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From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:HES@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Thu Jun 24 17:43:52 1993
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1993 17:21-0400
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
Subject: Press Briefing by Dee Dee Myers 6.24.93
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 24, 1993
PRESS BRIEFING
BY DEE DEE MYERS
The Briefing Room
11:37 A.M. EDT
MS. MYERS: Any questions? I have no announcements.
Q What's the President doing about the budget today,
and how do you foresee the day?
MS. MYERS: He'll spend some time today on the phone,
calling various senators, helping to ensure final passage of the
budget package this evening. I don't know exactly when the vote will
be, but will probably be sometime this evening.
Q Will he make a statement after that?
MS. MYERS: If it happens, yes, at a reasonable hour
he'll make a statement about it.
Q How about tomorrow?
Q The last time it was 11:00 p.m. --
Q Is there a possibility of a news conference?
MS. MYERS: Last time it was at, like, 9:30 p.m.
Q News conference tomorrow?
MS. MYERS: Possible. We don't have anything totally
scheduled at this point, but I think that's possible. He'll have
something to say about it tomorrow as well.
Q Can you tell us what the President's involvement
has been on the subject of the terrorist group and how he was briefed
and when he first learned about it and anything that he's ordered?
MS. MYERS: No, he's aware of it. He was informed about
it yesterday and is continued to be kept informed about the
operation. As you know, the suspects will have their preliminary
appearance in court this afternoon, and then there's going to be a
news conference at 2:00 p.m. with the various law enforcement
agencies who are involved. Beyond that, I can't say much.
Q Did he have any decisions to make, such as the
timing of the arrest? Did he have any operational role?
MS. MYERS: He was informed about it, but beyond that I
can't say.
Q Is Judge Sessions the main -- is he the main person
running this, given his situation?
MS. MYERS: I don't know exactly what Judge Sessions'
role specifically is. Obviously, the FBI is one of several law
enforcement agencies who are involved in this.
Q So that would mean yes, he is?
MS. MYERS: Yes. The FBI clearly is playing a major
role in this.
Q Has the President called President Mubarak, or has
anyone from the administration, to brief President Mubarak?
MS. MYERS: No, not that I know of. The President has
not.
Q Dee Dee, on Haiti --
Q Can we stay on this issue?
MS. MYERS: Sure.
Q Did he say who informed him? Was it a meeting or a
phone call? Can you talk a little bit about how that worked
yesterday?
MS. MYERS: Through the normal national security
channels, and he's being kept informed through national security
channels.
Q So did Tony Lake do it?
MS. MYERS: Yes.
Q And was he aware before yesterday about this was
generally brewing or in the works, or was yesterday the first that he
was apprised of what was happening?
MS. MYERS: I don't know the specifics about prior to
yesterday what -- obviously, the contents of those briefings are
something that we don't discuss.
Q But you can discuss when he first learned that
there was a terrorist -- and that they were being investigated.
MS. MYERS: All I can say is that he was informed about
this operation yesterday. Beyond that, I am not prepared to discuss
the contents of those security briefings --
Q Has Sessions been in touch with Lake? Is that how
it --
MS. MYERS: Tony gets his information from a variety of
channels. I don't know whether he's spoken directly to Director
Sessions or not.
Q Is the Attorney General involved?
MS. MYERS: Operationally, she's -- the FBI reports to
the Attorney General. And Justice is certainly sort of providing --
they're involved in it. They're not providing a lot of details at
this point, other than to say there is this news conference today at
2:00 p.m.
Q Is that in Washington or New York?
MS. MYERS: New York.
Q The President's briefings have been from Tony Lake,
they haven't been phone calls from Webb Hubbell or phone calls from
Janet Reno?
MS. MYERS: Through the normal national security
channels.
Q Do you know about when Tony Lake -- do you know
about when the briefing --
MS. MYERS: It was in the morning, during his normal
national security intelligence briefing.
Q Can you tell us what Judge Sessions' status is? He
met with Reno this morning again. Is that a final meeting or where
is --
MS. MYERS: No, I would refer you to Justice for the
specific details of that meeting. I mean, the President continues to
wait for a report from the Attorney General on the status of Judge
Sessions. I know that the Attorney General is working hard to
resolve this.
Q Dee Dee, can you tell us -- changing the subject
for a second -- on this latest standoff between U.N. weapons
inspectors in Baghdad and the Iraqi government, is the President
being kept informed of this? How concerned is he about this latest
standoff?
