[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[February 25, 1994]
[Pages 319-323]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference
February 25, 1994

Hebron Massacre

    The President. Good morning. I want to speak briefly about events in 
the Middle East and in Russia.
    Early this morning, Palestinian Muslim worshipers at prayer in the 
Mosque of Abraham in Hebron were brutally gunned down by a lone Israeli 
settler. It can be no coincidence that the murderer struck during the 
holy month of Ramadan and chose a site sacred to Muslims and to Jews. 
His likely purpose was to ruin the historic reconciliation now underway 
between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
    On behalf of the American people I condemn this crime in the 
strongest possible terms. I am outraged and saddened that such a gross 
act of murder could be perpetrated. And I extend my deepest sympathies 
to the families of those who have been killed and wounded.
    I also call on all the parties to exercise maximum restraint in what 
we all understand is a terribly emotional situation. Extremists on both 
sides are determined to drag Arabs and Israelis back into the darkness 
of unending conflict and bloodshed. We must prevent them from 
extinguishing the hopes and the visions and the aspirations of ordinary 
people for a life of peaceful existence.
    The answer now is to redouble our efforts to conclude the talks 
between Israel and the PLO and begin the implementation of the agreement 
they have made as rapidly as possible. Accordingly, this morning I asked 
the Secretary of State to contact Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman 
Arafat and to invite them to send all their negotiators involved in the 
Israel-PLO talks to Washington as soon as possible and to stay here in 
continuous session until their work is completed. They have both agreed 
to do that.
    Our purpose is to accelerate the negotiations on the Declaration of 
Principles and to try to bring them to a successful conclusion in the 
shortest possible time. Those negotiations have already made 
considerable progress as marked by the Cairo agreement. It is my hope 
that the parties can turn today's tragic event into a catalyst for 
further progress and reconciliation.

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Ames Espionage Case

    I'd also like to say a word about the Ames espionage case and our 
broader interests regarding Russia. Three days ago, an employee of the 
CIA, Aldrich Ames, and his wife were arrested for spying, first for the 
Soviet Union and then for Russia, over a period dating back to the mid-
1980's. If the charges are true, the Ames couple caused significant 
damage to our national security and betrayed their country.
    This is a serious case, and we've made that crystal clear to the 
Russian Government. The CIA is working to assess the damage to our 
intelligence operation. The Justice Department is vigorously pursuing 
the court case. The FBI is continuing to pursue its investigations. It 
is important that we not say anything at this point that could 
jeopardize the prosecution. We need to be firm as we pursue both this 
case and our national interest in democratic reform in Russia.
    Support of the United States for reform in Russia does not flow from 
a sense of charity or blind faith. Our policy is based on our clear 
American interests clearly pursued. It is in our national interest to 
continue working with Russia to lower the nuclear threshold, to support 
the development of Russia as a peaceful democracy, stable and at peace 
with its neighbors, to be a constructive partner with the United States 
in international diplomacy and to develop a flourishing market economy 
that can benefit both their people and ours. It is, therefore, in our 
interest to make every effort to help the long-term struggle for reform 
in Russia succeed.
    That's why I've worked with members of both parties in Congress to 
secure assistance for reform in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, and other new 
states, why I went to Moscow in January, to urge the Russian people to 
stay the course of reform, to join us in building a more positive 
partnership, and to advance the process of democracy and market reform.
    Earlier today, I met with Members of Congress from both parties to 
discuss these issues, to stress the need for continuing our long-term 
and bipartisan approach to dealing with Russia. And I urged them to 
resist calls to reduce or suspend our assistance for reform in Russia 
and the other new states of the former Soviet Union. After all, a great 
portion of our aid is to facilitate the dismantlement of nuclear weapons 
that were aimed at the United States for over four decades. It is in our 
interest, plainly, to continue this policy.
    The majority of our economic assistance is flowing not to government 
but to reformers outside Moscow, mostly in the nongovernmental sector, 
to help them start business and privatize existing businesses, to help 
private farmers, and to help support exchange programs.
    Throughout the cold war, our Nation acted with a steadiness of 
purpose in overcoming the challenge of Soviet communism. Today, whether 
it is in our policies toward Russia or toward the Middle East, we need 
that same steadiness of purpose. Our policies must be designed for the 
long term and for the American national interests.
    Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].
    Q. Mr. President, Russia seems to be taking the view that the spy 
case is no big deal. Are you satisfied with Russia's response and 
cooperation to this? And if they don't withdraw individuals from their 
Embassy here, will you expel them?
    The President. Well, let me try to clarify, first of all, what we 
have sought and why we have sought it. We have not sought Russian 
cooperation in any damage assessment. That was simply, I think, an 
erroneous report. We have sought Russian cooperation, if you will, in 
terms of taking what we believe is appropriate action in this case, and 
we think it's important that appropriate action be taken.
    We have expressed our views in what we hoped the Russians would do. 
If they do not do that, then we will take action, and we will take it 
quickly, and then it will be apparent what we have done.
    Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International].
    Q. Mr. President, has there been any formal response? Out of Moscow 
today they said they think they can have a dignified resolution. Has 
anything been offered? And also, are you looking for a second possible 
double agent in the CIA?
    The President. We are--we have made our position clear. We have been 
in contact with the Russians. We think appropriate action will be taken 
one way or the other very soon.
    David [David Lauter, Los Angeles Times].

