    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [October 3, 1993]
    [Pages 1647-1648]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters on Russia
    October 3, 1993

        The President. Ladies and gentlemen, I have received a rather
    extended briefing on what we know about what is going on in Russia, and
    I want to make a couple of comments about

    [[Page 1648]]

    it. First of all, it is clear that the violence was perpetrated by the
    Rutskoy-Khasbulatov forces, that there has been significant violence
    today in Moscow. It is also clear that President Yeltsin bent over
    backwards to avoid the use of force, to avoid excessive force from the
    beginning of this, and I still am convinced that the United States must
    support President Yeltsin and the process of bringing about free and
    fair elections. We cannot afford to be in the position of wavering at
    this moment or of backing off or giving any encouragement to people who
    clearly want to derail the election process and are not committed to
    reform in Russia. So we are following events moment by moment. As you
    know, we have access to television coverage there so you are also pretty
    current on it. But that is the most I know now, and that is our
    position.
        Q. Do you think that Yeltsin can survive, Mr. President, and will
    you cut off aid if he is deposed?
        The President. Well, I don't expect him to be deposed. I wouldn't
    overreact to this, now. I think the people clearly stand far more
    supportive of him than the Rutskoy-Khasbulatov and they seem--they don't
    have any organized military support that we're aware of. So we'll just
    have to wait for developments, but I have no reason to believe that he
    would be deposed.
        Q. Mr. President, have you spoken to President Yeltsin?
        The President. No. I'm sure he's got more important things to do
    right now than to talk to me, and I don't think the United States should
    be involved in the moment-to-moment management of this crisis, but I do
    want him to know of my continued support and the support of the United
    States.
        Q. What can the U.S. Government do right now?
        The President. Well first of all, we can get as much intelligence,
    as quickly as possible, about what's going on, and we can do our best to
    look after the safety of the Americans who are there and the security of
    the Embassy, which has received some attention from our folks, and so
    far the reports on that are good.
        Q. Do you have any plans to cancel your trip or postpone your trip
    in any way?
        The President. No.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:09 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.