MS. MYERS: The President's being kept informed. Beyond
that, I don't have any comment.
Q Are you familiar with it? Do you know the details?
MS. MYERS: I know the broad outlines of the issue. I
don't know the details.
Q Does he have a final report from the FBI yet on the
assassination attempt and --
MS. MYERS: No, we're still waiting on that.
Q Dee Dee, going into the budget vote, what's the
outlook from your standpoint? What's your vote counting looking
like?
MS. MYERS: Well, I think there's going to be a lot of
people working very hard throughout the day, but we expect that it
will pass.
Q To follow up on that, how worried are you about
this dispute with liberal Democrats on Medicare? Do you think that's
going to be much of a setback?
MS. MYERS: I think clearly there have been -- senators
across the ideological spectrum have raised concerns. And it's been
something that the Majority Leader and others have worked very hard
to reach a consensus. I think we'll see that, and then we'll go into
the conference process where a lot of those details will be hammered
out between the House and Senate versions. I think that's going to
be -- that's going to be a good, vigorous debate.
Q Dee Dee, earlier this morning, you were quoted as
saying the votes weren't there for passage. Are they there now?
MS. MYERS: I think they'll be there by the end of the
day. I think that's what Senator Mitchell as been saying throughout
this process, is that we're working very hard on it, but he has been
optimistic throughout this.
Q Are they there now?
MS. MYERS: You'll have to check with Senator Mitchell.
They'll be there when -- they're not voting yet. They'll be there
when the final vote is taken.
Q Dee Dee, is the President calling any Republicans?
MS. MYERS: I don't think so. I don't think the -- the
Republicans have made it pretty clear they're not going to support
the President's package.
Q What about Senator Hatfield or Jeffords?
MS. MYERS: I don't know. To my knowledge he has not
yet contacted them, but he may very well. If they're willing to
discuss this, then I think it's entirely likely the President would
call.
Q What happy medium is acceptable to the President
between the Senate gas tax and the House Btu tax? And if you won't
say, why not?
MS. MYERS: Obviously, there's going to be some
compromise worked out on an energy tax. And I think that we'll leave
that to the conference process. The reason that we can't comment on
it yet is because the process hasn't started. I think it's safe to
say the administration will be very involved in the conference
process. We'll sit down and work very hard to resolve the areas
where there are questions between House and Senate members and make
sure that the President's principles are maintained.
Q Will the President publicly take a position on
conference?
MS. MYERS: I think we'll wait and see how the
conference process unfolds. At this point we won't.
Q Could you tell us about the compromise which is
being worked out by the Pentagon on gays in the military? Where do
you stand on that, please?
MS. MYERS: As you know, Secretary Aspin is supposed to
present a report to the President by July 15th. He has not yet
completed that. I believe he's in consultation process now. We
expect the report soon, but we don't have it yet.
Q Is The Post story fairly accurate this morning
about the compromise?
MS. MYERS: We haven't seen the report yet, so I
certainly can't comment on the details of what might be in that
report.
Q Well, let me ask you a question. A federal judge
in California said that the military could not deny gays a
constitutional right to serve in the military. Now, if the White
House is negotiating with the Pentagon a kind of compromise, isn't
the President bargaining away the constitutional rights of a
substantial segment of the population?
MS. MYERS: First of all, the President is not
bargaining with the Pentagon on this issue. We're certainly
monitoring progress, but we're not bargaining with the Pentagon. The
President asked Secretary Aspin to present a draft executive order by
July 15th. Secretary Aspin is going to comply with that. And we'll
take a look at what he recommends. And the President will make a
decision from there.
Q But isn't the process which you're now undertaking
a considerable step backward from what he said in the campaign on
this issue?
MS. MYERS: Again, I can't emphasize enough, the
President hasn't made any final decisions at this point. What he
said during this process and during the campaign was that he does not
believe anyone should be denied the right to serve in the military on
the basis of status alone.
Q Does that mean serve openly?
MS. MYERS: The details of it are yet to be worked out.
I think it's clear that there are certain obstacles. Members of
Congress don't support an entire lifting of the ban. I don't think
that's a possibility. But I think that the President continues to
support his goal. He does not believe people should be denied the
ability to serve based solely on status. He has also said that he
doesn't believe there should be any changes in the Uniform Code of
Military Justice.
