    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [September 20, 1994]
    [Page 1581]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1581]]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders
    September 20, 1994

        Good morning to all of you, and welcome. In just a moment Secretary
    Perry and General Shalikashvili will brief you on the status as of this
    morning of Operation Uphold Democracy and the situation in Haiti as we
    see it unfolding.
        But before they begin, I'd like to touch on just a few points. This
    is a very different and a much better day than it would have been had we
    not been able to successfully combine the credible threat of force with
    diplomacy. I want to thank President Carter, General Powell, and Senator
    Nunn again for their mission to Haiti and for their work in securing an
    agreement that will permit the peaceful departure of the military
    leaders.
        Our troops have already entered Haiti peacefully. Under the command
    of Lieutenant General Hugh Shelton, our troops are working with full
    cooperation with the Haitian military. We must be prepared for the risks
    that remain to the troops, but we should recognize that we are in a much
    stronger and safer position to achieve our goals in Haiti today. The de
    facto leaders are leaving power, and the democratically elected
    government will be restored.
        I want to emphasize that, in a matter of months, the United States
    troops will hand over to the United Nations the responsibility for
    completing this mission and for maintaining basic security. A much
    smaller contingent of United States forces would take part in the United
    Nations mission which will end after the next elections in Haiti in
    1995.
        I was gratified by the action of the House of Representatives
    yesterday, and I hope the Senate will follow in providing its support
    today. It's important, I think, that we also keep this in proper
    context. We have much other important business to do in the relatively
    small number of days that remain with the Congress.
        First, we have to continue to meet the challenges of the global
    economy. I hope that you will pass GATT. It is the largest world trade
    agreement in history. It will provide a global tax cut of $740 billion,
    reducing tariffs worldwide by more than a third. It means more jobs and
    growth and higher incomes for ordinary Americans. GATT was started under
    President Reagan, continued under President Bush, completed under our
    administration. It has been a bipartisan effort all the way, and I hope
    it can be completed in a speedy and bipartisan fashion this year.
        I also would urge you, as we reform the global economy, to take
    these last few days to reform the way we do business here in Washington.
    That means passing campaign finance reform, lobby reform, making laws
    that now apply to the private sector apply also to Congress. The
    American people clearly want these actions, and they deserve them. And
    again, I believe they want them on a completely nonpartisan or
    bipartisan basis.
        Lastly, let me say I know that Senator Mitchell, in rapidly
    accelerating his aging process, had further meetings yesterday on health
    care reform, and I look forward to hearing a progress report from him on
    that, and I know that all of you do, too.
        Now I'd like to recognize Secretary Perry and General Shalikashvili.
    Let me say, General Shalikashvili has to go back to the Pentagon;
    Secretary Perry does, too. So we can't take any questions here this
    morning, but he will be in the Briefing Room soon.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:29 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House.