    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [April 6, 1993]
    [Pages 406-412]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt
    April 6, 1993

        President Clinton. Good morning. Today I have the great pleasure of
    welcoming President Mubarak to Washington and to the White House. We
    have had an excellent meeting, and I look forward to more in the coming
    years, as well as to a successful conclusion of our first meeting here
    at lunch after this press conference.
        For nearly 2 decades, Egypt and the United States have worked
    together in a special relationship to bring peace and stability to the
    Middle East. American and Egyptian soldiers have served side by side in
    defeating aggression in the Gulf and in bringing humanitarian relief in
    Somalia. American and Egyptian diplomats have worked side by side to
    pioneer peace with Israel and lately to bring others to the negotiating
    table. And after our discussions today, I am convinced that we share a
    common vision of a more peaceful Middle East, and we are determined to
    see that vision realized.
        Egypt has long experience in peacemaking and knows that only
    negotiations can resolve longstanding grievances. The Egyptian-Israeli
    treaty stands as a cornerstone of our common efforts to attain a just
    and lasting and comprehensive settlement based upon U.N. Security
    Council Resolutions 242 and 338. Our challenge is now to broaden the
    circle of peace, recognizing the principles that underlie the peace
    process: territory for peace, realization of the legitimate rights of
    the Palestinian people, security for all parties, and full and real
    peace.
        As I have made clear, the United States is prepared to assume the
    role of full partner when the parties themselves return to the
    negotiating table for serious discussions. We both feel deeply that
    there is an historic opportunity to achieve real progress in the Arab-
    Israeli peace process in 1993. This opportunity must not be missed. And
    all parties must live up to their responsibilities for making peace.
        We discussed the need to ensure stability in the Gulf. We're
    determined that the hard-won achievements of Desert Storm will be
    protected and that Iraq will comply fully with all relevant U.N.
    Security Council resolutions. We're also determined to counter Iran's
    involvement in terrorism and its active opposition to the Middle East
    peace process.
        Both our nations have suffered from the tragic consequences of
    terrorism. Both are absolutely determined to oppose the cowardly cruelty
    of terrorists wherever we can. We reviewed the common danger presented
    by religious extremism which promotes an intolerant agenda through
    violent means. We discussed ways of strengthening our cooperation in
    countering this and other forms of terrorism. We know that all
    Americans, including Americans of all races and all faiths, join us in
    strongly condemning such terrorism.
        Mr. President, I know that you have undertaken the difficult task of
    reforming and restructuring your nation's economy to provide for the
    needs of tomorrow. We have a similar challenge here in the United
    States. We appreciate the gains that have been made in Egypt, as well as
    the bridges that remain to be crossed. We are impressed by your courage
    and your efforts.
        We will continue to work together to stimulate trade, investment,
    and cooperation. Our economic assistance will continue to support
    Egypt's economic reform program, including privatization and Egypt's
    cooperation with international financial institutions.
        We are fast approaching a new century. This is perhaps less of a
    milestone for Egypt, which

    [[Page 407]]