Q But having a federal judge in California ruling --
setting a very clear precedent on matter, saying what the military
can and cannot do. Why doesn't he just not --
MS. MYERS: I think that -- I don't know what the status
of that decision is. I'm familiar with it, but I think we're going
to move forward with this policy and we'll deal with the -- I mean, I
can't comment on the courts.
Q You have been stating for the past few days that
the White House approves or would like to see a dialogue between
Aristide and General Cedras. But the news reports have been all over
the place. First, Aristide says, yes, he is imposing conditions --
MS. MYERS: No, we've been in contact with Father
Aristide, and he has accepted a meeting without conditions.
Q Without conditions?
MS. MYERS: Without conditions.
Q Today?
MS. MYERS: As of my last checking on that, he'd
accepted a meeting without conditions, which obviously we think is a
good thing. We continue to hope and push for a negotiated settlement
and the restoration of democracy there.
Q Do you know where it will take place?
MS. MYERS: I don't have any of the details. I'm not
sure they've been resolved.
Q Has Goldin been told he can stay at NASA?
MS. MYERS: I've seen that account. I will have to take
that question.
Q Dee Dee, the Russian Foreign Minister has postponed
his visit to the United States. Is that because he's upset about
U.S. pressure to stop selling high-tech weapons to Third World
countries?
MS. MYERS: I think at the agreement of both
governments, Deputy Prime Minister Chernomyrdin's visit has been
postponed until after G-7, and it will give both countries a chance
to work on the summit and to work out some unresolved issues.
Q Is the issue of their sale of high-tech weapons to
Third World countries one of the issues that needs to be worked out?
MS. MYERS: It's certainly something that the two
countries have talked about. As you know, President Yeltsin and
President Clinton talked about it at the summit. President Clinton
followed that up with a letter emphasizing our concerns about nuclear
weapons proliferation, and it's something that we continue to
discuss.
Q Are they irritated at our insistence that they
stop?
MS. MYERS: Well, you'd have to check with them. But I
think our laws and our views on this are very clear.
Q Dee Dee, do you have a reaction to the arrests in
New York?
MS. MYERS: Not yet.
Q Did we disinvite him?
MS. MYERS: No, both countries agreed to postpone it
until after G-7.
Q Who initiated the postponement?
MS. MYERS: There's been an ongoing dialogue, and both
countries agreed to it.
Q I don't understand. You say they're postponing
this until after the summit so they can work on summit business?
MS. MYERS: Before the summit. Both countries are very
busily --
Q Oh, they're working on summit business separately
--
MS. MYERS: Separately.
Q so they don't want to meet, even though they're
going to meet at the summit, until after the summit?
MS. MYERS: The countries are working individually on
preparations for the summit. They're discussing a number of issues,
including technology issues, which I'm sure will come up when the two
presidents sit down.
Q Usually, meetings are a good way to prepare for a
summit.
MS. MYERS: There's additional details that need to be
discussed, and the meeting has been postponed until after G-7.
Q I'm sorry, I'm lost.
MS. MYERS: The meeting wasn't scheduled to discuss
issues --
Q I know, but I'm completely lost, Dee Dee. Help me
out here. I gather that they're not going to have the meeting before
the summit so that they can better prepare for the summit, and then
they're going to have the meeting after the summit?
MS. MYERS: The meeting was not scheduled to deal with
summit issues, specifically.
Q What was it scheduled to deal with?
MS. MYERS: It has to do with energy and space related
issues.
Q Dee Dee, to what extent does U.S. aid for Russia,
U.S. support for G-7 aid to Russia linked to this weapons
proliferation issue?
MS. MYERS: To what extent is G-7 --
Q is aid for Russia linked to the weapons
proliferation issue, and our concerns about Russian sales to India
and elsewhere?
MS. MYERS: I mean, we've made very clear our position
with reference to the MTCR. We're moving forward at the same time
with aid for Russia. We have made it clear that that is a high
priority for the U.S., and we're going to continue to press for
Russia aid.
Q There's no linkage? That means there's no linkage?
Q Even if you don't get progress on weapons
proliferation?
MS. MYERS: At this point, we're moving forward on talks
about the MTCR, as well as Russia aid. We're going to continue to
press for Russia aid. It's something we'll talk about at G-7. We
expect to make good progress on that. As you know, it's passed the
House.
Q Why are the two issues not linked?
MS. MYERS: That we're moving forward on both issues.