Hebron Massacre

    Q. Mr. President, you referred to the perpetrator of the massacre 
today as a lone settler, and the evidence so far suggests that he did

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act alone. But there have been repeated reports over the years of 
Americans providing aid, both fundraising and other sorts of aid, to 
extremist groups on both sides. And I wonder whether, in light of 
today's massacre, whether there is more that needs to be done here to 
try to prevent Americans from providing aid and other forms of support 
to Jewish extremist groups that may be involved in these sorts of 
actions.
    The President. Well, let me say, based on what we now know, we have 
no reason to believe that this killer was involved with any group. If we 
find out differently, we will assess our position at that time.
    I can say this, that Prime Minister Rabin, himself, has recognized 
the need to strengthen the security provided by Israeli forces against 
extremists, including Israeli extremists. But as far as we know, this 
was the action of one individual.
    Gwen [Gwen Ifill, New York Times].
    Q. Mr. President, what is it about this massacre as opposed to other 
setbacks that have occurred in the Middle East that has brought you to 
this podium today, that makes you feel it's necessary to make a strong 
statement?
    The President. First of all, its scope and setting is horrible from 
a purely human point of view. Secondly, it comes at a time when it 
appears to be clearly designed to affect the lives of hundreds of 
thousands of others by derailing the peace process. And I am hoping that 
the statesmanship of the leaders in the region and the attention that 
this will bring to the terrible problem will not only diffuse what could 
become a much worse round of killings and counterattacks, but will 
actually be used to thwart the purpose of the murder and to reinvigorate 
the peace process.
    Yes, Rita [Rita Braver, CBS News].
    Q. Mr. President, just to follow up on the earlier question, there 
have been reports from the scene that the Israeli army stood by and 
allowed this massacre to go on. What kind of recommendation would you 
make to Israel to try to do an investigation to see what happened and 
change the perception maybe of that?
    The President. Well, we have no reason--we do not know that to be 
true. I can say that at this time. And we have--the Secretary of State 
has talked with Prime Minister Rabin. I was not able to talk with him 
myself yet because of the other meetings I had this morning. I believe 
the Israelis are committed to increasing security where they can do so. 
And I don't want to comment on that without some evidence or reason to 
believe its true.

G-7 Meeting

    Q. Mr. President, there's a G-7 meeting on Saturday in Frankfurt. 
It's supposed to focus on Russian aid. Do we go to that meeting with any 
particular proposition on the speed of aid or the conditionality of aid 
to Russia? And also, at that meeting, Bentsen will be meeting with 
Japanese Finance Minister Fujii regarding the failed trade talks, 
framework talks. Do you see the Gephardt and Rockefeller open markets 
still being helpful to your mission to open markets in Japan? Do you 
support that?
    The President. Well, we've taken no position on any particular 
legislation. I think that it shows the determination of the American 
people to improve our trade and open the markets, especially the 
involvement of Senator Rockefeller, who's actually lived in Japan and I 
think is thought of genuinely as a friend of Japan but someone who 
understands what is at stake here.
    With regard to the other question, I think we're where we always 
have been. The kind of aid and the amount of aid which will flow to 
Russia and the sources from which it flows I think will be a function of 
the policies and conduct of the Russians.
    Yes, Brit [Brit Hume, ABC News].

Russia

    Q. Are you concerned now, sir, apart from the Ames case, about other 
developments in Russia that might make your policy there appear almost 
to be in denial, based on what you and others wish were happening or 
hope will happen, rather than what really is happening there?
    The President. No, I mean my policy has nothing to do with what I 
wish or hope will happen. Our response will be dictated by their 
behavior. But I think the--what I think is naive in this whole element 
is the suggestion that we should have ever believed for a moment that 
every event in Russia and every speech made by every Russian politician 
in every election of every member of Parliament would somehow be in a 
constant straight line toward a goal that we wanted to predetermine. 
They have to make their own future. That's what I said there over and 
over again.
    This is not black and white; this is gray. There will be 
developments over the course of our

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relationship with Russia which--as there are over the course of our 
relationship with every other country--where we won't like everything 
that happens. We should do things based on a clear-headed appreciation 
of what is in our national interest.
    No one has made a compelling case to me, publicly or privately, that 
it is not in our national interests to continue to work with the 
President of Russia and the Government of Russia on denuclearization, on 
cooperation and respect for neighbors, and on economic reform where we 
can support it. That is, the privatization movement, for example, I 
would just remind you, is still going on in Russia and has basically 
occurred more rapidly there than in other former Soviet countries.
    So I don't believe the fact that a few speeches are made that we 
don't agree with or that policies are pursued based on an election they 
had for a Parliament that we don't agree with should force us to abandon 
what is in our national interest. When it is no longer in our national 
interest to do these things, then we should stop it. But we cannot be 
deluded into thinking that our national interest can be defined by every 
election and every speech in Russia. That can't be.
    Yes, Tom [Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times].