    has, after all, 7,000 years of recorded history, than it is for our
    relatively young country. I told the President on the way up that every
    President of the United States since 1800 had lived in the White House,
    and he looked at me as if it were a drop in the bucket of time.
    [Laughter]
        But even taking the longest view, this is a critical period for the
    Middle East, the crucible of much of our common spiritual heritage. For
    the Middle East, the year 1993 can determine whether the new century is
    consumed by old enmities or used to unlock the human and material
    potential of the people. Our historic mission is to make this a year of
    peace. And I am delighted to have President Mubarak as a partner in
    pursuing this mission.
        The microphone is yours.
        President Mubarak. Thank you, Mr. President.
        I was very pleased to meet with President Clinton today. Our meeting
    was very positive and productive. In a spirit of friendship and mutual
    confidence, we explored the problems and opportunities our two nations
    are facing. I emphasized to the President that it is of utmost
    importance to our region to reach a just and comprehensive settlement
    between Israel and all her Arab neighbors, including the Palestinian
    people.
        Such a settlement should be based on Security Council Resolution 242
    and 338 and the principle of land for peace and realizing the national
    rights of the Palestinians. We believe that Egypt and the United States
    have a crucial role to play in order to allow the peace negotiations to
    reach a successful conclusion. Together we can make the ends meet and
    bridge the existing gaps.
        Equally important is the task of removing the remaining obstacles,
    especially that of the deportees. I was pleased to hear from President
    Clinton that significant progress has been on this issue and that he
    recognizes the importance of the Middle East peace talks. He is
    committed to use the influence of the United States to achieve
    meaningful progress in these talks when they are resumed on April 20th.
    We are confident that the negotiations will proceed smoothly and
    successfully.
        Beyond the peace process, we discussed a wide range of regional
    issues of common concern to our two countries. We stressed our concern
    for the stability of the Gulf region and the need for full compliance
    with the relevant Security Council resolutions. No country of that
    region should doubt our firm commitment to help preserve the security,
    stability, and territorial integrity of all friendly states. Similarly,
    we are doing all what we can to stop the spread of weapons of mass
    destruction in the Middle East. As you are certainly aware, Egypt has
    submitted a plan for making the area free of all weapons of mass
    destruction. We shall pursue this goal with vigor and determination.
        On the global front, I offered to work closely with the President
    for the purpose of making the world more humane and equitable, a world
    where opportunity and hope exist for all and where people learn to
    accept divergences and employ diversity for the benefit of mankind.
        I am making this appeal because I am alarmed by the refusal of some
    elements in the different societies to accept the diversity and the
    coexistence. This has resulted in unprecedented atrocities and suffering
    in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The world cannot tolerate the savage
    practices which are committed under the ugly slogan of ethnic cleansing
    and purification. It is against all human values to see such claims
    emerge at the threshold of the 21st century.
        Unfortunately, violence is increasingly being used by certain
    misguided elements in many parts of the world, including the Middle
    East. Acute social and economic problems are being exploited in order to
    breed violence and anarchy. At the same time, foreign countries are
    interfering in the domestic affairs of other nations under false
    pretexts. All civilized nations are called upon to fight the spirit of
    violence and terrorism everywhere, for this is a threat to the existence
    and future of humanity. No country is immune or distant from that
    danger.
        In Egypt, we are coping with the phenomena through a comprehensive
    program which deals with the roots and the causes of the problem. We
    have embarked on an ambitious economic reform program. Parallel with
    this, we are enforcing our democratic system, solidifying the protection
    of the human rights. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for
    every Egyptian with equal determination. We are confronting foreign
    plots and attempted intervention.
        Having said this, I would like to assure you all that Egypt is not
    in danger. The image which has been projected by the media lately is
    rather exaggerated. As well as all know, violence makes instant news,
    but the real story is our confidence, our unity, and our growing success
    in

    [[Page 408]]

    facing this problem. The Egyptian people will not accept any challenge
    to their tradition of friendship with other nations and hospitality to
    our visitors. We will remain true to our culture of resolving problems
    peacefully and defeating the forces of violence and aggression. Let the
    whole world know that Egypt is as strong as ever and that its leadership
    is firm and confident.
        Mr. President, as I told you, Egypt is a country which values its
    excellent relations with the United States. Let me take this opportunity
    to express our deep appreciation for the support and assistance we are
    receiving from the United States. This aid is crucial to the success of
    our reform program.
        We would like to assure a friendly welcome to all Americans who
    visit us. We encourage the American business community to invest in our
    economy. The climate for investment has become very favorable following
    the steps we took in the past few years on the road to economic reform.
    Our budget deficit has been reduced from 18 percent of the GDP in 1990
    to 3.5 percent this year. The foreign exchange market has been
    deregulated, and our foreign currency reserves have reached record
    levels. Trade is being liberalized, and the balance of payment is
    showing steady improvement. After registering a deficit of $2.6 billion
    in 1990, it now shows a surplus of about $3 billion.
        President Clinton, our discussion today affirmed a broad identity of
    interest over a wide range of issues. We have developed a full agenda of
    cooperation for the future. I want to thank you for your understanding
    and your enthusiastic response. I fully appreciate your warm welcome and
    extend to the American people my best wishes for success and
    fulfillment. I look forward to working closely with you during the
    months ahead for our common goals. And I extend to you an invitation to
    visit Egypt at your earliest convenience.
        Thank you.
        President Clinton. Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International]?

    Middle East Peace Process

        Q. Mr. President, in view of the rising violence in the Middle East
    and elsewhere, what is the cause of your optimism? And this question's
    for both of you: What can you both do to promote peace this year, in the
    future?
        President Clinton. The cause of my optimism, in terms of peace in
    the Middle East, is the extraordinary efforts that Prime Minister Rabin
    is making and my belief that the peace talks will reconvene in April, as
    well as some encouraging comments that have been made by Mr. Assad, the
    leader of Syria, recently in Egypt and publicly. He said he wanted a
    full peace, peace in all of its aspects, I think on Egyptian television.
    I think there is reason to believe that we can make real headway.
        President Mubarak might want to answer the question.
        President Mubarak. Really, I could tell you very frankly, I have met
    so many leaders in the area, not only the President of Syria, the
    Palestinians and the other Arab leaders. All of them want to reach peace
    as quickly as possible. The Syrian leader, he said it publicly and
    clearly, ``I'm very keen on peace.'' Peace will help every leader to
    raise the standard of the living of the people in the area. The
    Palestinians also are fed up from the present situation, being denied
    from everything. So I think this is very important, and I have great
    hopes that the negotiations will start on the 20th of April. And I may
    say much more, I hope and we are going to work closely on that to get an
    end to the problem by the end of this year, if it is possible.

