    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 20, 1991]
    [Pages 700-701]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Former Prime Minister Margaret
    Thatcher of the United Kingdom
    June 20, 1991

        The President. I don't think we're having a press conference, but I
    want to just take this opportunity to say how much General Scowcroft and
    I have enjoyed a visit with the former Prime Minister. Over an hour, she
    shared with us her views on the Soviet Union, having returned from a
    very interesting and very constructive trip not so long ago. We are
    anticipating a meeting today of Mr. Yeltsin, and this debrief or my
    picking her brains, as I did, is extraordinarily helpful in that
    context, as in many other contexts.
        But Margaret, I just want to thank you for

    [[Page 701]]

    popping in, and you are welcome at any time.
        Mrs. Thatcher. Thank you very much, Mr. President, I've enjoyed it
    enormously. They're historic days: democracy has come to the Soviet
    Union. It now has to be backed up by full economic reform, with everyone
    pulling together. Thank you very much. Thank you so much.

                        Note: The President spoke at 8:10 a.m. on the South
                            Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, he
                            referred to Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the
                            President for National Security Affairs, and
                            Boris Yeltsin, President of the Republic of
                            Russia. A tape was not available for
                            verification of the content of these remarks.