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From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Tue Mar 16 19:14:16 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 19:01-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Press Release on Ambassadorial Nominations
To: Clinton-Foreign-Distribution@campaign92.org,
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release March 16, 1993
PRESIDENT NAMES AMBASSADORS TO FIVE COUNTRIES
(Washington, DC) President Clinton named five career Foreign
Service Officers to ambassadorial positions today. The President
announced his intention to nominate Alvin Adams for Ambassador to
Peru; Harry Gilmore, Ambassador to Armenia; Mark Johnson,
Ambassador to Senegal; Marilyn McAfee, Ambassador to Guatemala;
and Allan Wendt, Ambassador to Slovenia.
"Secretary Christopher and I have pledged to name
ambassadors who meet the highest standards of excellence," the
President said. "With these announcements today, we have done
just that."
Alvin Adams was originally nominated to be Ambassador to
Peru by former President Bush in September 1992. He has
previously served as an Ambassador in Haiti and the Republic of
Djibouti, and was the State Department's Associate Coordinator
for Counter Terrorism from 1987-89. He has also served at State
as Deputy Executive Secretary and Director of the Secretariat
Staff, and at several posts in the Bureau of Economic and
Business Affairs. He served on the National Security Council
staff in the White House from 1972-74, and was Special Assistant
to Secretary Henry Kissinger from 1974-76. From 1968-70, he
served at the US Embassy in Saigon. Adams, who entered the
Foreign Service in 1967, is a graduate of Yale University and the
Vanderbilt University Law School.
Harry Gilmore joined the Foreign Service in 1962, and
currently holds the rank of Minister-Counselor. His most recent
posting was as Deputy Commandant for International Affairs at the
Army War College from 1991-92. Prior to that, he had spent four
years in Berlin, initially as Deputy Commandant of the U.S.
Mission, and from 1990-91 as Principal Officer at the U.S.
Embassy. He has also held the positions of Director of the
Office of Central European Affairs, Deputy Chief of Mission at
the Embassy in Belgrade, Director for Eastern European and
Yugoslav Affairs, Political Officer and Deputy Principal Officer
at the Munich Consulate General, and Country Officer for
Yugoslavia at the Bureau of European Affairs. Gilmore is a
graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.
(more)
March 16, 1993
page two
Mark Johnson most recently served the State Department as
Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for
Management. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the
US Embassy in Kuwait City in 1991, a position that he previously
held in Cairo. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
Legislative Affairs from 1986-89, Economic Counselor at the
Embassy in Kenya from 1983-86, and served in the Office of
Legislative Affairs from 1981-83. Johnson, a native of Twin
Falls, ID, holds degrees from Georgetown University (B.A.) and
George Washington University (M.A.)
Marilyn McAfee has been Deputy Chief of Mission in Bolivia
since 1989, and has previously served at posts in Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Iran, Venezuela and Chile. A Foreign Service Officer
since 1968, she was promoted to the Senior Foreign Service in
1984, and to the rank of Minister-Counselor in 1989. McAfee is a
graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and has a Masters
degree from the Johns Hopkins University.
Allan Wendt is currently the American Charge d'Affaires in
Ljubljana, Slovenia, a post he has held since August 1992. For
the previous five years, he had been the Senior Representative
for Strategic Technology with the rank of Ambassador. Prior to
that, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
International Energy and Resources Policy from 1981-86. His
thirty-four year career in the Foreign Service has also included
stints in Cairo, Brussels, Saigon, and Dusseldorf, as well as
numerous positions at the State Department. He holds a B.A. from
Yale University, a Certificat from the Institut d'Etudes
Politiques in Paris, and an M.P.A. from Harvard University.
####
From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Tue Mar 16 19:23:18 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 19:01-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: OMB Press Release on Contracting -- B. Toiv 3.16.93
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 1993
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION REVIEWS GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING POLICIES
As part of the Clinton Administration's effort to improve
management of the Federal government, Office of Management and Budget
Director Leon E. Panetta is asking department and agency heads to
review their policies for contracting services to outside businesses
and organizations.
In a letter sent today to the 14 cabinet secretaries and the
directors of the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services
Administration, and NASA, Panetta called for "a fresh look" at
contracting, which accounts for over $100 billion in Federal
expenditures annually, an amount Panetta called a "staggering sum."
He asked the agency heads to complete their reviews by June 30
and to focus on three issues in particular:
o Are existing contracts "accomplishing what was intended?"
o Are there adequate procedures to monitor contracted services,
to evaluate their cost-effectiveness, to hold contractors
accountable for results, and to ensure the Government gets what
it pays for?
o Are any of the contracted services inherently governmental and
therefore inappropriate for contracting outside of government?
"Before letting new contracts," Panetta wrote, "you will, I hope,
make certain that these issues are addressed, that the services are
essential to your mission, and that appropriate procurement policies
(including emphasis on adequate competition) are observed."
"Contracting is one of the primary means by which government
spends the taxpayers' dollars," Panetta said separately. "But it is
possible that some of those dollars could be saved by procedural
reforms and by taking a hard look at whether government does too much
contracting out. This review should provide some answers."
# # # # #
From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Tue Mar 16 18:19:35 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 12:59-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Bipartisan Leadership Photo Op 3.16.93
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 16, 1993
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH
BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
The Cabinet Room
9:47 A.M. EST
Q Mr. President, do you think you can really afford
to cut the defense budget with what's happening in Russia? Cut it as
much as you want to?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think we're going to have
hearings about it. We're going to have to see. We'll have to cut it
some. We can't meet the deficit reduction targets if we don't.
What's happening in Russia may or may not present an additional
threat to our security, but what we hope we can do is to keep
democracy and economic reform going. And I think there's an almost
unanimous feeling in the Congress that we ought to do that. We're
bipartisan -- and that's one of the issues I want to discuss here
today.
Q Senator Dole said last night that instead of
choosing Al Gore to reinvent government, you should have chosen Ross
Perot. What do you think of that?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I can't believe he'd say that.
(Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: If I said what I thought it would be a
story. I don't want to do that. (Laughter.)
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END9:49 A.M. EST
From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Tue Mar 16 17:49:19 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 12:59-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: AM Press Briefing by Dee Dee Myers 3.16.93
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 16, 1993
PRESS BRIEFING
BY DEE DEE MYERS
The Briefing Room
9:50 A.M. EST
MS. MYERS: Today he's, as you know, currently meeting
with bipartisan leaders. At 11:45 a.m. he'll meet with a group of
western senators. I don't have the complete list. At 3:30 p.m. he's
meeting in the Oval Office --
Q Subject?
Q Can you tell us what they're meeting about?
MS. MYERS: Just a variety of issues of interest to the
senators from the west.
Q How about this morning's meeting right now?
MS. MYERS: It's part of the regular meeting. I'm sure
they'll discuss a number of things, from the economic plan to perhaps
other things. But it's -- every Tuesday he meets either with
bipartisan leaders or Democratic leaders.
