    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [March 31, 1995]
    [Page 438]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President
    Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti in Port-au-Prince
    March 31, 1995

    Assassination of Mireille Durocher Bertin

        Q. President Aristide, was your Interior Minister involved in the
    Tuesday assassination?
        President Aristide. No.
        Q. Have these allegations cast a damper over the President's visit?
        President Aristide. No.
        Q. Have you asked the FBI to look into the possibility that he might
    have been involved in the Bertin death?
        President Aristide. We welcome help from the international
    community, from the United States in helping us finding proof of this
    violence for months--for days. And together we'll be working.
        Q. Mr. President, are you satisfied the Interior Minister was not
    involved?
        President Clinton. President Aristide asked the FBI to help
    investigate this. They are doing an investigation. I think we should
    applaud this quick and decisive action and let the investigation proceed
    and not presume its results.
        This is a day of celebration, and nothing can cast a cloud on it.
    It's a day of mission accomplished for the United States, a day of
    celebration for Haiti and for the United Nations force, and a day for
    looking ahead for the work still to be done.

    President's Visit

        Q. How did you like your reception, Mr. President?
        President Clinton. I liked it a lot. It was very nice. It was great.
        Q. Must be a little bit tired--all the handshaking.
        President Clinton. It was quite wonderful.
        Q. [Inaudible]--was your idea?
        President Clinton. No, but I liked it, though.

    Note: The exchange began at 12:05 p.m. at the National Palace. A
    reporter referred to Interior Minister Gen. Mondesir Beaubrun of Haiti.
    A tape was not available for verification of the content of this
    exchange.