    Terrorism

        Q. [Inaudible]--what's new happening in Egypt is Muslim and Muslim
    which is not really Islam. What is your policy in confronting this
    exported terrorism to Egypt and get Egypt back where it was and where it
    is: love, peace, happiness, pleasure with Egypt?
        President Mubarak. Look, the majority of the Egyptian people are
    supporting me and any measures I am taking to put an end to this kind of
    terrorism. Copts, Muslims, any kind of religion in Egypt, they are all
    Egyptians. We expect that this small minority was trying to make use of
    the economic problems. You know we are going through economic reform in
    our country; the reform has its side-effects. It makes a burden on some
    groups of the people. Some foreign forces, like the Iranians, let me
    mention the name, making use of this to try to destabilize the country.
    But be sure we are very firm with that by law, and we are not going to
    violate the law. And the Copts and the Muslims are very good friends.
    And I could tell you, the best friends I had all my life were all Copts.

    [[Page 409]]

    Stimulus Package

        Q. Mr. President, on another subject, the Republicans have been
    delaying action on your $1 billion jobs stimulus bill, and now the
    Senate has gone out. Are there areas where you would be willing to
    compromise, cut spending in order to win Republican votes?
        President Clinton. Well, I'm going to work on a proposal that I
    think will address some of the legitimate expressed objections. And we
    will see when Congress comes back whether the Republicans are committed
    to putting the American people back to work or just playing politics.
        You know, we have a system in this country where people, all of whom
    have jobs--a minority of the Senators, who all have jobs--can literally
    thwart majority rule; where a rule designed to guarantee that all
    possible amendments can be offered can be used to stop all decisions.
    Now, the American people now are learning that again, that--and if they
    want to stop the Government, they can do it.
        But I don't think that it's going to be very defensible when they
    come back to say, ``The economy is fine in America. There are enough
    jobs. We don't have to do this.'' And I'll give them a chance to show
    their real motives, and I trust that they'll do the right thing.
        Andrea [Andrea Mitchell, NBC News]?

    Palestinians

        Q. Mr. President, President Mubarak has been quoted as saying he
    wants you to press Mr. Rabin on the issues of the deportees. When Mr.
    Rabin was here, you said that you didn't raise that issue with him. Are
    you now prepared to----
        President Clinton. We had discussed that in great detail before he
    came here; that's what I said.
        Q. Are you now prepared to take more steps to press Mr. Rabin? And
    Mr. Mubarak, I'd like to know whether you feel that the President is
    doing enough to resolve that issue.
        President Clinton. I believe that Israel has been quite forthcoming
    in trying to give the reassurance that the Palestinians need to come to
    the talks. President Mubarak is going to have further discussions, I
    think, with all the parties and certainly with Israel about it. We will
    see what will be done. But President Rabin has taken a very forthright
    and open stand in trying to reach out to the Palestinians and to the
    other parties, and I believe that it's enough to get people back to the
    table. I hope it is.
        President Mubarak. Really I didn't use the word ``press'' on Mr.
    Rabin. We have good contacts with Mr. Rabin. I'm used to exchange views
    with him, and where it was convenient to help the peace process to start
    and the negotiations to continue, I am doing it. I sent him a message
    when I was in London before I come here and am intending to meet with
    him. And I have discussed all these points with the President, and I am
    going to continue that with Mr. Rabin whenever I go back.
        Q. Is there anything more that the United States should be doing
    regarding Israel?
        President Mubarak. I think that the United States is a full partner
    and she's doing its maximum in that sense. She has good dialog with
    Prime Minister Rabin, and he was here. And I'm going to continue with
    Mr. Rabin so as to persuade the Palestinians to start negotiations on
    the fixed date.
        President Clinton. There is someone from the Egyptian press----
        Q. I would like to address to President Clinton, please, the human
    rights President: How far are you ready to go to help the human rights
    of the Palestinians in the occupied territories? Would you like to
    comment on the ideas expressed by President Mubarak to remove the
    obstacles so that they can come to the table?
        President Clinton. Well, the human rights issues obviously will be
    discussed as a part of the peace process. They are very important to me,
    and I think they will be at the forefront of the process. And President
    Mubarak and I have discussed that, and I think that there won't be peace
    in the Middle East unless those issues are addressed.
        Tom [Tom Friedman, New York Times]?