At 3:30 p.m. he's meeting with Coretta Scott King. At
4:00 p.m. he's meeting with President Aristide. At 4:45 p.m. at the
end of that meeting, there will be a photo op. Basically, I think
both Presidents will have something brief to say. It will be a
pooled event only. After the meeting, someone will come down to do a
readout. Probably somebody from the National Security Council.
And at 6:45 p.m., the President will attend the America-
Ireland Fund reception at the Capital Hilton.
Q What happened to the Hispanic --
MS. MYERS: It was postponed.
Q And is the 11:45 a.m. and the 3:30 p.m. -- any
coverage of those?
MS. MYERS: No.
Q NSC briefing at 6:00 p.m.?
MS. MYERS: More like 5:15 p.m. As soon as the op is
over with President Aristide, about 15 minutes or so after that,
someone will come down here and give you all a readout of what
happened.
Q Why is he meeting with Coretta Scott King?
MS. MYERS: I don't know what's on the agenda. She's in
town.
Q His request or hers?
MS. MYERS: Hers.
Q Any states filing new requests for snow aid?
MS. MYERS: As you know, or may not know, Maine and
Georgia have been granted emergency snow removal requests. Tennessee
and North Carolina have applied for major disaster declarations.
Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and
Kentucky have requested emergency aid, emergency declaration. We're
expecting more requests today from Pennsylvania, New York and New
Jersey, among other things.
Q And these are all routinely being granted?
MS. MYERS: Well, they're being reviewed, but all of
them so far have been granted.
Q Maine and Georgia -- is that major --
MS. MYERS: Emergency.
Q Dee Dee, there are conflicting reports today from
Japan about the possibility of an emergency meeting of the G-7 before
the Tokyo one. As far as you're concerned, is it still a
possibility, or is it ruled out?
MS. MYERS: Obviously, we're looking at some form of
meeting of the G-7, but probably not at the head of state level
before Tokyo.
Q What's the administration's position? Do you favor
a meeting with the heads of state --
MS. MYERS: We're reviewing the various options in wake
of the Hong Kong meeting and recent developments. Chancellor Kohl's
attached some urgency to this. President Mitterrand has attached
some urgency to this to doing something to move up discussions about
G-7 support for Russia.
Q Would you prefer a meeting at the minister level?
MS. MYERS: We're reviewing our options right now, but
we expect there will be something before G-7.
Q Are you suggesting that as of right now it probably
won't be head of state level?
MS. MYERS: I don't think there's a lot of discussion
about that right now -- about at the head of state level.
Q If you do something, it would likely be at the
finance ministers and foreign ministers level?
MS. MYERS: Again, we're reviewing our options, but
that's certainly something that's been proposed.
Q Any comment this morning on the remarks in Korea
that suggest that they have developed a missile that can hit Japan,
and that they have the plutonium they need to make a bomb?
MS. MYERS: We're aware of those reports. We're
obviously monitoring the situation carefully and are very disturbed,
as the President has indicated, about North Korea's withdrawal from
the nonproliferation treaty.
Q Is it acceptable to the United States for North
Korea to have nuclear weapons?
MS. MYERS: I think we are hopeful that they would
continue to abide by the terms of the nonproliferation treaty, and
we'll do everything we can to get them to agree to reenter the terms
of that treaty. Obviously, we support the nonproliferation treaty.
Q Can we expect comments of substance at this Irish
gathering tonight, or is this just sort of a social gathering?
MS. MYERS: No, I think it's a social gathering.
Q It is open, though?
MS. MYERS: It's open press, correct. And it's a
reception. He's going to only be there from 6:45 p.m. until about
7:30 p.m. -- the reception portion of the evening.
Q He's not going to be sitting around the piano and
singing old Irish pub songs? (Laughter.)
MS. MYERS: You never know. You never know, but it's
not currently on the schedule.
Q The President indicated that he might have some
sort of comment after the IAEA board of directors meeting, I guess
it's on Wednesday. What form will that comment take?
MS. MYERS: We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Q The base closing hearing on the Hill was abruptly
canceled. Do you know why that happened?
Q That was not base closing, that was the defense
budget.
MS. MYERS: Right.
Q There are some stories on the Hill, unverified, but
that there's disagreement between Aspin and Powell over the budget
and that's why it was cancelled. Do you have any comment on that?
MS. MYERS: No. We have to check with --
Q Do you know why --
MS. MYERS: No, I don't. I don't. You have to check
with DOD.
Q What can we expect from the meeting with Aristide?
What's likely to come out of it?
MS. MYERS: Well, I think the President is going to
reaffirm his commitment to democracy in Haiti, to moving forward with
the U.N. and the OAS and others to reinstate President Aristide.
Q I thought Aristide wants the President to commit
himself to a date for his return to power. Is it something realistic
or is it ruled out?
MS. MYERS: Well, obviously, we're going to continue to
work with Aristide, with the U.N. and the OAS to restore democracy as
quickly as possible. We're doing what we can now. We're gratified
by the fact that there are monitors in Haiti now. Obviously, there
are a lot of problems and we're moving through those, but we're
committed to the restoration of democracy as soon as we can possibly
achieve it.
Q He will also ask that the embargo, blockade of
Haiti be strengthened. Is the President planning to do that?
MS. MYERS: I think we'll have to wait until after the
meeting to see what President Aristide asks for.
Q Can you tell us what the status is of putting
together an aid package for Russia as far as the United States is
concerned? And what type of reception do you expect to receive and
are receiving from the Hill as far as more enthusiasm than a year
ago? And are you near finalizing a package, a proposed package for
Russia?
MS. MYERS: Well, obviously, we're working through those
details now as we walk up to the summit, consulting with members of
Congress about the best way to achieve the continued reform in
Russia. I mean, I can't speak to the details at this point. I think
that there's broad support for Yeltsin in Congress. Obviously, the
specific numbers and details of the package will have to be worked
out.
Q What's going to be on the agenda when the talks
with Mr. Delors when he comes?
MS. MYERS: What's on the agenda when he talks with
Jacques Delors? I think it's just a series of EC-U.S. issues.
Q When was the meeting scheduled?
MS. MYERS: It's been on the calendar for a while -- I
think that we thought had been released. It's been on probably for
-- I don't know exactly when it was scheduled, but it's been on the
calendar for some time.
Q So it hasn't been since what Mr. Kantor said on
Friday about possible sanctions with the European Community?
MS. MYERS: No. No, it's been on -- his trip here has
been scheduled for some time.
Q Senator Dole says he would support giving Hillary
Clinton a one-time exemption from the Robert Kennedy law allowing her
to have an official government Cabinet-level position if only
President Clinton will ask. Is the President going to ask?
MS. MYERS: I think we'll have to take a look at that.
I haven't heard that from Senator Dole. It's very thoughtful of him.
We will review it.
