    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 29, 1995]
    [Pages 1799-1800]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With British Labour Party Leader Tony Blair
    and an Exchange With Reporters in London
    November 29, 1995

        The President. Good afternoon. Let me say, first of all, I'm
    delighted to have this opportunity to meet with the British Labour
    leader, Tony Blair. I have followed his career with great interest, and
    I am anxious to have this time to visit with him about his views on
    conditions here and matters affecting both of our countries, especially
    the Bosnian question. And I don't know whether he was looking forward to
    coming here or not because he's just come from that ``question time''
    that I referred to in my speech to the Parliament today.

    Northern Ireland Peace Process

        Q. Are you interested in his views on Ireland?
        The President. Of course I am.
        Q. What are they?
        The President. Well, that's for him to say. I haven't had a chance
    to talk to him.
        Mr. Blair. First of all, let me say, I'm absolutely delighted to
    meet the President and to express my admiration, not merely for his
    magnificent speech this morning that I think will have a great impact
    here and abroad but also for the work that he's done in bringing peace
    to Bosnia and the Middle East, to Ireland and to other parts of the
    world.

    [[Page 1800]]

        And our views on Ireland--in fact, today in the House of Commons,
    you wouldn't have seen any of the cut-and-thrust at all. It was one of
    these rare moments of agreement between myself and John Major. We've
    supported the government in that push for peace in Northern Ireland. We
    will continue to do so.
        Q. Mr. President, what kind of advice are you giving Mr. Blair, and
    I'm wondering if Mr. Blair can explain what lessons you've learned from
    President Clinton?
        The President. I have no advice to give him. And let me say, one of
    the things that I'm going to do privately--I might as well do it
    publicly--is to thank him for the position that he and his party have
    taken on this, the question of the initiatives of the British Government
    in Northern Ireland.
        A country is always stronger when, in its foreign policy and its
    difficult decisions, it moves forward together so that the country can
    be strong, can be united, and the people essentially can both claim the
    credit and shoulder the responsibility. And I think this is a very
    exceptional act of statesmanship on his part, and I very much appreciate
    it.
        Q. Which you'd like to see on the part of the Republicans?
        Q. What's your message tomorrow going to be, sir?
        The President. Well, we've already answered too many questions, I
    can tell now. [Laughter]

    Note: The President spoke at 4:10 p.m. at the U.S. Ambassador's
    residence. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.