[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[February 20, 1992]
[Pages 284-285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Carl 
Bildt of Sweden

February 20, 1992
    The President. Well, look who's here. You're not going to need this, 
I don't think.
    Q. Mr. President, why have you not condemned the latest Israeli 
invasion into Lebanon, sir?
    The President. We're not going to take any questions at this photo 
opportunity. We're going to be discussing very important relations 
between Sweden and the United States and also get into a lot of 
multilateral questions. But that's it.
    Q. Will that issue come up in your talks, sir?
    The President. Any issues he wants to talk

[[Page 285]]

about will be coming up.
    Q. Do you think the invasion might hamper the current Mideast peace 
talks?
    The President. You missed it. I'm not going to take any questions. 
Thanks.
    Q. Thank you.

[At this point, one group of journalists left the Oval Office, and a 
second group entered.]

    Q. Are relations with Sweden different since Carl Bildt took over?
    The President. Put it this way: I don't think they could be much 
better. And we're very happy with the relations with Sweden. We view it, 
incidentally, as a very important bilateral relationship. And I have 
great respect for what this gentleman on my right is doing and what he 
has already accomplished. And he's already had a very good, thorough 
discussion with the Secretary of State, and now I look forward to having 
one with him. But I welcome Prime Minister Bildt here, and just to say 
he comes to a fertile territory because there's an awful lot of respect 
for what he's doing, right here in this Oval Office, the State 
Department, all across our Government.
    Q. Do you really have time with Sweden after the setback in New 
Hampshire?
    The President. Yes, I've got time for it.
    Q. Shouldn't you put America first, to quote the famous----
    The President. I'd like to think America is first. But that's the 
way I look at it. But I don't think any President would look at it 
differently. But we are going to stay engaged around the world. We've 
got a leadership role, and we're working closely with leaders from 
different countries. And clearly, Sweden is a very important country. I 
can learn a lot from him----
    Q. What can you learn?
    The President. ----about what's happening in Eastern Europe, for 
example, what's happening in the Baltics, what's happening in Europe 
itself. And I can tell him that we plan to stay engaged. And no domestic 
politics is going to dissuade us from that.
    Q. What specific roles do you see Sweden----
    The President. Listen guys, this isn't a press conference. This is 
what we call a photo op. But I just really wanted to say, with the 
Swedish journalists here, a warm welcome to this very able Prime 
Minister. We're just so pleased he's here.
    Thank you all very much.

                    Note: The exchange began at 11:03 a.m. in the Oval 
                        Office at the White House.