    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 5, 1994]
    [Pages 1699-1704]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Nelson Mandela of
    South Africa
    October 5, 1994

        President Clinton. Ladies and gentlemen, for the last 2 days,
    President Mandela and I, joined by the American people, have celebrated
    freedom and democracy in South Africa. We also have begun to assume our
    historic opportunity to join with the people of South Africa to ensure
    that their new democracy grows stronger.
        Since before President Mandela's election, the United States has
    played an aggressive role in helping South Africa to shape its
    democratic future. We supported that historic balloting with $35 million
    in aid. Following the elections we reaffirmed our commitment with a $600
    million trade and investment package. In the 5 months since then, we
    have already delivered $220 million of that package. Americans have
    always invested, and will invest more, in private capital in South
    Africa to help that country's economy grow.
        We have moved forward on a range of issues, and let me just mention
    a few of the new initiatives within our aid program. First, we will form
    a joint binational commission to promote cooperation between our
    nations. Vice President Gore will lead this commission, along with
    Deputy President Mbeki. This is important to America. Russia is the only
    other country with which we have such a commission. The commission will
    give a high-level boost to projects involving energy, education, and
    development.
        Second, to help heal the legacies of apartheid, American loans will
    be used to guarantee nearly

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    a half-billion dollars of new housing in South Africa. We will also
    contribute $50 million to help bring electricity to the townships and
    $30 million to support basic health care.
        We are taking several actions to help advance President Mandela's
    goal of expanding trade and investment. The Overseas Private Investment
    Corporation is launching its second $75 million fund to promote
    investment in South Africa. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown has created,
    with his South African counterpart, the U.S.-South Africa Business
    Development Committee. It will seek to expand the $4 billion trade which
    already exists between our countries. We will also promote private-
    sector participation in a conference the South Africans are hosting in
    early 1995 to support the nation's pragmatic program for reconstruction
    and development.
        Mr. President, yesterday you asked for our geniuses to help to build
    your land. Today I can tell you we're going to send you some of our
    best. The Peace Corps will establish a presence in South Africa next
    year, and we are prepared to help you to develop, through Peace Corps
    volunteers, small enterprises to train nurses and teachers, to create
    South Africa's own volunteer corps.
        President Mandela and I also discussed other issues, ranging from
    educational exchange programs promoted by the USIA, to rural development
    and school lunch programs developed with the leadership of Secretary
    Espy, to cooperation in the battle against drug trafficking under the
    leadership of our Drug Policy Director, Lee Brown, who's just returned
    from South Africa, to building roads and highways, to energy projects
    which Secretary O'Leary is working on.
        President Mandela and I discussed, finally, the broader problems of
    southern Africa. I salute President Mandela not only for the remarkable
    work he has done within his own country; his leadership has also been
    instrumental in resolving crises in Mozambique and Lesotho. He's played
    a vital role in trying to solve the conflict in Angola, as well.
        To help the entire region, we're establishing a $100 million
    development fund for all of southern Africa. I'm happy to welcome today
    to the White House Ambassadors from 10 of those countries. And I'm also
    pleased to announce that Ambassador Andrew Young, who has long worked to
    improve conditions in the region, has agreed to chair this fund.
        The new South Africa, with Nelson Mandela's wise leadership, has won
    the fight for freedom. Now it stands at the crossroads of hope. The
    problems it has inherited, the old and deep wounds of apartheid, are not
    small ones. But President Mandela, you can be certain that the United
    States will continue to do everything in our power to support the new
    nation you and your South African people have created and now seek so
    strongly to build. After a half century of struggle, you've proved to
    people on every continent that justice and reconciliation can prevail.
    In a world where too many tear down, you and the South African people
    have proved that there are those who build up and create. You have shown
    us the way, and we look forward, sir, to walking down the road with you.
        President Mandela. It would be remiss of me to use this opportunity
    to express my gratitude and that of my delegation for the hospitality
    that has been extended to us during our visit to the United States. I
    think I missed out the word ``not.'' I should have said, it would be
    remiss of me not to use this opportunity--[laughter]--to express my
    gratitude and that of my delegation for the hospitality that has been
    extended to us during our visit to the United States.
        I hope journalists will report the second version of my statement.
    [Laughter]
        A special note of thanks should go to my good friend Bill Clinton.
    The level of engagement by the United States in South Africa is largely
    attributable to the personal interest that Bill Clinton and his
    administration have in ensuring that Africa does not become a forgotten
    continent. The recently organized White House Conference on Africa is
    evidence of this. We are particularly appreciative of the sensitivity
    and willingness to assist that has been shown by the Clinton
    administration. Powerful leaders with a common touch are in great demand
    in the world today. President Clinton is one of these.
        It goes without saying that a great deal has happened in the world,
    and particularly in South Africa, in the 15 months since I last had the
    occasion of addressing remarks to the media after meeting President
    Clinton here at the White House. During that earlier meeting, President
    Clinton and I agreed on the importance of underpinning the political
    changes that occurred in South Africa with economic reconstruction. The
    government of national unity has