Q There was a report yesterday that Senator Byrd has
objected to this idea of trying to attach health care legislation to
the reconciliation legislation. What's the administration's view on
that. Does the administration support putting health care on top of
the deficit reduction legislation, particularly if you want to get it
done by summer, as I understand it?
MS. MYERS: Well, obviously, we're working with Congress
in looking at a number of different strategies pertaining to health
care and the passage of a bill. But the President continues to be
committed to health care reform this year. Obviously, we don't have
a lot of control over the Senate rules, which are quite specific
about what can and can't be considered during the reconciliation
process. But we will continue to work with the congressional leaders
to find a strategy to get health care reform this year.
Q Has the President met any time recently with Fed
Chairman Alan Greenspan?
MS. MYERS: He talks to him occasionally. As you know,
Secretary Bentsen meets with him weekly. I don't know when the last
time the President met with him or spoke with him was, but it's a
fairly regular basis.
Q Do you know how many times they have met?
MS. MYERS: I think personally only twice, once during
the transition and once here.
Q Would you say that the President is satisfied with
the way the Fed is handling the monetary policy now? Is it seen at
the White House as being supportive of the President's economic
program?
MS. MYERS: Well, as you know the Fed continues to be an
independent agency but the President -- Chairman Greenspan has said a
number of things about the plan. He supports the general sort of
outline of the plan, the broad goals, the commitment deficit
reduction, spending cuts, basically supports the idea of a stimulus
package to create jobs in the short-term. I think we're quite
satisfied with the Fed's performance.
Q Dee Dee, how do you feel about the move on the part
of some conservative and moderate Democrats to cut the stimulus
package or to make sure there are additional cuts beyond the stimulus
package to make up for a full stimulus package?
MS. MYERS: The President maintains his commitment to a
stimulus package and to getting that through Congress and will
continue to work with Congress to get it passed as soon as possible.
And there has been a number of proposals throughout this process
about it, but the President remains committed to passing it in as
true a form as possible.
Q There have been a number of stories that the White
House is sending a message to those Democrats who want to oppose the
President and certain aspects of the economic policy that the White
House will get tough and be sort of revengeful in their response --
leaving that message. Is that the message you want these
conservatives Democrats to have?
MS. MYERS: I don't think revenge is the right word. I
think we're going to continue to work with Congress to try to pass
the President's package and, obviously, we've had good success so
far. I think Congress is committed to working with the President to
achieve the broad outlines of his goals. And I think we expect
resolutions to come out of the budget committees and the -- I think
they're going to take it up this week and we're hopeful.
Q Is it fair to say that the administration of the
White House has so far put out a carrot and stick approach to
Democrats who may have reservations about various aspects of the
plan?
MS. MYERS: I think we're continuing to work with
Democrats and others who have reservations about aspects of the plan.
As you know, the President is working with Congress to accept a large
range of additional cuts, which he said he would do to try to make
sure that the members' of Congress concerns are addressed in the
process. I think we'll continue to do that. We'll continue to work
with Congress. The President's committed to getting his package
passed, and we'll work to do what it takes to make that happen.
Q Getting back to the reconciliation-health care
question. I want to reverse it. Has the President decided it is not
a good idea to combine these two approaches and has he told the
members of Congress that?
MS. MYERS: Again, we don't control the Senate rules,
and we have to work --
Q But you do advise. Have you made the decision that
that would not be a good approach and told them so?
MS. MYERS: We're going to continue to work with members
of Congress to find the best strategy for getting health care passed
this year. Obviously, there are complications. The Byrd rule makes
it very difficult to consider certain nongermane amendments in the
reconciliation process. Those are rules that we have to work within,
so we're going to look at a number of ways to get the health care
reform package passed and work with Congress, take their advice and
counsel on what the best way to push it through is. But the
President remains committed to getting it done this year.
Q Would you say that it's a possibility to combine
them still, or parts of them?
MS. MYERS: As you know, it's something that Senator
Mitchell has talked about. So, obviously it's a possibility. I
think it has some problems. It's not easy. There are some
complicated Senate rules to consider. We'll continue to work with
members of the Senate to determined the best possible strategy.
Q Is there some concern that if you try to combine
health care with deficit reduction that you're going to delay passage
of deficit reduction until much later than what you were talking
about.
MS. MYERS: Again, I think a lot of those concerns have
been expressed by members of Congress, by people on the Hill. And
we're working with them again to find the best possible strategy to
work with folks like Senator Mitchell, the leadership, following
their lead, taking their advice on this and trying to find the best
possible strategy.
Q The earliest that the health care plan would be
unveiled would be May 1st, and it's probably going to be at least a
few days after that. The hope has been to vote on reconciliation by
some time in August. Does the President believe that as a policy
matter it would be wise to try to adopt a schedule in which an entire
health care reform package would go through the congressional hearing
process debate and vote in 10 or 11 weeks? That seems to be awfully
quick for such a major --
MS. MYERS: Again, the President's committed to health
care reform this year. We're going to work with Congress to find the
best possible strategy. We're considering a number of things right
now. We haven't committed to any particular strategy at this point.
We'll continue to look at a number of different options. Obviously,
health care reform is complicated. It's going to require some time,
some hearing in committee. I'm sure there will be vigorous debate
about it. But again, we will continue to work with Congress to find
the best possible way to work that through.
Q Do you care to comment on a story in The New York
Times today that the White House is considering in its health plan to
include the mental health costs?
MS. MYERS: Again, as you know, the process is one that
is looking at a wide, wide variety of options. There's a number of
working groups looking at every aspect of the health care issue.
There are a number of memos being written about what the various
options are, and there have been no commitments or decisions made on
a broad range of issues. When we have decisions, we'll let you know.
Q The memo addresses a wide range of sin taxes,
apparently. Is liquor still on the table as a subject of sin tax?
MS. MYERS: I can't comment on what's specifically being
considered.
Q What's the latest on the Friday travel? Where are
we going?
MS. MYERS: It looks like we'll be going for a day
somewhere to the south. We're still working on the details. We'll
probably have more specifics by tomorrow.
Q Is there any weekend travel?
MS. MYERS: Not scheduled.
Q Storm damage?
MS. MYERS: It may have a storm component. We're
looking at it. Part of it probably won't, part of it might. Pardon
me?
Q Is weekend travel -- you said is not scheduled?
MS. MYERS: There are no weekend events planned.
Q But is there talk of a weekend vacation trip down
to Florida?
MS. MYERS: We'll let you know as soon as we have
details on that. I'm trying to only provide the best information
possible. So I don't want to comment on rumors and speculation.
Q Has he ever been bone fishing?
MS. MYERS: Ever been what?
Q Bone fishing. (Laughter.)
MS. MYERS: Bone fishing. I don't -- unless they do it
in Arkansas.
Q Are you leaving open the possibility that he may
travel to the south on Friday and then just stay someplace in the
south over the weekend and come back Sunday night or Monday?
