    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [September 7, 1993]
    [Page 1448]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by the Press Secretary on the President's Telephone
    Conversation With President Boris Yeltsin of Russia
    September 7, 1993

        President Clinton spoke by phone today with President Boris Yeltsin
    of Russia for about 40 minutes to discuss several bilateral and foreign
    policy issues.
        President Clinton reiterated strong U.S. support for Russian
    political and market reform and the work of President Yeltsin and the
    Russian Government to keep those reforms on track. They discussed the
    status of existing and prospective U.S. assistance for the reform
    process.
        The President agreed that last week's meeting in Washington of the
    Joint Commission on Energy and Space, led by Vice President Gore and
    Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, was a great success. They also
    agreed on the need for further progress, particularly on a number of
    U.S. private sector energy investment projects.
        Turning to the Middle East, the Presidents welcomed the historic
    progress in negotiations between Israel and the PLO in recent weeks and
    pledged to work together to promote peace in the Middle East region.
        On other foreign policy issues, President Yeltsin briefed the
    President on his recent trip to Ukraine. President Clinton welcomed the
    progress achieved by President Yeltsin and President Kravchuk,
    particularly regarding the nuclear weapons now deployed in Ukraine. The
    President affirmed U.S. interest in working with both parties to assist
    in the resolution of outstanding issues.
        The President congratulated President Yeltsin on the withdrawal of
    Russian forces from Lithuania last week and reaffirmed U.S. support for
    a rapid and complete withdrawal of forces from Latvia and Estonia. The
    two leaders also discussed their support for the ongoing effort to
    promote peace in Bosnia.