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    to demonstrate to our communities disadvantaged by apartheid that
    democracy has tangible economic as well a political benefits. We can
    only accomplish this by improving the material well-being of our
    disadvantaged communities through economic growth and the promotion of
    increased trade and investment.
        You will no doubt have noticed that this has been a recurring theme
    during my visit here. In this regard, I am highly appreciative of
    efforts by President Clinton to encourage American trade with and
    investment in South Africa and for the support that has been pledged for
    our reconstruction and redevelopment program. Success will not only
    underpin the consolidation of democracy in South Africa but will also
    enable South Africa to play its role as the powerhouse of the South
    African region in a mutually beneficial partnership with our South
    African Development Community neighbors.
        South Africa, and no doubt our neighbors too, welcome continued U.S.
    engagement in the region. The announcement that the United States
    Government-sponsored South Africa Enterprise Development Fund will
    promote small to medium sized business enterprises throughout the region
    is tangible evidence of this. I believe that the whole South African
    region, and Africa, in general, can also benefit from these efforts.
        South Africa's transition to democracy has created an historic
    opportunity for South Africa to play its rightful role for the first
    time on the world stage. Resuming our place in the international arena
    has been a challenging experience, none more so than rejoining world and
    regional bodies promoting world peace, democracy, and human rights and
    participating in humanitarian relief operations in Africa, the most
    recent being Rwanda. The United States and, indeed, all countries that
    participated in making the efforts in Rwanda a success are to be
    commended. This helped to avert a human tragedy.
        We attach significance to the crucial role that the United States
    can play in the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide. South
    Africa will undoubtedly be called upon to participate in United Nations
    peacekeeping missions. We will not be found wanting, within the
    constraints imposed by budgetary and other considerations. In addition
    to humanitarian aid, another area which warrants further consideration
    by the South African Government is the provision of such nonmilitary
    assistance as is monetary.
        There is already a great deal of commonality in the goals and
    interests of South Africa and the United States, ranging from the
    promotion of human rights and the strengthening of democracy, to the
    nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Coupled with active
    U.S. engagement in South Africa, this partnership can only grow from
    strength to strength.
        There are many areas in which practical relations are unfolding,
    such as joint and structured efforts to mobilize funds for investments
    in and trade with South Africa, cooperation in dealing with
    environmental issues, increased aid to South Africa in the context of
    our reconstruction and development program, and lastly, assistance by
    the United States in restructuring the judicial system in South Africa
    as part of broader efforts to strengthen democracy and deepen the
    culture of human rights.
        I thank you.
        President Clinton. Let me say, if I might, before the question, we
    would like to alternate between American and South African journalists.
    And so President Mandela will call on the next journalist. So those of
    you from South Africa, or representing South Africa media outlets, we
    will hear from you next. And then we'll alternate back and forth.

