[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
[December 14, 1995]
[Page 1888]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With Balkan Leaders and an Exchange With 
Reporters in Paris, France
December 14, 1995

Balkan Peace Process

    The President. As you know, we will be having formal ceremonies 
later today, and more remarks will be made then. I just want to say very 
briefly, because we want to get on to our meeting, that I applaud these 
leaders for making the decision to turn from war to peace that they will 
formalize today. And tomorrow they will begin the hard work of making 
that peace real.
    I am pleased that they have asked the United States, our NATO 
allies, and a number of other countries, to help them secure this peace. 
And I am pleased that we will be going forward to do it. I'm convinced 
that working together in good faith, this effort can be successful.
    Q. Are you concerned that there may be some reluctance in parts of 
the Balkans to implement a peace?
    The President. All I can tell you is the cease-fire has been in 
place for a couple of months. It has basically held. There have been 
many things that have happened in the last 3 years. I'm sure many people 
have different feelings, but we believe these leaders have acted in good 
faith and will continue to do so. And if they do, we think we'll be 
successful.
    Q. Do you think the Congress has given you a whole-hearted vote of 
support on this, or how do you--how do you rate----
    The President. I'll tell you how I read the vote. I think Congress--
first of all, both Houses decided not to cut off funds and to support 
the troops. And the Senate, in what could only be characterized as an 
overwhelming bipartisan vote, gave its support to the mission subject to 
conditions with which the administration agrees. So I was quite pleased 
with where the Congress came out yesterday compared to where they were 
just a month ago. And again, I think that is in part due to the fact 
that these leaders have been willing to meet with the Members of the 
Congress who have traveled to the area in the last couple of weeks. And 
I think they have seen the people and their desire for peace. And they 
have heard from these leaders about their desire for peace and their 
determination. And I feel that we made a lot of progress. And I think 
now that the time for debate is over; the time for decision is at hand. 
And I believe the United States and the United States Congress will 
rally behind our troops in this mission.
    Q. Are you satisfied with the pace of the deployment, Mr. President? 
Are you satisfied that the deployment is proceeding as fast as it can at 
this point?
    The President. Yes, you know, it's the winter; we have snow. We have 
first one thing, then another, but I think we're going forward in good 
faith and in an appropriate way.

Note: The President spoke at 9:22 a.m. at the Ambassador's residence, 
prior to meeting with President Alija Izetbegovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, 
President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, and President Franjo Tudjman of 
Croatia. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
these remarks.