[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.