[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
[June 20, 1997]
[Pages 770-772]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Boris 
Yeltsin of Russia in Denver
June 20, 1997

    President Yeltsin. Thank you for your hospitality, for the wonderful 
hotel and accommodations.

Russian Support for U.N. Resolution on Iraq

    Q. President Yeltsin, if we may, we understand the United States and 
Britain are looking for help on a resolution on Iraq with the United 
Nations that's being discussed. Is Russia at least willing to promise 
not to veto the resolution?
    President Yeltsin. I'm prepared to block my answer to your question. 
[Laughter]

Russian Role in Group of Eight

    Q. Mr. President, will the United States support expansion of the G-
7 to a G-8 to include Russia?
    President Clinton. Well, Russia is fully included. This is the first 
time we've ever had a meeting where the Russians were here from the 
beginning to the end. And we also have another happy development today: 
When we were in Helsinki I pledged to President Yeltsin that I would do 
my best to see Russia be admitted into the Paris Club within the year, 
and Russia and the Paris Club have just completed

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their negotiations, which means that now Russia will be a partner with 
the other members in trying to help promote the global economic growth 
by relieving the burden of the debt on developing countries that--
[inaudible]--so what you see here is a sweeping--[inaudible]--Russia--
[inaudible]--networks in the world in a way that is very positive for 
the rest of us.
    And I must say, in the last 5 years, as Russian participation has 
steadily increased here, we have seen the agenda of this group broaden 
dramatically, and because Russia is a partner, we can talk about, for 
example, what we can do together to prevent the inappropriate spread of 
nuclear materials, and we can work together on a whole range of other 
options.
    So I'm very positive about this and very pleased with this summit 
and pleased with the emergence of Russia as a leader in all these world 
institutions. It's a great tribute I think to President Yeltsin's 
leadership and to the commitment of the Russian people to democracy and 
reform.

Proposed Tobacco Agreement

    Q. Mr. President, is there a tobacco settlement? Are you happy with 
it?
    President Clinton. I don't believe it's been announced yet. I don't 
know that a settlement has been reached.
    Q. But you've been briefed, sir?
    President Clinton. Well, I've been generally briefed that they're 
approaching a settlement. But if a settlement, in fact, is announced 
today, then I'll make a statement about it. Until there is I don't want 
to make a statement.
    Q. Would you intervene if there's a problem over regulation? What is 
your feelings----
    President Clinton. Let's wait and see if they reach an agreement. If 
there is an agreement, I'll make a statement. I don't know that there is 
one.

[At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group 
entered. When the second group of reporters had gathered, a question was 
asked and answered in Russian, and a translation was not provided.]

Russian Role in Group of Eight

    President Clinton. Let me say that until you asked that question, no 
one had ever suggested to me that there would ever be a time when Russia 
would not be a full partner in this Group of Eight.
    Let me just remind you that over the last few years, as the 
participation of Russia in this group has grown to this moment, when for 
the first time we are here together from beginning to end and 
participating in only one press conference together and speaking with 
one voice--and as I'm sure you probably know, Russia has reached an 
agreement to join the Paris Club--it has enabled this body to go from a 
purely economic focus to deal with the common challenges that we have in 
the world we're about to enter and the one we face today.
    For example, the work we're doing in nuclear cooperation would be 
impossible if Russia were not our partner here. And there are many other 
things that we're going to do together. So I think that this is a cause 
for celebration not only in Russia but in the other countries here.
    Let me just say one final thing. I consider this day and all these 
things that are happening that are positive a tribute, first of all, to 
the support of the Russian people for democracy and reform and, second, 
to the unusual combination of vision and persistence that President 
Yeltsin has displayed over so many years. It's quite a hopeful moment 
for the world, I think, and I give him a lot of credit.
    Thank you.

Note: The exchange spoke at 1:03 p.m. at the Brown Palace Hotel. 
President Yeltsin spoke in Russian, and his remarks were translated by 
an interpreter.

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