    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [April 9, 1996]
    [Pages 560-561]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis of
    Greece and an Exchange With Reporters
    April 9, 1996

        President Clinton. Let me say it's a great honor for me to welcome
    Prime Minister Simitis here, along with his party. Greece has been a
    long and strong ally of the United States, and I'm looking forward to
    discussing a number of issues, including how we can be helpful in
    resolving some of the difficulties in the Aegean.
        Let me say, first of all, that I think all these issues should be
    resolved without the use of force or the threat of force, with both
    parties agreeing to abide by international agreements and with a mutual
    respect for territorial integrity. With regard to the Imia question, the
    United States has already said we believe it should be submitted to the
    International Court of Justice or some other international arbitration
    forum.
        I also want to thank Greece for its leadership in trying to resolve
    the problems in the future of the Balkans in a positive way. Greece is
    participating in IFOR and is working with the challenges presented in
    Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in a number of other
    ways.
        And finally, I hope we have a chance to talk about Cyprus a little
    bit. This has been an area of intense interest for me since I became
    President, and I hope that we can do more in that area to help that
    situation to be resolved.

    Iranian Arms Shipments to Bosnia

        Q. Mr. President, are you concerned about the investigation of
    Iranian arms shipments to Bosnia during the war?
        President Clinton. No.
        Q. Did you allow it to happen?
        President Clinton. Our record on that is clear. Mr. Lake has talked
    about it. There was absolutely nothing improper done.
        Q. You know, Bob Dole supported lifting the arms embargo, and now he
    is talking about possible investigation of the flow of arms. What do you
    think is going on there, Mr. President?
        President Clinton. He also took the position that we had the right
    to unilaterally lift it.
        Q. What do you think his motives are though?
        President Clinton. You all can comment on what is going on. I'm just
    going to try to do my job.

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

    Discussions With Prime Minister Simitis

        President Clinton. Hello. Is everyone in? Let me say, first of all,
    it's a great honor for me, on behalf of the United States, to welcome
    Prime Minister Simitis here. I have already had the opportunity to thank
    him for the wonderful welcome that my wife and daughter received from
    the government and from the people of Greece recently. We have a number
    of things to discuss. I hope the United States can be helpful in
    resolving some of the problems in the Aegean.
        At the outset, let me say, we believe that all these issues should
    be solved without the use of force, without the threat of force, with
    everyone agreeing to abide by international agreements and to respect
    the territorial integrity of other countries. With regard to the Imia
    situation, the United States has long said that we favor the resolution
    by referring the matter to the International Court of Justice or some
    other international arbitration panel, and we feel very strongly that
    these things have to be resolved.
        I want to have an opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for the
    leadership that Greece has shown in resolving problems in the Balkans,
    involving Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and
    participating in IFOR in Bosnia. And I think that the future of the
    Balkans as a secure and peaceful and hopefully more democratic place
    requires the leadership of Greece. And so I'm looking forward to that.

    [[Page 561]]

        And finally, I hope we have a chance to talk a little bit about
    Cyprus. Cyprus has been an area of special interest to me since I became
    President. I spent an awful lot of personal time on it, and we intend to
    explore this year whether there is something else we can do to help
    resolve that matter, because I believe that if that could be resolved,
    then that would open the way for a whole new future for the region and
    great new possibilities for all of its people.

    Greece-Turkey Relations

        Q. Mr. President, can you tell us what role the U.S. would play in
    Greek-Turkish relations, and what is the U.S. position on the
    sovereignty issue of the Imia islet?
        President Clinton. Well, I just said I think it ought to be decided
    by the International Court of Justice. I think the United States--since
    we have been--this is a delicate thing. We hardly have had a longer and
    stronger ally than Greece in the United States, and we have had--we
    obviously have worked with the Turks and have had good relationships
    with them. And the differences between Greece and Turkey are a source of
    great concern to us.
        But we believe they can be worked out if there is adherence to
    international agreements, nobody uses force or threatens to use force,
    and there is a genuine respect for territorial integrity and an
    understanding that if you look--if you try to imagine what the future
    will look like 10, 15, 20 years from now, and what the probable
    challenges to the freedom and the prosperity of the people of Greece
    are, and the people of the United States, from around the world,
    obviously, that future would be much more secure if the differences
    between Greece and Turkey could be resolved.
        Q. [Inaudible]--and what did he say?
        President Clinton. I said the same thing to him I'm saying to you. I
    find in this world, you know, since we have a global press, you have to
    say the same thing to everyone. [Laughter] So I said exactly the same
    thing to him I said to you.
        Q. Do you see a specific role of Greece in the Balkans?
        Prime Minister Simitis. Can I say a few words?
        President Clinton. Sure, it's your press.
        Prime Minister Simitis. It's very important for us to be here and to
    discuss matters of common interest with President Clinton. Greece aims
    on the one hand to improve the bilateral relations with the United
    States; on the other hand, we want to promote stability, peace, and
    prosperity in our part of the world, the European Union, the Balkans,
    and the Eastern Mediterranean. In order to achieve these targets, we
    want to discuss matters as European integration, cooperation with Balkan
    countries, our relations with our neighbors in Turkey, and the Cyprus
    issue.
        As far as the relations with our neighbors are concerned, we think
    that certain principles must be applied. The first principle is that no
    one can use force or use the threat of force. The international treaties
    and international law must be applied. And finally, the resolution of
    disputes must be realized with the help of the International Court of
    Justice.
        I hope that with these discussions, and I'm sure--there will be
    progress in these matters, and we will have in this part of the world a
    new development that is positive for stability and peace.
        Q. Sir, is there a specific initiative that you will undertake to
    de-escalate tension?
        President Clinton. I have already told you what my position is. I
    want to have a chance to meet with the Prime Minister, and we will be
    talking more later.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:12 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.