[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[February 16, 1994]
[Page 272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 272]]


Exchange With Reporters
February 16, 1994

Bosnia

    Q. Mr. President, are there a lot of differences between the U.N. 
and NATO on Bosnia Sunday night?
    The President. No.
    Q. What is the problem----
    The President. Well, I don't think there is a problem. The decision 
of the North Atlantic Council still stands. And the rules are clear: 
that the heavy artillery either has to be taken out of the safe zone or 
put under the control of the U.N. either in one of these areas where the 
weapons can be deposited; or if the weapons cannot be moved, they still 
must be under the control of the U.N.
    So I think the issue is just simply working out the mechanism for 
control of weapons that are either too high in the mountains or 
snowbound or otherwise unable to be moved to one of these centralized 
areas. But so far, it seems to me that based on the detailed 
conversations I had today with the national security staff and the work 
the Joints Chiefs are doing that they're just working it out. They're 
just trying to work through what reasonable standards of control are. 
And I have no reason to believe that there's any difference at this 
time.
    Q. Do you get the sense the Serbs are cooperating and will cooperate 
Sunday night?
    The President. Well, I hope so. It's clear that the NATO allies are 
still firm. And it's clear to me that the U.N. is working out the real 
and meaningful definition of control of those weapons.

Health Care Reform

    Q. [Inaudible]--can your plan pass without senior citizens group 
support?
    The President. Well, I think the senior citizens groups are going to 
have to fight for long-term health care and for prescription drugs if 
they want it in there. They're going to have to fight. That's the 
message I gave them in New Jersey today. I think they will fight.

Note: The exchange began at 6:04 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House, upon the President's return from Edison, NJ.