    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [September 9, 1996]
    [Pages 1514-1516]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister John Bruton of Ireland
    and an Exchange With Reporters
    September 9, 1996

        The President. I'm delighted to have the Taoiseach here today and a
    good day: The talks began again today. Senator Mitchell is over in
    Belfast, and I just want to talk to him about where we go from here.
        Also, I want to note that Ireland is assuming the Presidency of the
    European Union, and we have a lot of common interests there, a lot of
    things we have to work on together, including our common interest in the
    worldwide fight against narcotics trafficking, and so we'll have lots to
    talk about, and I'm glad to have you here, sir.
        Prime Minister Bruton. Thanks very much, indeed. Well, the talks
    have gotten off to a very good start in Belfast today. Obviously, we'd
    like to see an IRA cease-fire, because as long as the threat of violence
    is there, the negotiations are not going to work as fully as they need
    to.
        Also, I'll be awaiting the opportunity to talk to the President
    about European Union business. As the President has said, we need to
    cooperate to combat drug trafficking, and we also need, I think, more
    business cooperation between Europe and North America, and the United
    States in particular, and I have certain ideas I'll be putting forth to
    the President on that matter.

    Northern Ireland Peace Process

        Q. Mr. President, at this point, do you really see any advance in
    the talks? I know they started in June, but it doesn't really seem like
    they've gone very far.
        The President. I would go back to what the Prime Minister said: We'd
    like to see a cease-fire restored. But I think that actually, we do have
    a chance to make some progress in these talks, and that's one of the
    things we're going to talk about here.
        We're always better off when they're talking than when they're not,
    and I can see circumstances under which we can make some real progress
    there if we got one or two good breaks, so we're going to keep working.

    [[Page 1515]]

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

    Prime Minister Bruton's Visit

        The President. Let me just, first of all, welcome you all here and
    say that I am deeply honored, as always, to have the Taoiseach here,
    coming especially as he does today as the talks have opened again in
    Belfast. I'm looking forward to hearing his ideas about where we go from
    here and any suggestions he has about how the United States can help.
        I also want to talk about the work we can do together, as Ireland
    assumes the Presidency of the European Union, on international narcotics
    trafficking and any number of other issues. I have a very, very high
    regard for the Prime Minister for his leadership for what he has tried
    to do for the cause of peace in Northern Ireland, and I'm really looking
    forward to having this chance to visit with him.
        Prime Minister Bruton. Thank you very much. Obviously, I'll be
    updating the President on the talks in Belfast, which have gotten off to
    a very good start today. It's important that they should move as quickly
    as possible to discussing the substantial issues that they were set up
    to deal with, having dealt with the procedure and questions, which are
    very important but which I think can be dealt with quite quickly at this
    point.
        Also, I will be talking to the President in my capacity as President
    of the European Union and putting forward some ideas to him on closer
    business cooperation across the North Atlantic. And I will also be
    anxious to bring to agreement proposals that are in discussion about
    closer cooperation to combat the international drugs trade, both in the
    Caribbean area and in regard to what are known as precursors, which are
    chemicals which are used in the manufacture of drugs. I think we need
    cooperation between the European Union and the United States if we're to
    combat this menace at its source.

    Northern Ireland Peace Process

        Q. Mr. President, if I may ask you, sir, Mike McCurry told us today
    that you chose to be optimistic about the prospects for peace. Can you
    tell us how you can possibly be optimistic at the moment and how
    optimistic you might be, for instance, of a new IRA cease-fire?
        The President. Well, I want to talk to the Prime Minister about
    that. I think there should be a restoration of the cease-fire so that
    everyone who needs to be in the talks can be a part of them. But the
    thing that makes me optimistic is the clear interest that the people,
    all the people in Northern Ireland have in a successful resolution of
    this and their evident desire for it, which I saw so clearly last year.
        And of course, unfortunately the people have already paid a price
    this year in the fact that when the cease-fire was lost and things
    seemed to be drifting in the wrong direction, it was costly in terms of
    tourists, in terms of business investment.
        So I just believe that we're still on the right side of history, and
    I can also see the development of events in a way that would make it
    possible for us to make some real progress. But they're just beginning.
    I have a lot of confidence in Senator Mitchell and the team there, but
    mostly I believe the people of Northern Ireland want peace, and I think
    the determination of the Irish Government and also the British
    Government, Prime Minister Major's government, to try to work to create
    conditions in which peace can be developed, I think those things make me
    optimistic.
        Prime Minister Bruton. I'd like to add, if I may, that I think it's
    very important that we do have an IRA cease-fire, because we're not
    going to have a truly heartfelt and enduring agreement as long as the
    threat of violence continues.
        Q. Mr. President, do you believe that the loyalist parties should
    now be excluded from the talks process, as demanded by Dr. Paisley
    today?
        The President. I can't say that. I think that the only position I've
    taken on this whole thing is that the cease-fire ought to be restored
    for full participation of all of the parties. I don't want to get into
    that.
        I think that the people who are there on the ground are perfectly
    capable of making their decisions. I think on balance, what we want is
    the largest number of people possible who will be affected by this in
    the end participating, and I think that that's what we should look for.
    But I don't think----

    President's Travel Plans

        Q. Do you anticipate going back to Ireland, Mr. President, in
    December?
        Q. Mr. President, will you make the golf match with Dick Spring this
    time?

    [[Page 1516]]

        The President. I'll do my very best. Only an intervening
    circumstance stopped me last time. I hope I can come back and do it. He
    wants the privilege of beating me on the home soil, and I suppose I'll
    have to let him do that someday.
        Q. Are you definitely coming to Dublin in December?
        The President. I don't know yet.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:25 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to George J. Mitchell, Special
    Adviser to the President and the Secretary of State on Economic
    Initiatives for Ireland; and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Spring of
    Ireland. A reporter referred to Ian Paisley, Northern Ireland Democratic
    Unionist Party leader. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of these remarks.