Q Why are they not linked and why is the missile
control regime not to be an issue at the summit?
MS. MYERS: I didn't say the -- there's two separate
issues here, or slightly separate issues here. (Laughter.)
Chernomyrdin was coming to the United States to talk about energy and
space technology issues, and also an ongoing discussion about missile
technology and weapons transfers. Obviously, President Clinton and
President Yeltsin discussed those issues at the summit in Vancouver.
The President sent President Yeltsin a letter reiterating his
concerns about those issues. It's something we'll continue to
discuss. Chernomyrdin's visit has been postponed until after the
summit. Both sides will prepare for the summit. Technology issues
will clearly be discussed, and after the summit we'll look toward
rescheduling Chernomyrdin's visit here to meet with Vice President
Gore and talk about energy and technology issues.
Q Can I repeat my question? Why, since we've had
what is ascribed as a very serious incident where we tracked this
material into the Ukraine and finally managed to stop it there, why
is this issue not linked with U.S. and, in fact, G-7 aid to Russia?
MS. MYERS: Because we're moving forward on aid to
Russia and we're going to move forward on our talks on missile
technology.
Q That describes what you're doing. His question is
why you're doing it that way instead of having it be an issue.
MS. MYERS: It's something that -- again, technology
issues will likely come up at G-7, there's no -- it's something that
they discussed in Vancouver; something that they'll discuss in Tokyo.
Q It's a security issue.
MS. MYERS: It is a security and a technology issue.
Q Then why is it not linked with aid to Russia?
MS. MYERS: Because we're going to move forward with aid
for Russia. It's something that we're working on.
Q We understand that. The question is, why would
this not be linked to that? Why is it okay to go ahead with aid to
Russia at a time when we've caught them red-handed in what appears to
be a serious breach of international arms regimes?
MS. MYERS: We have, in the past, imposed sanctions on
Russian companies that violate the Missile Technology Control Regime.
If we determine there have been further violations, we will not
hesitate to impose further sanctions against Russian companies who
are in violation. Make no mistake about that. At the same time --
Q We have the Russian free enterprise sector running
amuck and we wouldn't want to punish the government for it? Is that
the idea?
MS. MYERS: I will reiterate. If we determine that
there have been violations of the regime, we will not hesitate to
impose sanctions. At the same time we're going to move forward with
Russian aid and we're going to move forward with preparation for
discussions with President Yeltsin in Russia.
Q So we do not care to link these issues -- is there
a reason for that?
MS. MYERS: I think I've said all I can say on this.
Q It's my understanding the Russians are not
signatories to that international technology regime.
MS. MYERS: U.S. law requires that violators be
punished, that there be sanctions.
Q Even if they haven't signed onto it?
MS. MYERS: U.S. law requires it, and we're certainly
going to abide by U.S. law.
Q Does the United States government hold the Russian
government responsible for these weapon sales?
MS. MYERS: Well, we're discussing it with them.
Q Or is it only the companies?
MS. MYERS: We take it very seriously. I think
President Clinton has communicated his concerns to President Yeltsin.
It's been communicated at a number of levels. And we're going to
continue to push for enforcement.
Q Let me try linkage in a different way.
MS. MYERS: You're not going to get me to say it, so --
Q Well, I'll try it in a different way. To the
extent that there is difficulty making progress on the weapons issue,
would that reduce the U.S. government's interest in, enthusiasm for,
lobbying for aid to Russia?
MS. MYERS: I will -- at the risk of sounding redundant,
let me say that we're going to continue to move forward on Russian
aid. We're going to continue to -- we look forward to meeting with
President Yeltsin to discuss a number of issues. And we'll continue
to make it very clear that we will not tolerate violations of the
Missile Technology Control Regime.
Q Do you think you'll end up moving more slowly on
aid if you're forced to move more slowly on weapons?
MS. MYERS: That's hypothetical.
Q Dee Dee, back on New York. Do you have a sense
that this crowd has now been rolled up or are there more people out
there that are still posing a threat to the U.S.?
MS. MYERS: I just can't comment beyond -- you'll have
to wait for the press conference at 2:00 p.m. after the preliminary
court appearance.
Q Does the President have a reaction to the arrests
this morning?
Q Can I follow that? Are there --
MS. MYERS: Not yet.
Q Are there additional precautions that the President
now needs to take in light of evidence that this crowd is still
active?
MS. MYERS: I just don't have anything else to add to
that until later.