MS. MYERS: I would not totally steer you away from that
at this point.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END10:13 A.M. EST/
From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Tue Mar 16 20:10:31 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 19:02-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Press Briefing by George Stephanopoulos 3.16.93
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 16, 1993
PRESS BRIEFING
BY GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS
The Briefing Room
12:15 P.M. EST
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: This morning the President declared
emergencies for snow removal in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Kentucky, Connecticut and Maryland. They've been declared in
four other states, as you know -- Tennessee, Alabama, Maine and
Georgia. We're also considering a request from Pennsylvania.
There is also the likelihood that we're going to get
disaster declarations from North Carolina, Tennessee, and New Jersey.
But the President hasn't yet acted on them.
Any questions?
Q George, did the President tell the Republican
leadership that he interested in revisiting the defense budget?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, the President said that we
have to, of course, if situations change around the world, we have to
take that into account. But at this time he'd like to move forward
with the defense budget as proposed. I believe it's Secretary Aspin
will be testifying before Senator Nunn's committee tomorrow on the
defense budget.
Q I understand that was cancelled as well. That's a
follow-up question: do you know why those hearings were cancelled?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I believe the Secretary simply
couldn't prepare because he couldn't have his team come in over the
weekend because of the snow. But I believe he will be testifying
before Senator Nunn's committee tomorrow.
Q George, could you tell us if Secretary Bentsen's
request for $45 billion for the S&L bailout, since $34 billion was
sought as part of the budget request in February after the joint
session of Congress -- this additional $11 billion, how is that going
to affect your overall budget deficit reduction?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We hope and believe that we will
not be forced to spend the extra $11 billion. We just want to make
sure that we have plenty of cushion to cover any conceivable S&L
costs, S&L cleanup costs. We still contemplate and we have set aside
$34 billion in the budget for the cost of the S&L bailout and we hope
and believe that will be enough.
Q Mitterrand proposed this morning that the G-7
meeting take place just after the Vancouver summit between Clinton
and Yeltsin. What is your comment on that? Were you aware of such a
proposal? Was it discussed last week?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know that it was discussed
last week. As you know, the President has been very supportive of
the G-7 process with regards to Russia. We had a good meeting in
Hong Kong over the weekend and we hope that the process is speeded
up. I don't know that we necessarily will be able to meet that
quickly, and we're in preparation now for the summit with President
Yeltsin.
Q But Mitterrand alleged he had the backing of
President Clinton for his proposal. Is it something possible?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think what President Clinton
supports is speeding up the G-7 process with regard to Russia, and
we're exploring a number of options in that area. I don't know that
there's been a decision on the specific suggestion.
Q Would you rule out such a follow-up to the
Vancouver summit?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I wouldn't necessarily rule it out.
I would say it's under discussion. We hope to speed up the process
as much as we can, and hope that the G-7 can address the question of
Russia very soon.
Q So it was not discussed this week or last week
during the meeting?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not positive of that. I would
have to check to see if it was discussed in any manner in his meeting
with President Mitterrand.
Q George, some of the Republican lawmakers who came
out of that meeting said that the President's stimulus package is
loaded down with what they called pork barrel baloney. And they
listed several examples -- fish cataloging, parking garages --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Child immunization.
Q Well, job creation was their point. Would the
President be willing to look -- take a look again at the stimulus
package and eliminate some of those that could be categorized perhaps
as pork barrel?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President believes the stimulus
package is needed now and the investment it's called for are needed
and should be passed as quickly as possible by the Congress, and we
hope it will be.
Q But would he be willing to take a look at the
details of the stimulus package and eliminate those that do not
necessarily create jobs?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We believe we have a good package
that calls for the investments that are needed now. And one of the
programs the leaders cited as they complained about the package was
child immunization. We believe child immunization is an important
investment in our future, and an important investment in the health
of our nation's children. We're going to continue to fight for the
stimulus package.
Q Does the President stand by every item in that
stimulus package?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President would like the
package passed now.
Q As is? Every item as is in that package?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, if the Congress sees fit to
change one or two items, that's something we'd take a look at. But
right now he would like prompt consideration and have it passed.
Q Is he willing to change the rule?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think the President told the
Republicans that if they were willing to give him a four-year
appointment -- permanent appointment over every bill as
parliamentarian, he would be willing to look at it. But he generally
will not get involved in rules rights in the House.
Q Wasn't he aware that such things as this fish
cataloging for the chub fish or whatever it is -- was he aware that
that's in there and doesn't that strike him as something that perhaps
is expendable?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, it's something -- obviously,
we'll take a look at their letter. But the President believes that
we have a good package, that we have a package that must be passed.
And he would like prompt consideration.
Q Their point about the immunization was that it's
not jobs creating. They're not saying that immunization isn't a
worthwhile thing, but does it belong in a stimulus package?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It does belong in a stimulus
package. It's an important investment and it will -- although
obviously, it's primary purpose is not job creation, is an important
investment in the health of our children and it is followed on by the
larger investment package that the President is calling for.
Q Why not put it into the budget instead of --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Because it's investments that are
needed this summer to have a summer immunization program for the
children who need shots.
Q What about, George, the business of these projects
to refurbish a pool and a gym and a parking garage? Were these plans
that mayors came to the White House with that you simply signed off
on, or did you go and investigate these specific renovation projects
to create jobs?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Some of the specific projects may
have been projects that were put in in the Appropriations Committee,
and that's clearly something we'll look at. I do not have every
single project in front of me at this podium. But the President
believes that, generally, the investments are sound and that the
package should be passed.
Q Well, does he think the program -- that the overall
program is jeopardized by having these kinds of things attached to
it?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President believes that the
stimulus package has support in the Congress. As the University of
Michigan study pointed out this morning, it is an important insurance
policy for the creation of jobs and an important component of the
overall investment in deficit reduction package. And he believes the
House and the Senate should act quickly.
Q So it doesn't concern you to have these kinds of --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, obviously, we'll look at any
suggestions we have for the package. But the important thing is to
get the package through right now.
Q George, you're not disputing any of the facts
itemized in the letter then?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, I can't say that. I have not
-- we have not had a full review of the letter yet. We will look at
it and see what their contentions are.
Q Do you know if those specific projects came from
the White House or whether they came from the Appropriations
Committee?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not sure if the line-by-line.
As I said, we're reviewing it this morning.
Q A Haiti question.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Any more -- let's just finish up if
there are any more on stimulus.
Q This same group of lawmakers led us to believe that
the President, on his own, suggested that he would revisit his
defense cuts, that they might be too large. Is that an incorrect
perception on their part?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think what the President said, if
circumstances change, obviously, we have to take that into account.
But at this time, he would like his defense budget considered by the
Congress.
Q suggest that he's more willing to look at these
numbers again? It seems like there's more -- they're negotiable.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, I don't think that's the case.