    Haiti

        Q. I believe you both share an interest in Haiti, and I'd like to
    ask you about that. Increasingly, American officials say that they
    expect General Cedras and his chief of staff to leave Haiti by October
    15th. General Cedras says that he's not going to leave. Why are American
    officials so confident that they will leave? And will American troops
    make life unpleasant for them if they stay?
        President Clinton. Well, let me say, first of all, I have left that
    question to the Haitians to resolve, as you know. The important thing
    for the American people is that the situation with great difficulty has
    remained calm overall, that Parliament has reopened and is considering
    amnesty and other things, that the mayor of Port-au-Prince, Evans Paul,
    has come back to his responsibilities after years of hiding, that we've
    turned the lights back on in Cap Haitien and there's more electricity
    available in Port-au-Prince, that almost 1,500 refugees have left
    Guantanamo and gone back to Haiti. President Aristide now has a
    transition office--I remember those--in Port-au-Prince. And General

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    Shelton and our military people there, I think, have done a superb job
    under difficult circumstances. They are working through that. The
    political questions in large measure involve what the Haitians decide
    themselves. I was very, very impressed with President Aristide's most
    recent speech, and I'm very committed to continuing on the course we're
    on.
        That's all I know to say. I feel very good about where we're going.
    I think we'll wind up in a good place if we just stay steady and realize
    that our young men and women down there are doing a terrific job under
    difficult circumstances. Their work is certainly not free of danger, but
    you have to give them credit, I think, so far for the work they have
    done.
        Mr. President--President Mandela, would you like to call on one of
    the South African journalists?
        President Mandela. Yes.

    South Africa-U.S. Trade

        Q. President Mandela, did you ask President Clinton if he would lift
    U.S. restrictions on trade with South Africa, in particular the denial
    order on the Rooivalk helicopter deal?
        President Mandela. Well, we have discussed this matter both with Mr.
    Clinton alone and also with his delegation. The President has shown a
    great deal of sensitivity towards this question, and he has undertaken
    to do what he can to resolve this problem. I have confidence that if he
    has a chance to assist in this regard, he will do so.
        President Clinton. Jill [Jill Dougherty, Cable News Network].

    Haiti

        Q. Mr. President, President Aristide reportedly is resisting signing
    an agreement that would define the status of U.S. troops and what their
    mission is in Haiti. Is that the case, and does this create a danger
    that the mission could be ill-defined or spread farther than it should?
        President Clinton. Well, no agreement has yet been signed. But I
    wouldn't let that concern you too much. We think the mission is clearly
    defined in terms of scope and time. We always knew there would have to
    be some flexibility in the early weeks until we got the police monitors
    in and until we began to retrain people to assume police and military
    roles, and that the nature of the mission would depend upon three
    things: to what extent the police were willing to stay at their posts
    and observe the rules of professional encounter; second, to what extent
    things beyond our control would occur; and third, how quickly we could
    get the training programs up and going.
        So there has been--there has had to be some flexibility there. But
    essentially, we are on the same mission that we went there with. We're
    going to stay with that mission, and we're going to complete it, turn it
    over to the U.N., and bring our people home. And whether and exactly how
    we work out an understanding with President Aristide, particularly after
    he reassumes authority, I think will be something that will not present
    insurmountable obstacles. And I feel comfortable that the American
    people will be comfortable with the definition of the mission just as it
    is, and I'm not particularly worried about that.
        Mr. President.
        President Mandela. Can I make an appeal that in view of the interest
    in this question, could we deal with it if any South African journalist
    would like to put the question, so that we can put it at rest for the
    purpose of this press conference.
        Yes.
        Q. President Mandela, President Clinton apparently asked you in the
    past to perhaps send South African troops to help in the police efforts
    in Haiti. Have you made a decision to send South African troops to
    Haiti? Will they be part of the peacekeeping mission?
        President Mandela. Our attitude on this question is that the
    operation, which is essentially a United Nations operation although it
    has been carried out at this stage by American troops, that operation is
    intended to restore democracy in that country, a worthy objective which
    we fully support.
        Secondly, without in any way prescribing to the leadership of Haiti,
    we sincerely hope that they will realize the crucial importance of
    national reconciliation and to heal the wounds of the past by involving
    all the parties which may have been at cross purposes with one another.
        Now, as far as our own participation is concerned, we regard this,
    as I say, as an operation of the United Nations of which we are a part.
    But we are busy discussing the matter. And we are keen to act and not
    unilaterally as South Africa; we are keen to act collectively as a
    region, especially because we have a tradition which we have to change
    of our country having

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    been involved in the military destabilization of our neighboring states
    and economic sabotage. If we're involved in an operation anywhere in the
    world, we would like this to be a collective decision from our region.
    And therefore, we are now busy with consultations on this question----
        President Clinton. Rita [Rita Braver, CBS News].
        President Mandela. ----and will come back to the President in due
    course.
        President Clinton. Thank you, sir.

