    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [April 6, 1993]
    [Pages 405-406]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 405]]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Hosni
    Mubarak of Egypt
    April 6, 1993

    World Trade Center Bombing

        Q. President Mubarak, did you give the United States a specific
    warning about the World Trade Center bombing?
        President Mubarak. Let me tackle this problem in the press
    conference, if you don't mind.

    Stimulus Package

        Q. Mr. President, do you think you'll get your stimulus package
    intact after the recess?
        President Clinton. Well, let me say this: We're going to give the
    Senate a chance to prove that the stated objections to some of the
    programs were their real objections. I mean, the American people, I'm
    sure, are disappointed to find that a program that would put a half-
    million people to work and that has the support of a majority of the
    United States Senate cannot be brought to a vote in the Senate, because
    democracy and the majority rule is being undermined.
        The whole purpose of the Senate's debating rules is to allow all
    amendments to be offered. We've had amendment after amendment after
    amendment after amendment, and the Republican minority is just trying to
    keep it from being voted on. So we're going to give them a chance to see
    if they were serious about their specific concerns and if they really
    want to put the American people back to work or not. This is a big
    issue, and we'll just see what happens.
        Q. You are going to have to compromise, though, aren't you?
        Q. [Inaudible]--frustrated about the delay?
        President Clinton. Of course. I think that we ought to be--I can't
    imagine how they could be satisfied with the condition of this economy.
    I can't imagine how they could be satisfied with it. They were here,
    many of them, while we increased the national debt by 4 times, while we
    exploded the deficit, we drove down employment and drove up
    unemployment. And I've given them a plan to bring down the deficit and
    increase employment, put people back to work, and I think they ought to
    be for it. And we'll see if they will be.
        Q. How much are you willing to cut----
        President Clinton. As soon as the thing is over--when they come
    back, we'll see whether they really care about putting people to work or
    whether this is all just political posturing to prove that a minority
    can paralyze the Federal Government. It's just more gridlock, and I
    think the people will rebel against it.
        You can count how many people they're going to keep out of work. You
    will know job by job how many they'll be responsible for not putting to
    work. We'll see.
        Q. You sound pretty passionate on the subject.

    Serbia

        President Clinton. What did you say about Milosevic?
        Q. How do you feel--[inaudible]--by his message?
        President Clinton. Oh, that was like the Iraqi charm offensive. He's
    just trying to head off tougher sanctions if the Vance-Owen plan is not
    embraced.
        Q. Is it going to work?
        President Clinton. No, it won't. Of course not.
        Q. Do you think he's getting the wrong message, though, sir? I
    mean----
        President Clinton. It's pure politics. He's trying to head off
    tougher sanctions in the U.N. if the Serbs don't sign off on Vance-Owen.
    That's all that's going on there. And it won't work.
        Q. Don't you think he's sending a message saying it's actually--this
    is great, you're not going to hound us?
        President Clinton. Well, we are going to press for tougher
    sanctions. We'll see.
        Q. You don't want any compliments from him, huh?
        Q. [Inaudible]--are you rethinking the arms embargo?
        President Clinton. I'm always rethinking that. There's never been a
    day when I haven't rethought that. But I can't do that by myself.

    [At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group
    entered.]

    Meeting With President Mubarak

        Q. How about your first impression, Mr. President?

    [[Page 406]]

        President Clinton. Very good. I'm glad to see President Mubarak. He
    and I have talked on the phone and worked on some things together, but
    this is our first personal meeting. And we'll have a press conference in
    a few minutes--in a couple of hours, I guess. We'll answer your
    questions.

    Note: The exchange began at 9:45 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, President Clinton referred to President Slobodan
    Milosevic of Serbia. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of this exchange.