Q Does the President support Aristide's call for the
U.N. to set a date certain for the return of democracy to Haiti?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President believes he must move
as quickly as possible for the return of democracy to Haiti, for the
return of President Aristide to Haiti. And that's why he's meeting
with President Aristide today. We must make sure that we do that in
a secure environment.
Q Will he support a specific date?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, the President thinks that we
should do this as quickly as possible.
Q So the answer is, no, he does not support a
specific date?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President believes we cannot
set a date for return unless we're certain of a secure environment.
Q What about the other items mentioned in his piece
this morning -- annulling visas for the coup leaders, freezing
Haitian assets -- are any of those steps contemplated?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Some visas have already been
annulled for several Haitians.
Q There also are people who have financially
supported this.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: And we're also looking at -- we're
gathering all the evidence we can about Haitian individuals who
supported the September 1991 coup, as well as information about their
financial assets. I can't rule those actions out. But at this time,
we're working on them.
Q What about tightening the embargo and a naval
blockade, and stopping oil and other goods from getting into Haiti?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, the President is setting --
is willing to look at the sanctions. He is sending his special
assistant Pezzullo down. He and Secretary Christopher are sending
the Special Assistant down to meet with the Haitians this week. He
will send a very tough message that we expect progress now, and he
will also send the message that our patience is running thin, and we
expect real progress.
Q What is a tough message without sanctions to back
it up?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: There are sanctions in place right
now. And clearly, tightening the sanctions is one option. From this
podium, to say which sanctions we would lift or tighten at any
particular time would not necessarily be helpful. But we are
prepared to take further action. And that's the message that Mr.
Pezzullo will be taking to Haiti this week.
Q The President has said before that he supported the
Caputo mission to Haiti which has recommended a three-month date
certain, if you want to call it that, or just a three-month period by
which democracy would be restored. But now he's sending his own
people down there. Does that mean he has lost confidence in the U.N.
effort?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not at all, and we continue to
support the U.N. effort led by Mr. Caputo, and we want to make sure
he has the tools he needs to get the job done as well. We see the
appointment of Mr. Pezzullo as reinforcing to that effort.
Q But he's not willing to endorse Mr. Caputo's
suggestion?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He supports Caputo's mission. He
will continue to support Caputo's mission, and we're going to do what
we can to strengthen it.
Q Sanctions haven't been very successful, we thought,
as in Yugoslavia. So what else have you got up your sleeve, if you
have anything?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, right now we're supporting
the U.N. mission. We will send our envoy down to try and send a
tough message and we will urge all sides to get to the negotiating
table and to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. We reserve
the right, obviously, to tighten sanctions and take other actions.
Q And you think the strengthening of sanctions could
be sufficient to enforce the Haitian rulers to give way?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We certainly hope so, and we're
going to do what we can to make sure that Mr. Caputo and Mr. Pezzullo
have the tools they need to get the job done.
Q Are there actions that the President feel that
Father Aristide ought to be taking to move this process along?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He will clearly be communicating
his thoughts to President Aristide this afternoon, and he wants to
make sure that the President understands that he is committed -- he,
President Clinton, is committed to helping him with the process of
negotiation.
Q What would you like to see Father Aristide do? Or
is there anything that he thinks he can be doing to help this --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I think that I should leave
that to their meeting this afternoon, and you can ask them
afterwards.
Q To follow on Gwen's question, Caputo's process that
he lays out envisions that at the end of three months the conditions
will be changed so that Aristide can return to Haiti. Does the
President support that three-month, at the end of which there is a
date when Father Aristide will return to Haiti, conception?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, the President certainly hopes
that we can have a resolution as quickly as possible and he's doing
everything he can to make sure that we do. But at this time, it
would not necessarily be helpful to set a date certain unless we're
certain that we have a secure environment.
Q What do you mean by secure environment, and how
would you go about bringing that about?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: That's one of the things we're
talking to President Aristide today. We've increased the U.N. OAS
observer missions. We want to make sure that if President Aristide
returns, he has an environment where he is safe and where democracy
can flourish.
Q You said we were going to do that at the end of
December. Do you have any measure of the progress that those actions
that the United States has taken have done toward achieving a secure
environment?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We hope we're making progress. We
do have an observer mission on the ground now.
Q Do you know if you're making progress?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We are sending Secretary Pezzullo
-- excuse me, the special envoy Pezzullo down next week to
communicate with the Haitians. Obviously, we do not have a
resolution to the Caputo mission yet, but we're going to continue to
work on it.
Q Do the supporters of Father Aristide read anything
into the fact that yesterday there was a meeting with Prime Minister
Rabin that happened at high noon and there was a formal East Room
news conference afterward, and the meeting with President Aristide is
late in the afternoon today and his -- by the time he leaves it would
be a little late for the network newscasts?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It won't be late.
Q Well, George --
Q That's my -- please answer the question. Should
they read anything into that?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not at all, no.
Q Well, how about the absence of a press conference
such as has been had with every other --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, there will be a press
availability, and they will give statements.
Q But when Mitterrand was here, when Major was here,
with Rabin yesterday, we had a press conference with the President
and the foreign leader answering questions. What signal is the
President sending by not having --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't think any particular signal
at all. And they will be open to the press this afternoon. They
will be reading public statements. And I'm certain you'll have an
opportunity to ask questions.
Q George, I'm not clear on the difference between --
on the questions of a date certain. I thought the Caputo plan was to
have an agreement, and then have the three months start running, was
it not?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not sure of that. I'd have to
double-check. I believe it is, but I'm not completely positive.
Q If that's the case, you would have in place the
agreement that you need. So what is your problem with the three-
month period?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know that there is
necessarily a problem. I think we're confusing two different issues
here. This morning President Aristide was talking about setting a
date certain for his return. Right now we are in -- we are
supporting efforts to secure an environment where that will be
possible.
Q What he's saying is that he supports the Caputo
plan, which would be for a secure agreement and then three months
later his return? Do you have an objection to that?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: But that's a little bit different.
I don't know if I want to agree with your characterization of what
he's saying this morning. But the important point is that first you
get an agreement, first you get a secure environment, and then you
can facilitate his return.
Q Do you have any report for us on the progress of
your review of the Guantanamo situation?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Nothing yet. We're still reviewing
it.
Q George, what is the role of this envoy
specifically? Is he just to lay down the law, negotiate a deal,
broker a deal? I mean, is he taking something with him to the
military government there in Port au Prince?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: He's certainly taking the
instructions of the President to do what he can to support Mr. Caputo
and to do what he can to get all parties to reach an agreement.
Q But is he taking parts of a deal to present to the
government there?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know that I would
necessarily characterize it in that way, but he's clearly going to
communicate with the Haitian leaders that we expect their assistance
and their help in reaching an agreement.
Q Is the U.S. position that these military leaders
should be held accountable for their action, or would we give a nod
and a wink to --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't want to get into the
substance of the discussions between Mr. Pezzullo and the Haitians.