    Palestine Liberation Organization

        Q. When the United States broke off the dialog with the PLO 2 years
    ago, it did so leaving three conditions behind that if the PLO met, the
    dialog would be resumed: that they forswear terrorism, expel those
    involved, and condemn the act involved. Does your administration stand
    by those conditions? That is, if the PLO now fulfills those conditions,
    would you be willing to resume the U.S.-PLO dialog? And to President
    Mubarak: Do you think the resumption of the U.S.-PLO dialog would be
    helpful to the peace process at this time?

    [[Page 410]]

        President Clinton. Let me say this: There has been no change in the
    policy of the United States, but the focus of my efforts has been toward
    getting the peace process started again. I still believe that that is
    the best way to proceed.
        President Mubarak. The PLO we consider in the Arab world is the
    representative of the Palestinians. We have very good contacts with
    them, and we convey whatever we needed to President Clinton and even to
    the Israelis. I think at this present time we are going to concentrate
    on the negotiations to start. And you know, the PLO is everywhere. So
    many people of the delegation are from the PLO. So I don't think that
    there is any problem at the time being for that.

    Serbia

        Q. [Inaudible]--the situation in Bosnia. I know that earlier today
    you dismissed the comments of President Milosevic about your policy
    there as a charm offensive. But I wonder, sir, if you don't think,
    nonetheless, that he wouldn't have said such things if he was finding
    the actions you've taken so far very bothersome and perhaps whether you
    think now that they would ever be sufficient to deter?
        President Clinton. I don't know. I've done everything that I know to
    do, consistent with the possibilities we have for further action in the
    United Nations with our European allies and the members of the Security
    Council. As you know, I think the sanctions should be strengthened if
    the Bosnians don't sign the Vance-Owen agreement. We obviously have made
    life more difficult for the people in Serbia, and I think there are
    other things that we can do. I wouldn't rule out or in anything. But
    it's plain that what Milosevic was trying to do was to essentially head
    off further efforts to toughen the sanctions or to take further actions.
    That will not be successful.
        Q. [Inaudible]--that he may not feel that, not ruling out anything,
    that he may indeed feel that the use, for example, of American military
    force has in effect been ruled out?
        President Clinton. It's never been ruled in. The United States is
    not capable of solving that problem alone. I don't think anyone expects
    us to do that. We have been, in many cases, more aggressive in what we
    were willing to do than the European neighbors of the former Yugoslavia.
    I still believe there is some chance that we can make this peace process
    work, and I still think there are lots of other things we can do to make
    life more uncomfortable for the Serbs. And I wouldn't rule those out.

    Libya

        Q. This is a question to President Clinton, please. Owing to the
    new----
        President Clinton. Oh, I recognized you hoping you would ask
    President Mubarak a question. [Laughter]
        Q. Egyptians want to ask you----
        President Clinton. Please, go ahead.
        Q. Owing to the new liberal view that you represent now in being the
    President of the United States, to what limits have you arrived to an
    agreement with Mr. Mubarak, President Mubarak, about the cries of Libya
    with the West?
        President Clinton. The question was about our policies with regard
    to Libya.
        Well, as you know, we have one huge barrier that overrides
    everything else right now, and that is the determination of the United
    States to see that the people who have been charged with the Pan Am 103
    disaster are released from Libya and subject to a legitimate trial. And
    that has to be resolved in a way that is legal and appropriate before
    any other issues with regard to Libya can be raised.
        The President and I discussed this today. I think that it is
    inevitable that we will press for tougher sanctions if the Government of
    Libya does not release the people that have been charged. There's a lot
    of evidence against them. They should go on trial. They should be
    punished if they're found guilty. It should be a real and legitimate
    trial. It is an enormous issue in the United States, and nothing else
    really can be resolved with regard to Libya until that issue is
    resolved.

    World Trade Center Bombing

        Q. Could the United States have made better use of the information
    which was given to us by Egypt before the bombing of the World Trade
    Center? President Mubarak, why do you believe, as you said in an
    interview, that the bombing might have been prevented if the U.S. had
    used the information differently?
        President Clinton. The short answer to your question is I don't know
    yet. I have ordered a complete review of what the United States was told
    last year and when we were told it.

