    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [September 27, 1994]
    [Pages 1634-1635]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Yeltsin of Russia and an
    Exchange With Reporters
    September 27, 1994

        President Clinton. Well, let me say before you start that this is a
    very important meeting for both of us and for our country as we're
    looking forward to having the opportunity to discuss a lot of things,
    particularly issues relating to the remaining nuclear matters we're
    trying to resolve between us and a lot of our mutual concerns about
    organized crime, which I think will take a good deal of work over the
    years ahead. As you know, the FBI Director has already been to Moscow,
    and we're working closely on that. So we're looking forward to the
    meeting.

    Bosnia

        Q. President Yeltsin, can we ask you, if Congress forces the
    President, and he has promised he will do this, to lift the arms embargo
    if the Serbs don't comply, what will be your response if the United
    States lifts the arms embargo and lets the Bosnian Muslims arm
    themselves?

    [[Page 1635]]

        President Yeltsin. My response would be negative, of course. But we
    will discuss this issue with the President of the United States.
        Q. Mr. President, do you want to comment? Do you want to comment on
    what you think can be accomplished?
        President Clinton. Well, as you know, the--at least for the moment,
    this may be a largely academic discussion for two reasons. One is, the
    legislation now pending commits me to pursue a multinational,
    multilateral lifting of the embargo through the U.N., and we received
    word just in the last couple of days from the Bosnian Government that
    they may be interested in deferring any action on that for 4 to 6
    months. It's something they brought to us, so we're all working through
    that.
        I think the most important thing is we have to keep pressing the
    Bosnian Serbs to end the conflict, to accept the Contact Group's
    proposal. And I want to emphasize that the United States and Russia have
    worked very closely together on Bosnia to this point. We have been
    together every step of the way. We're going to do our best to stay
    together.
        Q. Haven't they stopped you from further air strikes? Haven't they
    opposed some of your policies?
        President Yeltsin. Very impressive. [Laughter]
        President Clinton. That's very impressive, right?
        Q. It's my job.
        President Clinton. She does it well. She does it well. [Laughter]

    [At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group
    entered.]

    President Yeltsin's First Visit

        Q. Mr. President, do you remember your first meeting with President
    Yeltsin 2 years ago in Blair House here in Washington?
        President Clinton. Yes, I do. I remember it well. We had a fine
    visit. It was more than 2 years ago, I think, wasn't it?
        Q. Yes, it was in June.
        President Clinton. Yes, that was before I had even been nominated
    for President formally. I remember it well. He was very kind to receive
    me. You know, then as I remember, I was running third in the polls, and
    no one thought I would be elected President. So I was very pleased that
    he saw me. And we got off to a good start.

    Russia-U.S. Partnership

        Q. You say that the main task is unification of the West and Russia,
    and at the same time you want to be closer--you want to broaden NATO.
    Don't you see that there's a contradiction in that?
        President Clinton. We're going to discuss all those things. We've
    made a remarkable partnership, and I think it's been based on real
    mutual respect for the interests of each other and for our shared goals
    in the world. And I believe we can continue that partnership. We're
    going to work at it.

    Note: The President spoke at 11 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.