    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 8, 1995]
    [Pages 1860-1861]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Jose dos Santos of Angola
    and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 8, 1995

    Angolan Peace Process

        President Clinton. Hello. I'd like to say that I'm very pleased to
    welcome President dos Santos and his party here to Washington. He's
    taken some bold steps to move the peace process forward, and we
    understand this has made possible some changes in our relationship with
    Angola.
        It's obvious that some further things will have to be done in light
    of the recent cease-fire violations. But we know that President dos
    Santos is critical to the success of the peace process, and we look
    forward to a good relationship with a reconciled, peaceful, and stable
    Angola.
        Q. Do you think there can be peace in your country, Mr. President?
        President dos Santos. I believe so. But first of all, I would like
    to thank the--of welcome by President Clinton, to thank also for the
    kind invitation to visit the United States at this time of year.
        I would like to restate our commitment to the peace process. We will
    do our best for this process to become irreversible, and to--
    [inaudible]--possible. And we are convinced that with assistance from
    the United States of America and from the international community in
    general, peace will be consolidated and a new page will be opened in
    Angola.
        We mark our presence here with you to discuss issues regarding
    bilateral relations. We are convinced that our visit will serve to
    deepen

    [[Page 1861]]

    the friendship between the United States of America and Angola and will
    set up the basis to establish a trade exchange for more investors to go
    to Angola in order for them, together with us, to launch into the
    adventure of economic reconstruction and to consolidate peace and
    national reconciliation.

    U.S. Aid to Angola

        Q. Will he be asking for aid for his oil industry during his visit,
    and how much aid will he be asking for if he is?
        President dos Santos. We've come to thank you for the assistance
    that has been given to us, the assistance that has been given to us to
    maintain peace. But we also intend to go from this phase of assistance
    to trade and investment. There are sectors whereby we will be together
    with the United States of America, and one of those sectors is the oil
    sector, where the big investments from the United States will be. In
    other words, we want more investment, not only in the oil sectors but in
    other sectors of our economy which are open.

    Government Shutdown

        Q. Do you think there's going to be a Government shutdown again?
        President Clinton. I certainly hope not. I have done exactly what
    I've said I'd do. I vetoed the budget that was passed, and then I made
    an alternative budget, which I presented yesterday, that fulfills the
    criteria of the resolution: It's a 7-year budget; it protects Medicare,
    Medicaid, education, the environment; it doesn't raise taxes on working
    people. That's the commitment that I made, and I hope that it will be
    taken as a good-faith gesture by the Republicans and we'll have some
    further negotiations.
        Now, apparently, they're deciding what they want to do. But I have
    done what I think I should do, and this budget would be good for
    America. It will balance the budget and keep our commitments to our
    future, to our children, to our environment, and to the health care
    system of this country.
        Q. Will you try to keep them in session if they close down the
    Government?
        The President. Well, let's see. I think--that is December 8th? We've
    got a week, and I think they're waiting for--maybe to do some
    calibrations of their own on their own numbers. I don't know, but I
    don't think we should assume that this thing is going to break down. I'm
    prepared to work as hard as I can to do anything I can to keep working
    to try to resolve this in a positive way. That's why I presented this
    budget and why I hope that they will respond in good faith, just as I
    have.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:41 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.