    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [October 9, 1993]
    [Pages 1729-1730]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1729]]

    Exchange With Reporters at Yale University in New Haven
    October 9, 1993

    Somalia

        Q. [Inaudible]--with General Aideed?
        Q. [Inaudible]--offering a cease-fire?
        The President. We haven't offered a cease-fire. I expect it, that
    there would be a cessation of violence against the United States and the
    U.N. forces when I made it clear what I said at the U.N., that we wanted
    to support a political process in Somalia that would permit the
    termination of our involvement and when I made it clear I was going to
    send stronger forces there to reinforce our position. But there's been
    no direct communication. In fact, Ambassador Oakley went there to meet
    with President Meles and other leaders of the African nations in the
    region and to try to work out a political process that they would
    manage. We believe that over the long run, the only way that Somalians
    can live in peace with one another is if their neighbors work out an
    African solution to an African problem. So, that's just not true. We
    didn't extend an offer of a cease-fire. And there's been no direct
    negotiations of any kind.
        Q. [Inaudible]--apparently he is offering one now.
        The President. Well, if he's offering one, that's fine. He ought to
    stop the violence, because that's a good thing. He ought to do it. But
    it's not accurate to say that we have initiated it. But I welcome it. I
    think that he should stop the violence. And I want Ambassador Oakley to
    have a chance to go over there and meet with President Meles and others.
    And let's see what kind of political process that the African leaders
    themselves can get going.
        Q. [Inaudible]--part of these negotiations, sir, or are you trying
    to cut them out of it?
        The President. No, I didn't say that. As a matter of fact, I think
    the Secretary-General is going to the region just in the next couple of
    days, which I would welcome. So that's up to him to decide. I wouldn't
    say that at all. But all the nations that are there on the humanitarian
    mission have supported in varying degrees the idea that we didn't want
    to go there for nothing. We didn't want to go there, pull out, and have
    chaos, anarchy, starvation return.
        But I think it's clear to all of us who have been involved in this
    that the greatest likelihood of a successful political resolution of
    this would be if the African leaders of the adjoining states took the
    initiative and they tried to work out a solution which reflected what is
    possible and what is desirable as they define it. And I don't think we
    ought to be defining it for them. I have never been for----
        Q. [Inaudible]--your instructions been to Oakley?
        The President. My instructions to Oakley were to go first to meet
    with President Meles, decide whether there are any other presidents of
    other countries in the region he needs to meet with, discuss what the
    role for the OAU or some other African role might be, and see what can
    best be done to start, really generate a lot of energy behind the
    political process. We think that ultimately whatever peace would be
    brokered, if it's brokered from forces outside Somalia, should come from
    the Africans. And we would hope the U.N. would be able to bless----
        Q. [Inaudible]--prospects for the release of Chief Warrant Officer
    Durant? Is there any report there?
        The President. Well, we're obviously encouraged by the fact that he
    seems to be in reasonably good shape. And we expect that he will be
    released. I can't give you any other specific comments now. I am very
    hopeful that there will be no Americans in captivity anytime soon.
        Q. [Inaudible]--make a deal for his release?
        The President. [Inaudible]--and I expect that that's what the rules
    will be. But there has been no negotiations over that at all, none.
        Q. [Inaudible]--can't say anything now--is there some sort of
    sensitive process ongoing now--the process----
        The President. No, I wouldn't characterize it in that way. It's just
    that I believe that I think that any Americans who are held captive must
    be released. I think they know the United States has no intention of
    leaving Somalia until that is done. We're going to have all of our
    people present and accounted for before we go home. And that's just
    going to be a part of whatever happens from now on in. It is the
    priority that we have to pursue and for our own people.
        But I'm encouraged that Mr. Oakley was welcomed there by President
    Meles. And I'm en-

    [[Page 1730]]

    couraged by President--I mean, by the Secretary-General wanting to go to
    the region. So I think that the peace process sort of got derailed over
    the last several months. I think it's going to get back in gear. And I
    think that's a good thing for everybody.

    Note: The exchange began at 4:30 p.m. at the Rotunda in Woolsey Hall. In
    his remarks, the President referred to Ambassador Robert B. Oakley,
    special envoy to Somalia; President Zenawi Meles of Ethiopia; U.N.
    Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali; and captured U.S. Army pilot
    Michael Durant. A tape was not available for verification of the content
    of this exchange.