[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[April 9, 1992]
[Pages 573-574]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Violeta 
Chamorro of Nicaragua

April 9, 1992
    President Chamorro. It's a wonderful visit. It always is, but I 
think we feel even more united now than ever.
    President Bush. Well, I think so.
    President Chamorro. We always come to the United States feeling at 
home, just as we are awaiting your visit in Nicaragua.
    President Bush. We weren't sure our Assistant Secretary, Bernie 
Aronson, was going to make it. He was down in Peru. He can tell us. He 
can tell us, yes. He's coming over. He's going to wait for these 
cameras.

Manuel Noriega Verdict

    Q. Mr. President, your reaction to the Noriega verdict?
    President Bush. Noriega was convicted, I think, on 8 out of 10 
counts. Well, I think

[[Page 574]]

it's a major victory against the drug lords. We're going to continue the 
fight against drugs in every way possible. But I think it's significant 
that he was accorded a free and fair trial, and he was found guilty. And 
I hope it sends a lesson to drug lords here and around the world that 
they'll pay a price if they continue to poison the lives of our kids in 
this country or anywhere else. And so, in my view, the case was a solid 
case. And I've not commented on it since it began in the court, but now 
that he has been convicted I think it's proper to say that justice has 
been served.
    Q. Was it worth invading Panama to get this verdict?
    President Bush. It was certainly worth bringing him to justice. It's 
certainly always worth it when you protect the lives of American 
citizens. And when a part of the result of that is democracy in a 
country, it makes it doubly worth it. But yes, I'm glad he's out.
    Q. Are you sorry things are not better for the Panamanians these 
days?
    President Bush. I wish things were better for the Americans, for the 
Panamanians, for the Nicaraguans, and for everybody. But we're going to 
continue to work to see that that is true.
    Q. Mr. President, are you surprised by the verdict, given the fact 
that it almost ended in a mistrial?
    President Bush. No, because I've felt that from what I understood 
that the case was very solid. But I think it's a good thing, and I think 
the main thing is it sends a message to the drug lords that they are 
going to be brought to justice. And I salute those countries that are 
waging a good fight against narcotics in their countries, and many in 
this hemisphere are doing just exactly that.

British Elections

    Q. Mr. President, have you heard from John Major?
    President Bush. No, I haven't. Any exit polls here? They don't 
start--we talked to the----
    Mr. Scowcroft. They don't cast anything about exit polls until the 
polls close, which is 5 p.m. our time.
    President Bush. Ten p.m. their time, yes. They stay open late over 
there. Big British election, as you know.
    Okay, you guys, you're out of here.

                    Note: The exchange began at 3:13 p.m. in the Oval 
                        Office at the White House. President Chamorro 
                        spoke in Spanish, and her remarks were 
                        translated by an interpreter.