[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.