    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 12, 1995]
    [Pages 1883-1884]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to Citizens Involved in Humanitarian Relief Efforts for Bosnia
    and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 12, 1995

        The President. Well, first of all, let me say that I know I speak
    for everyone here in thanking the people who have spoken and thanking
    them, more importantly, for their remarkable efforts. I want to express
    my appreciation to two of their Representatives who joined us:
    Congressman Ehlers from Michigan and Congressman Moran from Virginia. To
    Franklin Graham, thank you, sir, for the remarkable work that you are
    doing and for giving people like Mary the chance to be remarkable in
    their own right.
        What you have just heard is a series of astonishing human
    testaments. I don't know that I've ever felt more proud to be an
    American than I did in the last few minutes just listening to these
    people talk. And I know all of you feel that way as well.
        The purpose of our mission is to take advantage of this remarkable
    opportunity we have when all of the parties have agreed to make peace,
    when they have agreed that the madness you have just heard recounted
    ought to stop.
        We saw further evidence of their good-faith intention to do their
    part this morning, when the French pilots were released. And I just, by
    pure coincidence, had the French Ambassador in this morning, and I told
    him to convey to President Chirac the joy of all Americans that these
    pilots are free because the mission that we all undertook together
    through NATO had a lot to do with bringing about this peace agreement.
        Since I became President, I have said that I thought the United
    States had an obligation to participate in the enforcement of a peace
    agreement. Because we have a peace agreement which is enforceable, which
    can be protected, which can be enhanced by the NATO force, the work that
    you have just heard about will be able to be multiplied hundreds of
    times over. And that's the thing I want to emphasize to all of you.
        The NATO mission in which the United States will play a leading role
    by separating the forces, by making sure the territory is the way the
    peace agreement agreed, by maintaining a secure environment, will permit
    more of these things to be done, will permit the reconstruction effort
    to proceed, not only the physical reconstruction effort but the human
    reconstruction effort.

    [[Page 1884]]

        And I have just told all of the folks whom you heard speak that it
    is very important that these efforts continue in Bosnia and, in fact, be
    intensified because there are a lot of lives that have to be put
    together; there are a lot of communities that have to be rebuilt. But
    this kind of energy by the American people and by others throughout the
    world who will join now in helping them can help to turn the worst
    nightmare in Europe since the end of the Second World War into a story
    of reconciliation and peace and progress.
        And again, let me say, there is nothing I can say to add to what
    these fine people have said. But when Americans like these folks are
    willing to do what they have done, I think it is incumbent on the United
    States, the other NATO powers, the others who are joining with us, to
    make sure that this peace takes hold and is preserved so that they can
    do it in an atmosphere free of fear for themselves and help that country
    come back and help all these little children regain their childhood.
        I hope we all live to see the day when the only bombs in the world
    are ``peace bombs.''
        Thank you very much.
        Q. Mr. President, are you going to be able to get this through
    Congress, win approval?
        The President. Well, let me say I'm quite encouraged by two things.
    Number one, a very large number of Members of Congress, especially House
    Members, have actually gone to the region in the last few days, and I
    applaud them for doing it. And some of those with deep reservations
    about the missions have gone. I have no exact vote count for you, but I
    can tell you that it's clear to me that there's been a real shift among
    those who have gone. Those who have gone have come back more favorable
    than they left America. And so I can't believe that when the time for
    the counting comes that Congress won't support our troops in this
    mission. I believe they will.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Franklin Graham, president,
    Samaritan's Purse; volunteer Mary Damron of Ikes Fork, WV; and President
    Jacques Chirac of France.