Q Any changes in security here, Dee Dee?
MS. MYERS: Not that I know of.
Q Dee Dee, Senator D'Amato said a few hours ago that
he had heard about this quite a few days ago and he had extra
protection.
MS. MYERS: I just can't comment on the specific
details. There will be a press conference at 2:00 p.m., and we'll go
from there.
Q Is the President going to announce his decision on
nuclear testing tomorrow?
MS. MYERS: I don't believe that will happen tomorrow.
Q Do we know yet whether Chelsea is going to Japan?
MS. MYERS: No. No decision.
Q Do you have any -- I mean, advance party's going
out this weekend.
MS. MYERS: I don't think it would mean -- would require
a dramatic change if Chelsea was to go.
Q Who is going to Pat Nixon's funeral?
MS. MYERS: Don't know yet.
Q You don't know yet?
Q Well, you'd better decide soon. It's going to be
over.
MS. MYERS: It's Saturday. I think we'll have a
decision on that by the end of the day.
Q Dee Dee, has the White House quietly been informing
gay and lesbian groups that the President is not going to be able to
deliver fully on the campaign promise he made about lifting totally
the ban on gays?
MS. MYERS: No, although we've certainly been open to
hearing their opinions on this. We haven't signaled anything other
than what we've said publicly.
Q Dee Dee, the Federal Reserve yesterday said that --
put out a report that said that businesses are reluctant to hire
people because they're worried about the taxes and worried about
health care reform. And this administration is on record as saying
it wants to create jobs. Aren't you concerned that some of the
proposals out there are discouraging businesses from hiring people?
MS. MYERS: I think the best thing we can do to
encourage businesses to hire people is to get the President to break
gridlock and to get the President's budget passed. That will signal
serious commitment to deficit reduction, it will help keep interest
rates low, it will stimulate growth. And we remain committed to
that. I think that is the best way we can reassure business that
we're serious about breaking gridlock and turning this economy
around.
Q But the concern, though, was on taxes and health
care reform. They're very worried about it.
MS. MYERS: A big part of the concern is uncertainty,
and if we get this budget passed I think that it will be clear what
the road map looks like for the next few years and that the President
is serious about reducing the deficit as well as investing in things
that will help create jobs.
Q When will it become clear on health care reform?
MS. MYERS: We're working on it.
Q Hasn't this President set a dangerous precedent in
negotiating with the military under Article II, Section II of the
Constitution? He's the Commander-in-Chief. Hasn't he diluted his
constitutional powers by negotiating this issue with the Pentagon?
MS. MYERS: Once again, the President is not negotiating
with the Pentagon or with the Joint Chiefs on this. He's, as you
know, had conversations about it. He will review Secretary Aspin's
proposal when it arrives and he'll make a decision. I think it is
absolutely appropriate for the President to seek input of the Joint
Chiefs and others on issues related to the military. However, he is
not negotiating with anybody.
Q Every news story in the country then is incorrect
by describing this as a process of negotiation and compromise. You
have the President not negotiating or negotiating --
MS. MYERS: He's consulting, clearly. And again, it is
not only his right, it is his responsibility to consult with members
of the Joint Chiefs and others on issues that relate to the military.
Q But you have a federal judge saying exactly what
the law is and you have the President stating what his policy is and
you have him stepping back from that policy and consulting, if you
will, on both -- stepping back from his campaign promise and
negotiating on something a federal judge has decreed.
MS. MYERS: I don't think that the federal -- again, I'm
not a lawyer, but I don't think that the federal judge's decree makes
anything crystal clear. But six months ago the President's -- or
almost six months ago, the President set forward a process for
dealing with this issue. He said -- he directed Secretary Aspin to
take six months to look at this issue. And he started two studies;
one was a Pentagon study, one was a independent RAND study. Based on
that, the Secretary was to report back to the President. That
process is moving forward. We expect a report from the Secretary
soon and the President will make a decision.
Q Has he got a RAND study on this?
MS. MYERS: The Pentagon did.
Q Where does Congress interfere in this? Can he
issue an edict after he makes his decision?
MS. MYERS: Obviously, Congress will have the ability to
vote up or down on this.
Q I misunderstand, I think, maybe your answer over
here to this question. You were saying the White House is not
discussing with gay groups a variety of different language
possibilities?
MS. MYERS: We're certainly listening to their opinions
about it.