    [[Page 411]]

    I think President Mubarak would support my contention that we have tried
    to step up our cooperation with the Egyptians in combating international
    terrorism since I've been President. In February we sent American
    officials to Egypt, and they stayed there about a week working on
    cooperative exchanges and information. And we talked today about what we
    could do to do more. Whether there was something given to us that we
    could have acted on that might have changed the shape of future events,
    I cannot answer that yet. But since the statements that President
    Mubarak has made, I have ordered a review of what we knew, when we knew
    it, what was done. And I don't know yet what the answer to that is.
        I think the important thing is we do know that there was nothing
    specific related to the World Trade Center bombing that was given to the
    United States. We know we have stepped up cooperation, and we know we
    intend to do more in the future. And the United States has to review a
    lot of its policies in view of what happened at the World Trade Center
    to try to make sure we are doing everything we can to minimize the
    impact of terrorism in this country.
        President Mubarak. I would like, if the President would permit me,
    we had no definite information about what happened in the World Trade
    Center. We were making good cooperation with the United States in the
    direction of fighting terrorism. But nobody knows, or knew beforehand
    that something was going to happen to the World Trade Center.
        We are exchanging information about any kind of terrorism which
    takes place here or there. But different information, of course, we
    haven't. Otherwise, we would have told very clearly to the Americans,
    there is something going to happen in this or that place.

    Iran

        Q. Mr. President, it was mentioned the question of the threat of
    regional security in the Gulf. Can you be more specific what these
    threats are at present, and are you putting the threats from Iran and
    Iraq on an equal footing?
        President Mubarak. It's for me?
        President Clinton. Both.
        President Mubarak. Look, Iraq now is in a position not to have the
    ability to threaten any of the--[inaudible--that Kuwait is ours, but
    there are so many measures being taken. But Iran, Iran now, because it's
    the only country on the theater--you know the Iranians and Kuwaitis were
    competing each other. Nowadays, the Iranians are stronger. They are
    trying to find a way to destabilize the security in some countries,
    mainly Egypt. And we are working hard for that. And this was the main
    cause of making some explosions, some instance in our country. I think
    Iran now is trying to create problems. And we are very firm with them.
    We are capable to do so many things, but we are not a country to
    interfere in any internal affair of any other.
        Q. You mentioned that you and President Mubarak were agreed on the
    need to counter Iran's support for terrorism and its opposition to the
    Middle East peace process. What specific steps are you considering and
    have you discussed with President Mubarak?
        President Clinton. I don't think it would be appropriate for us to
    discuss that at this time.

    Serbia

        Q. I couldn't help but notice in your answer to Brit's [Brit Hume,
    ABC News] question that you sounded frustrated about the situation in
    Bosnia and that if there is no change in the position of European
    governments, that if they can withstand sanctions, the Serbians will
    essentially be able to get what they want.
        President Clinton. That is what I am concerned about. You got it.
    That's about as good a statement as I could have made myself. [Laughter]
        Q. Are you putting, then, the onus on the European governments to
    take this a further step, or is there some other step the U.S. can----
        President Clinton. No. No, my point is, though, that the United
    States--if you believe that we should engage these problems in a
    multilateral way, if you believe, for example, in what happened in a
    good way in Operation Desert Storm, then the reverse has to be true,
    too. The United States has got to work through the United Nations, and
    all of our views may not always prevail. Look how long it took us to
    just secure the approval of enforcement of the no-fly zone.
        Also it is, frankly, a very difficult situation. The Europeans
    remember how many German troops were once in what became Yugoslavia and
    then came apart. It is a difficult situation. It is the most difficult,
    the most frustrating

    [[Page 412]]

    problem in the world today.
        The only point I was trying to make is I have proceeded all along on
    the assumption that whatever we did and whatever we could do, we would
    and should act through the United Nations in a multilateral way. I have
    done my best to continue to stiffen the sanctions, to continue to push
    for more action, to push for the enforcement of the no-fly zone, to push
    all the countries involved to do what we could to try to bring this to a
    successful conclusion so that the principle of ethnic cleansing is not
    rewarded in Bosnia and, therefore, encouraged in other countries.
        I have not thought that the United States should or could
    successfully take unilateral action. And I know that a lot of things
    that we could do to inflict some pain might also entail a great deal of
    cost and might not change the ultimate outcome of how the Bosnian people
    have to live.
        So it is a very frustrating and difficult circumstance. And I can't
    really add to the way you captured the question; you said it very well.
        Thank you.
        President Mubarak. Thank you.

    Note: The President's 10th news conference began at 11:35 a.m. in the
    Briefing Room at the White House. In the news conference, he referred to
    Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel.