    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [May 23, 1996]
    [Pages 804-805]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany and
    an Exchange With Reporters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    May 23, 1996

    Chechnya

        Q. Mr. President, there are reports there are peace talks between
    Mr. Yeltsin and the leader of the Chechnyan group. Is that encouraging
    to you?
        The President. Of course. The Chancellor and I, I think--I don't
    want to speak for him, but I think we both would be very pleased if that
    could be resolved and the President could go back to devoting his
    energies to strengthening democracy and the economy of Russia. I know he
    wants peace there. I believe he's working toward it.
        Chancellor Kohl. I do hope that this will turn out well. It's a very
    important issue, obviously, also for the elections.

    Chancellor Kohl's Visit

        The President. Let me say to all of you, as you know, we're going to
    have a few moments later, and we'll answer all your questions at the
    press conference.
        But I want to welcome Chancellor Kohl back to the United States and
    to perhaps our most German-American city, Milwaukee, a place which he's
    now visiting for the first time. I want to thank him for his friendship
    to our country and for his support for freedom. The world is a better
    place because of his leadership. And I have benefited greatly from his
    wise counsel, and we've had a good partnership. And I'm delighted to
    have him here in the United States and especially in Milwaukee today.
        Chancellor Kohl. May I perhaps make a few remarks on my part. I
    would like to thank the President. I would like to thank you, my friend,
    Bill, for this very warm welcome. When I was told that this would be on
    our itinerary, I was very enthusiastic about it because as a student I
    read a lot about this State, about this part of the country.
        And you know that many generations back and throughout many
    generations, many people from my home region, from the Palatine,
    immigrated to this part of the world. And the first thing I saw when I
    arrived yesterday night at the airport was a big sign announcing the
    product of a company called Kohl. And people are very friendly.
    Unfortunately, we only have a day, but I do hope that I shall have the
    opportunity to come back at some later stage.
        So now I'm looking very much forward to our talks. I must say,
    generally speaking, one of the best experiences that I've had in this
    office is the very good relation that we have been able to strike up,
    the President and myself, and the good conversations that we've had over
    the years. And let me say, I'm very pleased that we were able to move
    matters along in many issues over the years.
        And I think more than any other country, the two of us probably also
    got involved in Russia. And the two of us took a very personal interest
    in Russia. There are a lot of people who warned us because of the risks
    that were involved. But let me say, we are very well aware of what it
    means if Russia now finally goes forward, pursues the path of reform, or
    the sort of risks it entails when it falls back into the old habits of
    the past.
        And if you want to do something good, please pray now for the rain
    going away and for us having nice weather. [Laughter]

    1996 Election

        Q. Mr. President, there's a suspicion that election-year politics
    had something to do with your bringing Chancellor Kohl here.
        The President. Well, I'll tell you how we came about to do this.
    When Prime Minister Major came to the United States, you remember, I
    took him to Pittsburgh. And it wasn't an election

    [[Page 805]]

    time then, but his grandfather had been there as a worker. And it seems
    to me that it's important for the United States to remember a lot of our
    roots, which in the beginning, of course, were European roots.
        When I was with the Chancellor last time in Germany, I gave him a
    copy of the Declaration of Independence, which was printed in 1776 in
    German in the State of Pennsylvania because we had so many German-
    Americans. So those two experiences made me think that the next time he
    came here for a visit, we should do it here in Milwaukee instead of
    Washington.
        Q. No politics?
        Chancellor Kohl. Incidentally, it is true, I mean, elections are
    part of democracy, are they not? So, you know, there are elections
    almost constantly in democracies, and the only other choice we have is
    we say we don't meet when there's an election going on. And then you
    will write there's no personal chemistry between the two; it doesn't
    seem to work. And now you're telling us we're not supposed to meet
    because there's an election going on. So, well, I suppose you will have
    to write there's an election going on and that's probably--[laughter].
        The President. Thank you. We'll answer more questions later.

    [At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group
    entered.]

    Chancellor Kohl's Visit

        The President. Let me say, if I might, that it is a great honor for
    me as President and a great personal pleasure for me as a friend of the
    Chancellor's to welcome him back to the United States, and especially
    here to Milwaukee, which is the most German-American city in the United
    States.
        I am personally very grateful to Chancellor Kohl for his wise
    counsel to me, for his unfailing friendship to the United States, and
    for his determined devotion to freedom. We have a lot of important
    things to discuss today. I'm looking forward to that, and of course
    afterward we will make ourselves available to you again for your
    questions.
        Q. Mr. President, last time you were treated by Chancellor Kohl to
    some Italian pasta. Will you treat him to some German food today?
        The President. Well, we're going to a local diner which is sort of a
    community place in Milwaukee, and he will be able to eat whatever he
    wants.

    Note: The exchange began at 10:12 a.m. at City Hall. In his remarks, the
    President referred to President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. Chancellor Kohl
    spoke in German, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter. A
    tape was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.