    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [September 24, 1996]
    [Pages 1651-1652]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister
    Ryutaro Hashimoto of Japan in New York City
    September 24, 1996

    Okinawa

        Q. President Clinton, what do you think about the idea of floating
    offshore facility for a U.S. military base in Okinawa?
        The President. Well, let me say, first of all, I very much
    appreciate the work that the Prime Minister has done in trying to
    resolve this matter to the satisfaction of the people of Okinawa and in
    a way that is consistent with the security relationship between the
    United States and Japan. And I intend to keep working on it, and we are
    prepared to do whatever is reasonable to respond to the concerns of the
    people of Okinawa, consistent with the absolute importance of our
    military readiness. So we'll just keep working on this and hope we can
    come to a satisfactory conclusion.

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

        Prime Minister Hashimoto. We agree on the major point between
    ourselves at the moment that we cannot have a meaningful conversation
    while the microphones are on. [Laughter]

    Federal Reserve Board

        Q. Mr. President, the Fed is meeting today to decide whether to
    raise interest rates. Do you think the Fed has any cause to raise
    interest rates at this time?
        The President. Well, I'm going to continue my policy of not
    commenting on their decisions. I will say this: I am very pleased that
    we have strong growth and no sign of inflation. I feel good about that.
    But they have to make their decisions; I can't comment on that.
        Q. Well, do you believe there's any justification whatsoever,
    economic or otherwise, to raise interest rates?
        The President. I don't know what you mean by ``otherwise.''

    United Nations

        Q. Mr. President, you said today that some Americans don't
    appreciate the U.N. and have made it difficult for the United States to
    pay its dues. Were you talking about anybody in particular, maybe like
    Senator Dole and Mr. Gingrich? Did you have them in mind?
        The President. No, I was talking about everybody who believes that
    we--that the U.N. is, in effect, not important to the United States and
    to our future. I believe it is important to our future. I think it's
    also important that the United States and some of our friends,
    especially Great Britain, have pushed the U.N. for reform. And the
    Japanese have supported that.
        We like the idea that the U.N.'s budget has been frozen and that the
    bureaucracy is being reduced. And I think the people in Congress in both
    parties who have pushed for that were right, and they should be
    complimented for that. But I think that having launched this process of
    reform, if we want to continue to have influence over it, at least we
    have to pay what we owe here and pay up our past-due obligations. That's
    the point I was making. I think that we are helped by having a system of
    shared burdens throughout the world, and I think most Americans feel
    that way.
        Q. Mr. President, did you discuss the Secretary-General's term when
    you met with him this morning?

    [[Page 1652]]

        The President. I didn't, because he and everyone else knows our
    position. They know it's firm. There was nothing to talk about.
        Q. In other words, there was nothing he could say or do, sir, that
    would change your mind perhaps after the election?
        The President. There was nothing to discuss. Our position is clear
    and is set, and there was nothing to talk about.

    Note: The exchange began at 11:42 a.m. at the U.S. Mission to the United
    Nations. In his remarks, the President referred to United Nations
    Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.