But we are clearly going to be telling all sides that they must do
what they can to reach an agreement.
Q George, what are the President's feelings about the
situation on Guantanamo? Is he comfortable with the fact that the
people are there and the way they're being treated?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Obviously, it's a matter of
great concern. We're going to do what we can to make sure they're
treated as well as they can be treated on Guantanamo, and to make
sure the conditions are secure and safe and healthy. And we're going
to continue do to what we can to ensure that.
Q If it's matter of great concern, how come for four
weeks you've simply been saying that it's under review?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It is under review, and we're
searching for solutions.
Q George, do you have any reaction to Jesse Jackson's
protests on this whole Haitian policy? I believe he's been arrested.
He's on a hunger strike, protesting the entire thrust of the
administration's policy. Any dialogue with him? Any reaction?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We've talked to him. I think he's
talked with several people in the White House at various times.
Obviously, we're concerned about the situation as well, and the
President is continuing to do what he can to restore democracy to
Haiti and to ensure that the human rights of all the people in Haiti
are protected. So I think in that sense, the President and Mr.
Jackson share the same goals. Whether or not they have agreement on
every aspect of the policy, I don't know. But, clearly, the
President is committed to restoring democracy to Haiti.
Q black America in particular?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: What we're concerned about is
making sure we do what we can to restore democracy to Haiti.
Q I'm sure you are. But are you also concerned
specifically about how displaced black America -- there have been a
number of prominent black politicians and other civic leaders and
just ordinary people who see this as a betrayal of what President
Clinton promised in the campaign regarding his Haitian policy, and
that it may be directly tied and not just coincidental that these are
people of color who are being closed out. What does the President --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I certainly reject that
contention, but obviously, the President takes any criticisms and
advice he receives very seriously. He is committed to doing what he
can to restore democracy to Haiti and to save lives. He believes
that if we had a different policy on the issue of return at this
point, it would cost lives, not save them. And that's why he's doing
what he's doing.
Q President Aristide has been very circumspect in not
criticizing the President about his reversal on the question of
allowing refugees to come to the United States. If he comes out of
this meeting this afternoon only having been reassured that the White
House, as a concept, supports his restoration as a democratically-
elected leader of Haiti, why should he continue to hold his tongue?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, again, I think that we should
leave that to President Aristide. They have not met yet. The two
Presidents will be meeting this afternoon and I think that President
Clinton will be assuring President Aristide of his strong personal
commitment to seeing his return as the democratic-elected leader of
Haiti.
Q George, on Guantanamo, Cardinal O'Connor has
offered to care for and pay for the care of the HIV-infected Haitians
there. Why does that not offer you a solution to the problem of
detaining them at Guantanamo?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I've not seen that proposal but
we'll certainly take a look at it. At the same time, that will be
part of our review.
Q Is sending them back a consideration that is part
of your review? Sending them back to Haiti -- is that what you're
waiting for, a political solution so you can send them back?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, not necessarily, and I think
that we'll deal with the situation before then.
Q Now that we have an envoy to Haiti, how are we
doing on an envoy to the Irish situation?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Nothing yet.
Q Will any sort of discussion take place tomorrow in
the --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I didn't rule it out that it may be
discussed tomorrow, but again, we don't have any definite proposal at
this time.
Q Do you have a decision in principle to do it and
now you're just trying to work out the details?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not necessarily. I mean, we've had
discussions with the English; we intend to have discussions tomorrow
with the Irish Prime Minister and we'll continue to look at various
options.
Q Are you getting back any sort of response that this
would be helpful or not helpful?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I think one of the things -- we're
looking at a variety of proposals in this area. One of the
possibilities would be some sort of fact-finding mission, but there
haven't been any decisions made yet.
Q To clarify from earlier, you said -- the word out
of the morning briefing seemed to be that there was no contemplation
of a head of state G-7 in advance to Tokyo. Did you just say earlier
that under consideration was after the meeting with Yeltsin that
there would be a head of state meeting under consideration?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, I think that that's one of the
less likely possibilities. And we want to make sure that the G-7
process moves as quickly as possible. That could include a meeting
of the finance ministers, it could include a meeting of the foreign
ministers.
Q Did you not say earlier that it was still -- one of
the things under consideration was heads of state meeting?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I wouldn't necessarily rule
it out completely. But I said it's less likely than other
possibilities.
Q And my second question on health care -- is the
administration's view now that you -- have you dropped plans
completely to combine any part of the health care package with the
budget reconciliation --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: No, the President remains committed
to getting a health care bill through as quickly as possible. As you
know, there are procedural difficulties in the Senate with putting
the whole health care bill on the reconciliation package. That is
something the Senate has to continue to work out. Our position is
that we want to make sure we get health care done as quickly as
possible.
Q But you're still looking at possibly including some
of it within the procedural --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I wouldn't necessarily want to rule
it our but as you know the procedural difficulties preclude us from
including the bulk of the health care bill in the Senate package.
Q Bob Michel said this morning that the President
shouldn't raise expectations with Yeltsin of a big bundle of
assistance from the United States and that a bill today -- a big
assistance bill today on the floor of the House would not pass.
What's your reading of how difficult it's going to be to get
increased aid for Russia through Congress?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Actually, I think the President was
encouraged this morning by the reaction of the bipartisan leadership
to his suggestion that we have to be prepared to take serious action
with regard to Russia. There was strong support on both sides of the
aisle for making sure we do what we can to make sure that democracy
and market economic reforms thrive in Russia.
Q Michel seemed to be suggesting that we're sort of
strained to our limit and that the other G-7 nations should do more;
that it's not really us, it's them that have been lagging?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, as you know, the President
has requested $700 million in this year's budget, but we're going to
continue to explore possibilities with the other G-7 nations for
coordinated multilateral action.
Q But we're going to spend more as well, right?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, again I don't have a proposal
to give you today, but we're discussing a variety of proposals with
our allies.
Q What's your reading of the mood in Congress, the
receptivity to increased aid for Russia?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: There's no question that there
might be some short-term political difficulties with doing what we
need to do, consistent with our national responsibilities. But the
President believes that this is important for the U.S. in the long
run. We spend probably $4 trillion defending this country against
past threats, largely from the former Soviet Union. We can certainly
invest a few hundred million in promoting reforms that will make us
more secure in the future.
Q How much of their meeting was discussing that
problem and how much detail did they go -- can you give us some feel
for the give-and-take of the meeting?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I guess the meeting went for about
an hour. It was almost entirely foreign policy, I would say,
probably 50 minutes. They spoke a little bit. As you know, Minority
Leader Michel brought up his concerns about the rule towards the end.
But largely, they talked about Haiti, the meeting with Prime Minister
Rabin, and then the Russian situation took up the bulk of the
meeting.
Q And Michel did not express his concerns to the
President about the possibility of Russian aid passing? The kind of
concerns he expressed to us outside?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't know if he used those exact
words. Obviously, people did raise the possibility that there might
be some political difficulty. That didn't deter anyone, for the most
part, from saying that this was an important goal that had to be
pursued.
