    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [April 11, 1991]
    [Pages 358-359]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With
    President Jacques Delors of the European Community Commission and
    President Jacques Santer of the European Council of Ministers
    April 11, 1991

        President Bush. You're not going to need these because this is a
    photo opportunity. [Laughter]
        Q. Mr. President, do you support a safe haven for the Kurdish
    refugees?
        Q. Haven't you, in effect, sir, created an enclave there by telling
    Iraq you will shoot down any planes that threaten the refugees?
        President Bush. Photo opportunity.
        I think our distinguished guests are going to have a press
    conference later on. I'll have a little something to say on this subject
    in a bit, too. But the main thing we want to do is welcome these
    European leaders here. The United States values its relationship with
    the EC--and of course, on a bilateral basis we have a wonderful
    relationship with Prime Minister Santer and his country, and the same
    for Jacques Delors when he's wearing a French hat, which is very seldom
    these days. We've got a great, cooperative relationship with the EC and
    with individual countries in Europe, and that's what this meeting is
    about, to put the emphasis on the EC.

    Iraqi Refugees

        Q. Well, you are going to discuss the Kurdish refugees?
        President Bush. Absolutely. We'll be discussing that and a wide
    array of other questions. And I'm very pleased with the enormous
    cooperative refugee program now underway. It is tremendous. The
    suffering there is enormous. And the United States is

    [[Page 359]]

    in lockstep with Europe in terms of our approach to helping these
    unfortunate people that are being victimized by this brutal dictator in
    Baghdad.

                        Note: President Bush spoke at 11:05 a.m. in the Rose
                            Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he
                            referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.
                            President Santer was also Prime Minister of
                            Luxembourg. A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content of these remarks.