast to the health of President and Mrs. Arzu, the peace and prosperity of Guatemala, and everlasting friendship between the Republic of Korea and all the nations in Central America.

Thank you.