Q Did any Republicans speak up in favor of Russian
aid?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Oh, I think there was general
support from several members in the room. I would say, again, most
of the people in the room agreed that pursuing democracy and market
reform in Russia was an important goal for the President.
Q George, when you said earlier that we've been
talking to the English about this possibility of an envoy to --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, we have. This obviously came
up, I believe, with Prime Minister Major last week.
Q Has anything happened since then, or has there been
any conversation between the President and Prime Minister Major?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't think that he's had another
conversation with Prime Minister Major, no.
Q Did the members of the leadership express concern
about the possibility of entanglements in sending some kind of a
multinational force into Haiti? I understand that Barbara Mikulski
raised some concerns about this. Did she?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, I don't know the -- I don't
want to comment on specific comments to the President in a private
meeting, but there was a general discussion of Haiti.
Q And were they concerned?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Again, there was a lot of give-and-
take on the issue of Haiti, but I think that they understood what the
President was trying to do.
Q George, has the President had any communication
with Ross Perot, either directly or through any intermediaries since
right before he addressed the Congress?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't think the President has
spoken to him, no.
Q Have any aides spoken to Perot on behalf of the
President?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I suppose it's possible that Mr.
Perot has spoken to some presidential aides, but I don't know -- I'm
not aware of the conversations.
Q Did Bosnia come up this morning?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not in any detail, no.
Q What's the U.S. position on Cristiani's call for
amnesty against the military officers by the Truth Commission?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: We're reviewing the report of the
Truth Commission now. We'll continue to review it. As you know, we
supported the Truth Commission with our money and assistance of U.S.
officials, but we don't have any further comment at this time on its
recommendations.
Q George, has the President or any of his top people
spoken to or plan to speak to President Mitterrand after his meeting
with Yeltsin today?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I expect that there will be some
diplomatic contact, but I don't know that the President -- the
President certainly hasn't spoken to him yet today.
Q But there will be nothing like the phone call he
got from Helmut Kohl that we found out about five days later last
week?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: It wasn't a phone call. I think
there was a letter from Helmut Kohl.
Q Is there understanding that there will be
communication?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Not that I know of, no.
Q What's the timetable for submitting a tax bill?
Q That he looked forward to hearing from him after he
met with Yeltsin.
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: And when they talk, we'll let you
know. (Laughter.)
Q What is the timetable for submitting a tax bill?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I don't have the specific
timetable. I know Treasury is working on it. I assume it will be
consistent with the budget when the budget is submitted.
Q Same time --
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: I'm not sure the exact same day,
but same time frame.
Q Since the President has asked Congress, at least
during the campaign, for a line-item veto or enhanced decision to cut
pork out of the budget, wouldn't he think it would be fair for people
on Capitol Hill to be able to vote on the same sort of thing?
Wouldn't he support the Republican request for a vote on these pork
items out of a sense of fairness since he wants the same ability?
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: The President is not going to get
involved in rules disputes in the House.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END 12:43 P.M. EST
#38-03/16
From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Wed Mar 17 00:37:02 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 22:56-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Remarks by the President at Photo Op w/ Hispanic Caucus
To: Clinton-News-Distribution@campaign92.org
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 16, 1993
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH
HISPANIC CAUCUS
The Roosevelt Room
5:51 P.M. EST
Q Mr. President, what are you doing in this meeting
tonight, or this afternoon? Some special --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to talk about a lot of
things of interest to the Caucus. And I'm going to listen. We're
going to talk about the economic program and they're going to talk
about some things that they're interested in in the administration.
And they can talk about it when the meeting is over. I'm going to
-- I'm listening today.
Q Mr. President, could you tell us why Dr. Novello is
being asked to step down as Surgeon General before her term expires?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know what arrangements -- she's
going to continue in the Department of Health and Human Services, and
I have a very high regard for her. And I told Donna Shalala when I
appointed her Secretary of HHS that I had a very strong feeling about
wanting my Health Department Director from home to be the Surgeon
General, but that I very strongly approved of the record Dr. Novello
had made and I hoped that we could persuade her to stay on. And this
is an arrangement they all worked out. I don't know the details and
the timing. I can't comment on it. I just don't know anything about
that.
THE PRESS: Thank you.
END5:54 P.M. EST
From @lex-luthor.ai.mit.edu:jcma@REAGAN.AI.MIT.EDU Wed Mar 17 00:21:45 1993
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 22:57-0500
From: The White House <75300.3115@compuserve.com>
Subject: Remarks by the President at Press Availability W/ Aristide
To: Clinton-Foreign-Distribution@campaign92.org,
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 16, 1993
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND PRESIDENT ARISTIDE OF HAITI
The Oval Office
5:00 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: I'd like to make a brief statement and
then invite President Aristide to make a statement. And then we'll
answer questions.
It's been a great honor for all of us to have President
Aristide and members of his government and the Ambassador from Haiti
to the United States here in the Oval Office today. And we wanted to
have the opportunity to speak to the American people and to the
people of Haiti from the Oval Office to emphasize how important it is
to me personally and to the United States to restore democracy in
Haiti and to restore President Aristide as the elected leader of that
country.
To those who have blocked the restoration of democracy,
I want to make it clear in the strongest possible terms that we will
not now or ever support the continuation of an illegal government in
Haiti, and that we want to step up dramatically the pace of
negotiations to restore President Aristide under conditions of
national reconciliation and mutual respect for human rights with a
program of genuine economic progress.
The Secretary of State has named an experienced
diplomat, Mr. Lawrence Pezzullo, who is here now, to be his special
representative in Haiti, to work with the Caputo mission through the
United Nations and the Organization of American States to push
forward with a rapid settlement of these issues. I would urge the de
facto government of Haiti and the military officials in that country
and police officials to support this process. Any opposition, any
delay will only result in stronger measures taken by the United
States, and more difficulty and hardship for the people of Haiti, who
have been the innocent sufferers in this whole sad saga.
I look forward to working with President Aristide. I
look forward to the success of Mr. Pezzullo. And I want to make it
clear that the United States is committed strongly to a much more
aggressive effort to restore Mr. Aristide to his presidency and to,
over the long run, work with the people of Haiti to restore
conditions of economic prosperity.
I am prepared to commit the United States to its fair
portion of a five-year, multinational $1 billion effort to rebuild
the Haitian economy. And we are going to begin on this project in
earnest now.
I'd like to now invite President Aristide to make
whatever remarks he would like to make, and then open the floor for
your questions.
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Mr. President Clinton, we are
delighted to be here with you, with the Vice President, Secretary of
State, Ambassador Pezzullo. We want to thank you on behalf of the
Haitian people for your support. We want to thank you for what you
just said. That went directly to the heart of the Haitian people
working peacefully for the restoration of democracy.
