    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [February 26, 1997]
    [Pages 207-208]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Eduardo Frei of Chile and an
    Exchange With Reporters
    February 26, 1997

        President Clinton. Let me say very briefly that President Frei and I
    are going to have a press conference after this meeting of ours, and
    we'll answer your questions then. But I want to welcome him to the
    United States and once again to point out the truly astonishing record
    that Chile has established in the last several years in growing a
    powerful democracy and having remarkable economic growth and reducing
    poverty. And we are especially glad that Chile has agreed to host the
    next Summit of the Americas meetings in Santiago in 1994, following up
    on the one that we had, of course, in Miami--in 1998, they'll be in
    1998--the one we had in Miami in 1994.
        And Mr. President, we're glad to have you here and we thank you very
    much for everything you've done. And we look forward to a unique
    partnership.
        President Frei. I would like to specially thank the invitation and
    especially now at this point when the relations between Chile and the
    United States are so especially outstanding and promising.
        Thank you for this being an invitation, the first one in your second
    term. And I'm sure we'll have the opportunity to discuss major issues on
    restrengthening our democracy, growth--sustained economic growth,
    alleviation of poverty, and the advantages we have experienced as being
    an open economy.
        We begin this visit with tremendous confidence, optimism, and as
    true partners. And we will be expecting you in March of next year at the
    second Summit of the Americas.
        President Clinton. I'll be there.
        Q. Mr. President, during the ceremony, Chairman Greenspan was on the
    Hill expressing some deep concerns about the direction of the market. Do
    you share that concern?
        President Clinton. I'll answer questions at the press conference.
    Thank you.
        Q. Are you going to call Senator Torricelli? Are you going to call
    Senator Torricelli about----
        Vice President Gore. Gracias. Vamos.
        Q. ----amendment?
        President Clinton. That's a good question. [Laughter]

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

        President Clinton. Let me begin by saying again how deeply honored I
    am that President Frei is here and that he has favored the United States
    with our first state visit of my second term as President. We believe we
    have established a genuine partnership with Chile that will only deepen
    in the years ahead.
        The American people are terribly impressed by the remarkable
    transformation of Chile in the last several years, the growth of the
    deep democracy, the powerful economic advances, the reduction in
    poverty, the assumption of leadership by Chile in the region and in the
    world. And I'm looking forward to building on that partnership. And
    again let me say I'm very pleased that President Frei is here at my
    first state visit in my second term.
        President Frei. I would like to thank you once again, Mr. President,
    for this invitation to this state visit, the first one of your second
    term. We've come here with great optimism at a time where the relations
    between the United States and Chile are at its utmost.

    [[Page 208]]

        We are partners not only in this hemisphere, but globally we have
    been working as partners. We want to keep on working together in
    furtherance of democracy and to defeat poverty in the end. Chile has a
    rich experience in foreign trade, and we plan to share that as well.
        Thank you for the warm welcome and for your kind words about my
    father, Mr. President. Thank you, and we will continue to consolidate
    together democracy. And we expect you in March of next year when you
    come to the Summit of the Americas.
        Q. President Clinton, will you----
        Vice President Gore. We're going to wait for the press conference.
        President Clinton. We'll do questions, and they'll be equally
    divided at the press conference.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:28 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these
    remarks.