    GATT

        Q. President Clinton, while you have been meeting with President
    Mandela, it looks like there's been another hangup in GATT. It seems to
    be once again slowed down. Do you still have the confidence that you had
    last week when we talked to you that this will go through? And why do
    you think you're having so much trouble with it?
        President Clinton. The people that are holding it up now are people
    who have always supported the GATT. Let me just say that, first of all,
    I won't know until sometime tonight--I think they're going to have a
    vote or at least consider having a vote on the rule in the House on the
    GATT. I've never come to the end of a full congressional session before,
    so for all I know this often happens.
        But there's still time for Congress to act on this, for the House to
    act on GATT, for the Senate to act on lobby reform, on the elementary
    and secondary education act, on the Superfund legislation, which has the
    support of everybody from the chemical companies to the Sierra Club.
    There is no one against it anymore. It's an important piece of
    legislation. I can't imagine why it shouldn't pass. So I'm hopeful that
    it will.
        The GATT, it has always been a bipartisan issue. It's a huge job-
    gainer for America, just like NAFTA was, except more so over the long
    run. And it's the biggest world tax cut in history. It's over a $700
    billion tax cut. So I think, as we get closer to it, I would expect the
    people who have always supported it to support it and there to be a
    majority support for it. We'll continue to push it.

    Haiti and South Africa

        Q. President Mandela, a question for you and then a question to
    President Clinton. First of all, we understand that you might be meeting
    President Aristide or deposed President Aristide tomorrow. If that is
    happening, how will that change South Africa's stand towards what you
    have just described as consultation at the moment about Haiti?
        And secondly, President Clinton, when are you coming to South
    Africa?
        President Mandela. Well, the consultations that we are having are
    not going to be directly affected by my meeting with President Aristide.
    I do not know, of course, what he is going to raise with me, but I know
    what I am going to say to him. [Laughter] And so it is premature for me
    to answer your question fully. We will be going back to South Africa--if
    I don't meet you after this meeting, I'll brief you fully as to what the
    President will say to me. [Laughter]
        President Clinton. Let me say, first of all--I'll answer the other
    question, but first of all, I am personally very grateful to President
    Mandela for making time in what has been an unbelievably busy schedule
    to see President Aristide. The most important thing South Africa can do
    for Haiti has been accomplished by President Mandela coming to the
    United States at this historic moment and then, on top of that, agreeing
    to meet with President Aristide. Why? Because here is President Mandela
    and here is President Mandela's delegation. And the Haitian people will
    see that you can bring a country where there have been deep, even bloody
    divisions together and work together in a spirit of freedom,
    reconciliation, democracy, and mutual respect. It must be very
    encouraging to President Aristide; it also should be very encouraging to
    those who have opposed him.
        So this is--I assure you that this was not planned or calibrated in
    terms of the action the United States took there. But as it happens,
    this is a very good thing for the cause of democracy in Haiti.
        Secondly, the President, as you know, has invited me to South Africa
    very publicly and also privately. I would like very much to go. I hope I
    can go there. I have made no final commitments on travel outside the
    United States for next year, so I can't announce a commitment now, but I
    would like to do it very much. We're proud of our association with your
    country, and we hope we can do more.
        Thank you very much.
        President Mandela. Can I just add that I have met President Aristide
    twice, and I have discov-

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    ered that he has a very serious weakness, which I intend to exploit to
    the full: He is a man who can think. He is flexible. He is broadminded.
    And I have no doubt that if I put a reasonable argument with him, I am
    unlikely to come out with empty hands. That I can say to you.
        President Clinton. Thank you very much. Thank you.

    Note: The President's 72d news conference began at 3:43 p.m. on the
    South Lawn at the White House.