I grasp this opportunity to thank the American people
for their solidarity, because with our American brothers and sisters,
these 18 months we realize how beautiful it is to work in a
nonviolent way for the restoration of democracy. The Haitian people
today hear your voice and, on behalf of them, I can say, in the past,
we wanted to be with you -- we are with you; in the future, we will
be with you and you will be welcome in Haiti when I will be there
after the restoration of democracy.
We have a lot of people suffering these 18 months. And
today I'm sure they are happy because they realize finally the day
for the restoration of democracy will come and since today they can
continue to build, but in a strongest way that democracy, always in a
nonviolent way. The refugees can feel happy. Those who are in
Guantanamo can feel happy. Those who are in Haiti working peacefully
for that democracy can feel happy because that day is coming because
of you, because of the American government, because of the U.S.,
because of the OAS.
Thanks once again for that and you are welcome to our
land.
Q Mr. President, in the past few days, President
Aristide has called for a date certain for his return. He's called
for a tougher sanctions, a tougher enforcement of the embargo, a
naval blockade, and for some action to relieve the suffering of those
in Guantanamo. Are you prepared to take any of those steps?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Let me respond, if I might, to each
in turn. And let me start with the middle suggestion -- the question
of whether United States would take tougher action on the embargo. I
wouldn't rule that out, but I think you shouldn't underestimate the
impact of this diplomatic initiative, sending Mr. Pezzullo to Haiti,
making the statements we're making today, sending a clear and
unambiguous signal we're sending.
And I might note that just a few moments ago the person
we had approved for refugee status who had been held illegally by the
Haitian de facto government was released to come to the United States
as a refugee.
I think that the message we're sending out there is
clear. So I think what we would like to do is to give Mr. Pezzullo a
chance to go to Haiti, communicate strongly and directly to the
appropriate people there what our position is and where we're going
before we take actions, which at least in the short run will make
life even more difficult for the Haitians. I wouldn't rule them out,
but I think we ought to have it in an appropriate sequence of events.
As to the question of a date certain, I certainly think
that we ought to return President Aristide in the near future. But I
think that the date for the conclusion of the negotiations ought to
come out of Mr. Caputo and his mission. And I think we ought to, in
fairness, let him do that. It is a very grave thing for the United
States alone to be setting a date certain in an endeavor that
involves the United Nations and the Organization of the American
States. So I think a date may well come out of the efforts of the
Caputo mission, but we don't feel at this time it is the wisest thing
for the long-term interests of President Aristide or Haiti for us to
set the date on our own.
With regard to the refugees in Guantanamo, I'm going to
do the following things: First of all, I'm going to send someone
from our White House staff to Guantanamo to review the situation
personally. Secondly, I'm going to take up the legal and human
conditions of the refugees with the Attorney General, who has
jurisdiction in these areas, now that we have a new Attorney General
confirmed. I wanted to wait and have the opportunity to discuss that
with her.
And then we will review the whole question and see
whether or not there's anything else we should do. I expect all this
would be done in the near future. I don't expect to take a good deal
of time on this.
Q President Aristide, is that satisfactory to you?
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Totally.
Q Can we expect or can any Haitian in Cap Haitian or
elsewhere expect the early return, constitutional return of the
constitutional President of Haiti?
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Every Haitian should be extremely
happy about what has happened today. I think that all Haitians can
look with joy at the cooperation of myself and President Clinton,
working hand in hand for all Haitians looking forward to peace, to
nonviolence, to economic development. I think everyone can feel
great contentment and happy anticipation.
Q Is there going to be real celebration of the
Constitution, the anniversary of the Constitution of Haiti?
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Yes, with the help of President
Clinton, all Haitians can feel comfortable and happy about
celebrating March 29th as an anniversary for peace and respect of the
law, the Constitution as a basis for the law and for its respect for
all Haitians.
Q Mr. Clinton, would it be acceptable to you if the
coup leaders left without being punished?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it would be acceptable to me to
restore President Aristide to power in Haiti under conditions which
were safe for him and for all Haitians. He has spoken in the past
about what his policies would be in that regard, and I presume that a
lot of the details of this would be the subject of negotiations. And
those are negotiations of which I do not believe I should engage,
although I would say that I was very impressed with what President
Aristide said today about the need for national reconciliation. And
perhaps you'd want him to make a comment.
Q Mr. President, you could criticized --
THE PRESIDENT: Give him a chance to answer, please.
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: In Haiti we don't have an
institution giving justice to people, but unfortunately selling that
justice. After 200 years, we realize we still have an army of 7,000
military and 40 percent of the national budget. So I used to ask the
Haitians, do not go to any kind of violence or retaliation or
vengeance. I will continue to do the same, because what we need is
nonviolent reality, not violent.
That's why I'm not saying we want to see the coup
leaders in jail and then to feel happy because we punished them. I'm
saying, asking to all the Haitians to not go to vengeance, to wait
for justice instead of doing justice for themselves out of -- we can
work peacefully to remove the coup leaders from the army, and that
way, to free the army and let justice be done; not then to feel happy
because we put them in jail, not; happy because we can that way make
the balance in a country where we don't have yet institutions who
give justice.
I would add this point: We want reconciliation. We
want justice. We want peace. That's why, through this process by a
dialogue, we can reach that level where, finally, the Haitians will
feel so happy to not go to vengeance and to not see the symbol of the
coup in the same place, with the same weapons, doing the same
repression. That's the way we are trying to go.
(Repeated in French and then translated.)
PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: There is no institution in Haiti
which is in a position or able to give justice in Haiti at the
present time. Justice is sold, and that has been the case for the
last 200 years. We in Haiti are opting now for nonviolence, for
peace for all -- for all the people of Haiti. Therefore, we must
free the army from those who are responsible for the coup, asking at
the same time all Haitians not to engage in vengeance, but rather to
devote themselves to justice and to feel happy in the knowledge that
justice will be done.
It is in that sense that we have asked for the departure
of the coup leaders, that they no longer be the heads of the army --
not necessarily that they either be in jail or have to leave the
country, but that a solution be found via dialogue which will lead to
a truly balanced situation so that all can work together in this
nonviolent context which will bring about a feeling of deepest joy in
the hearts of all Haitians.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: I know we have to go. Let me just
reaffirm two points -- and I'm glad you said it the second time
because that's exactly what came out of our meetings. That sort of
attitude on the part of President Aristide is the very thing that
should enable us to resolve this in a peaceful way. If the people of
Haiti can live in peace and security, subsequent to an agreement, and
begin once again to work for their own prosperity instead of living
in ever-deepening misery, then I think that we will be well on the
road to alleviating literally centuries of oppression in that
beautiful country that has been so misgoverned for so long.
And I applaud his statement. It is in that spirit that
I undertake this initiative. And I want to close by reaffirming the
determination of the United States to restore democracy and President
Aristide as soon as possible.
Thank you very much.
Q Thank you.
END5:20 P.M. EST
