    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [March 24, 1993]
    [Pages 345-346]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Foreign Minister
    Andrey Kozyrev of Russia
    March 24, 1993

    Russia

        Q. Will you answer a couple of questions? Do you have any reaction
    to what Mr. Kozyrev suggested this morning as to the future economic
    relations between us and Russia?
        The President. Well, we haven't had a conversation about it yet. Let
    me just say that I'm delighted to have him here. I'm glad to have a
    firsthand account of what's going on in Russia. And I want to reaffirm
    my support for democracy and for reform and say I'm looking very much
    forward to the Vancouver summit with President Yeltsin.
        Q. Mr. President, apparently you seem to oppose aiding Russia. What
    will you do to try to sell your program for Russian aid?
        The President. Well, I would tell the American people what I've been
    saying for well over a year now, that it is very much in our interest to
    keep Russia a democracy, to keep moving toward market reforms, and to
    keep moving toward reducing the nuclear threat. It will save the
    American people billions of dollars, in money we don't have to spend
    maintaining a nuclear arsenal, if we can continue to denuclearize the
    world. It will make the American people billions of dollars in future
    trade opportunities. And it will make the world a safer place. So, I
    think this is a good investment for America. I've always believed that.
    And I hope I can persuade the American people and the United States
    Congress that it is.
        Q. Do you think there's still a chance for a compromise in Russia?
        The President. That's something the Russians will have to work out
    among themselves. I presume there is, but that's obviously something
    that has to be decided by the Russian people.

    [[Page 346]]

    The United States can't dictate that.
        Q. Mr. Kozyrev, can you tell us, did the meetings go poorly this
    morning, because it seems as though the line was harder when they came
    out from those meetings?
        Foreign Minister Kozyrev. [Inaudible]--well, I think the people will
    pass final judgment. As President just said, it is for Russians and
    Russian people to pass final judgment, and President calls for vote,
    popular vote. And I think this will be the decisive event. But on the--
    President, as always, is open to compromise where there are those
    political forces who are not apt to just reverse the reform and advance
    the democracy.
        Q. Will you support the idea of Russia joining G-7 as soon as
    possible?
        The President. I wouldn't rule out or in anything particular. We're
    going to be dealing with a whole broad range of issues between the
    United States and Russia and with the G-7. And let's just see what
    happens.

    Note: The exchange began at 1:10 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this
    exchange.