Q Wait a minute, Dee Dee, I mean, that question is
fairly -- are you not discussing the language that might be used?
MS. MYERS: I think that they -- that the groups were in
to meet once last week with George. They certainly communicated
their concerns about it.
Q And he sat mute through this meeting?
MS. MYERS: I think he was there to listen.
Q Was language discussed that might be applied in
this situation?
MS. MYERS: I don't know exactly what was discussed. I
think a lot of things were discussed.
Q So it might have been and you don't know?
MS. MYERS: I think that they raised a number of
concerns.
Q All that's fine. We're just trying to determine
whether this is -- whether the answer is yes, or no, or you don't
know.
MS. MYERS: What? I don't know exactly, specifically
the entire agenda of what was discussed.
Q Thank you.
Q Do you have any quarrel with what's reported in The
Washington Post today?
MS. MYERS: I'm not going to comment. I mean, I think I
already said we weren't going to comment on -- the President hasn't
made a decision. Secretary Aspin has not submitted a final report.
George did meet with some of the gay and lesbian leaders last week.
Beyond that, I have nothing to say.
Q Is Aspin still scheduled to be in here tomorrow?
MS. MYERS: No meeting has been officially scheduled.
He's going to come in here at some point and it hasn't been
scheduled. It has not been worked out between the President and the
Secretary.
Q Will this decision be made prior to the summit?
MS. MYERS: It depends on when the Secretary gets his
final recommendations. And if the -- I wouldn't assume that if the
Secretary meets at the end of this week that it signals that he's
finished his report. I don't think that that's clear.
Q Dee Dee, speaking of the summit, has President
Clinton had any contact with Miyazawa or anyone else in Japan?
MS. MYERS: No.
Q Does he plan to?
MS. MYERS: I don't know. We'll let you know if it
happens.
Q Back on the New York arrests, has the President
called Boutros-Ghali or Hasni Mubarak or will he today?
MS. MYERS: No.
Q Will anyone from the White House?
MS. MYERS: I don't know. The President has no
scheduled plans to at this point.
Q Why wouldn't he?
MS. MYERS: He just has no plans to.
Q D'Amato?
MS. MYERS: I wouldn't rule it out.
Q Dee Dee, when the budget was taken up in the House,
there were certain Democrats that pretty much agreed only to support
it if their vote was necessary in order to have sufficient votes to
move the process forward. And you said this morning you don't have
the votes now, but you expect to have them by the end of the day.
Does that mean you're pretty confident that you'll be able to garner
support from some wavering Democrats and possibly empathetic
Republicans who will only agree to vote --
MS. MYERS: Yes. We think that by the end of the day
we'll have the votes to pass the package.
Q But are you trying to garner votes from those that
won't support it unless it's an official swing vote, and otherwise
they won't support it?
MS. MYERS: I'm not privy to the intentions of the
various senators other than to say that by the end of the day we
expect to have the support of enough senators to pass the package.
Q Director Panetta indicated even last night that he
felt there were certain friends on the Republican side of the Senate
that share his concern for deficit reduction. And if that's the
case, wouldn't it be logical that some of them might be willing to
support this plan if their vote is essential in order to get the 51
votes?
MS. MYERS: I think we'll get to 51. I hope it includes
Republicans. We'll have to wait and see.
Q Dee Dee, anything on the Ritzenhaler situation?
MS. MYERS: The President has not spoken to him.
Q Is he still trying, or is he waiting --
MS. MYERS: He has not placed another call to him.
Q Dee Dee, back on Russian aid. Is the President
optimistic, confident that the G-7 nations will endorse the $4-
billion package for Russia now, or something less?
MS. MYERS: I think that the details about exactly how
it's structured and how much money is in it are being worked out. I
think there will be some kind of a fund to support privatization and
restructuring of the Russian economy, which is a major step forward.
I think Secretary Christopher said yesterday that he thought that was
an important achievement and something that will certainly be
discussed at the summit. But again, the final details on the size
and the exact structure of the fund are still under discussion.
Q There were reports that $4 billion is just way out
of sight at this point, as far as --
MS. MYERS: Yes. Again, even if it's less, which I
think it may be, than $4 billion, I think, it is still an important
achievement and something that we think will help as the Russian
economy tries to restructure and move toward a market economy.
Q You're backing off the $4-billion figure?
Q Where did you ever get that idea?
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END 12:02 P.M. EDT
#91-06/24