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, in inviting the parties to come here to 
Washington, do you also anticipate that you or the Secretary of State 
will adopt a different posture toward these negotiations? Up to now, 
we've kind of let them handle it and keep a hands-off approach, wisely. 
But do you see, in fact, now that they're going to be here and given the 
urgency you've assigned to it, do you see yourself or the Secretary 
taking a different posture toward the talks?
    The President. I think, first of all, the very act of inviting them 
here indicates some sense of urgency on our part. What we have done to 
date, as you know, is largely to try to give both sides the security 
they needed to proceed and the assurances that we would support it, but 
that they would have to freely make the agreement. We still believe they 
will have to freely agree.
    We believe they are close to agreement. We want to do things that 
will prevent this last terrible incident from derailing that and to try 
to send a signal to the peoples in the region to not overreact to this 
horrible act, that the path of peace is still the right path. Whether 
that will require us to do more in particular meetings, I can't say, 
because we have discussed this with Chairman Arafat, with Prime Minister 
Rabin because we wanted to move quickly, and they did, too. And we'll 
just have to wait for that to unfold.
    Andrea [Andrea Mitchell, NBC News].

Ames Espionage Case

    Q. Mr. President, Senator Nunn has just said that we should not be 
asking Russia to voluntarily bring back their diplomats, that we should 
have simply expelled them the way we would have during the cold war and 
after the cold war, that this is too serious a case. Why didn't we just 
expel the diplomats still working here?
    The President. I think that the judgment of the security services 
and the national security team was that the Russians ought to be at 
least told what we know--not negotiated with, there was no negotiation--
told what we know and given an opportunity to take whatever action they 
wanted to take. And if they don't, then we will do what we should do. 
And we will take appropriate action. We will do that soon.
    Q. Mr. President, does that also mean, as Senator Leahy and Senator 
Mitchell and others are suggesting following your meeting this morning, 
that you, the United States Government, will also expose Russian 
diplomats who are, in effect, who are really intelligence officers who 
are not declared to the U.S. Government as intelligence officers? Will 
you take that step, and if you do, don't you invite retaliation, 
counterexpulsions, counterdeclarations, exposures on the part of the 
Russian Government against U.S. officials in Moscow?
    The President. We intend to take the action that we think is 
appropriate, and you won't have to wait long to find out what that is.

Representative Dan Rostenkowski

    Q. Mr. President, are you in any way interfering with the judicial 
process in appearing with Congressman Rostenkowski in Illinois on 
Monday? There have been suggestions----
    The President Absolutely not.
    Q.  ----that Attorney General Reno had concerns that you would be 
appearing with someone under investigation?

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    The President. First of all--let me make a couple of comments about 
that. First of all, I have had no conversations to that effect with 
anyone in the Justice Department. Secondly, there is no way in the world 
we would do anything like that. Thirdly, this investigation has been 
going on for months. I have been in Chicago before with Congressman 
Rostenkowski. I am going there and will be with other Members of 
Congress, at least one other I know and perhaps more, to talk about 
issues that directly relate to this administration's work that he is a 
critical part of, health care and crime. And finally, there is still a 
presumption of innocence in this country. He has not yet been charged 
with anything.
    But I can tell you, there has been absolutely no contact of any 
nature about this case with the Justice Department and the White House 
that anyone could draw any inference of impropriety on. And I have 
received nothing back the other way that I shouldn't go to Chicago. I am 
going there to fight for things I believe in that he has played a 
critical role in. I am going to be with at least one other, perhaps more 
Members of Congress--I don't know yet--and I'm going to be doing 
something that I have already done while this investigation has been 
going on. No one ever said anything about it before.
    Yes, Gene [Gene Gibbons, Reuters].

Ames Espionage Case

    Q. You said that the Ames case had caused significant damage to the 
national security. Can you be more specific, sir? And secondly, you've 
said the FBI investigation is ongoing. Are you satisfied that we know 
the full extent of the penetration of the CIA at this point?
    The President. Well, I can say very little about that except to 
assure you: I talked with Director Freeh this morning myself; I am 
confident that the FBI, working with the CIA, is doing everything that 
is humanly possible to fully investigate this case. I do not want to 
raise red herrings or other possibilities, only to say this, that it is 
not unusual, as the FBI Director said this morning. Sometimes it happens 
that when you're in a criminal investigation and you're on to something, 
the investigation turns up information that could not have been 
anticipated in the beginning. I am not trying to say that has occurred. 
I'm not trying to raise any false hopes. All I'm telling you is, I have 
directed the FBI and the CIA and everybody else to do everything they 
can to get to the full bottom of this. And I have nothing else to say 
about it.
    And again, I'm not trying to raise some tantalizing inference, I'm 
just saying that we have to keep going and try to root it out. After 
all, this is fundamentally a problem within America, about whether 
people here who are Americans are spying, and that's our responsibility 
to try to find it out.
    Thank you.

Note: The President's 49th news conference began at 11:55 a.m. in the 
Briefing Room at the White House.