    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [July 7, 1997]
    [Pages 919-922]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President of the Government
    Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and an Exchange With Reporters in Madrid
    July 7, 1997

        President Aznar. President Clinton and his family, at the invitation
    of Their Majesty, the King and Queen of Spain, have spent a few days in
    Mallorca. I hope they have been good days in Mallorca, a mini-holiday. I
    had the opportunity to join them yesterday, again at the invitation of
    His Majesty, the King. I think I was meant to torture President
    Clinton's holiday for a few moments, and we discussed at length a number
    of issues.
        It is my pleasure to officially welcome President Clinton and his
    delegation to Madrid. We have just had a meeting, a continuation of
    yesterday's conversations, and the meeting was of tremendous interest.
    We talked about the summit which begins tomorrow in Madrid. I hope that
    this will represent a decisive contribution to security and peace in the
    world. We hope that is the case, and it will be if we engage in a
    constructive spirit, the spirit which presides the Atlantic alliance.
        Advances have been made in the negotiations for the internal reform
    of the alliance, and we have all made efforts to secure the necessary
    consensus on enlargement of the Atlantic alliance. Sufficient elements
    are in place so that the summit which begins tomorrow can be the point
    of departure for improving the security and cooperation in the Atlantic
    alliance. And we hope that conversations can conclude soon on internal
    reform for the security and defense of Europe, proceed with enlargement
    and to sign the historic agreement between the Ukraine and Russia and
    Atlantic alliance.
        I've spoken to President Clinton. I told him that Spain hopes to
    achieve considerable advances during this summit, bearing in mind
    Spain's Parliament decision on the referendum on NATO. And we hope to
    join the military command of NATO once the command is fully defined and
    our interests are safeguarded. President Clinton knows that Spain is
    deeply interested in having a positive outcome to this situation.
        We discussed bilaterally issues of common interest to us in other
    parts of the world. Our bilateral relations are excellent, I must say,
    relations between the United States and Spain. We already had an
    opportunity to talk a couple of months ago in Washington, and I hope
    that these conversations and this visit are a good example of how to
    engage in permanent and fruitful dialog between the United States and
    Spain.
        Thank you very much. And I give the floor to the President of the
    United States, Mr. Clinton.
        President Clinton. Thank you very much. Mr. Prime Minister, it is
    wonderful to be back in Spain. And let me thank you again, along with
    the King and the Queen and the people of Spain, for the very warm
    hospitality that my family and I have experienced in Mallorca. And it is
    great to be back in Madrid and to be with you again. As you said, we had
    a very good visit in Washington in the springtime, and then we also saw
    each other in Paris when the NATO leaders met to forge our compact with
    Russia.
        The NATO Summit that begins tomorrow is a milestone in our work to
    adapt NATO to a new Europe and a new century, so that it can meet new
    security challenges, open the door to new members, reach out to new
    partners. This new mission for NATO is designed to secure a Europe that
    is undivided, democratic, and at peace for the first time in history.
    And it is very appropriate that Spain should be the

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    host of this summit, because, after all, NATO last admitted a new member
    15 years ago, and that new member was Spain.
        When Spain joined NATO and the European Union, Spain strengthened
    both institutions and fortified its own newfound freedoms. Now it is one
    of democracy's staunchest friends and NATO's strongest leaders. And let
    me say to you, we welcome Spain's intention to take her full place in
    NATO's integrated military structure as we complete a new command
    structure.
        This will also greatly strengthen the bonds of our alliance. It will
    greatly strengthen our alliance, and along with the steps that we will
    take over the next 2 days, I am sure we will promote a greater sharing
    of responsibility between America and Europe as we try to create an even
    stronger partnership with richer democracies for a new century.
        Finally, Mr. Prime Minister, let me thank you again for hosting this
    summit and for the strong leadership you have shown in so many areas.
    I'm looking forward to the work ahead of us in the next couple of days
    and to the future we are trying to make together.
        Thank you very much.

    Elections in Mexico

        Q. Thank you very much for being here, and welcome here in Spain.
    I'm a reporter from Televisa. Let me ask you this at least in Spanish,
    anyway, Mr. President. As you know, elections were held in Mexico
    yesterday. I'd like to know what your opinion and the Spanish Prime
    Minister's opinion is with respect to Mr. Cardenas' victory. To what
    extent do you think those elections might influence the relations
    between the United States and Mexico?
        President Clinton. It's interesting you ask this question because we
    have just discussed it, and I believe that the Prime Minister is a step
    ahead of me. He's already called President Zedillo, and they've had a
    visit. But we support the elections, and we support the expression of
    popular will by the people of Mexico. The United States wants to be a
    good partner and a good friend. We share a long border. We share much
    common heritage. We have many of the same problems with the narcotics
    and many of the same opportunities with economic growth. And we believe
    that anything that adds to Mexico's strength as a democracy is good for
    our common future.
        These elections, insofar as they gave the Mexican people an
    opportunity for the open, free expression of their will, are good for
    that relationship and good for the future. It doesn't matter how they
    came out. That was for the Mexican people to decide. And we applaud
    that.
        President Aznar. I have already congratulated President Zedillo's
    election yesterday. I have already mentioned this to President Clinton.
    For us, it is a source of satisfaction that the political process in
    Mexico, in terms of quality, has taken a step forward after yesterday's
    elections. The elections were held in a very satisfactory way, and human
    rights were fully respected.

    NATO Participation

        Q. Mr. President, what do you think of the French deciding not to
    add to the military structure--their own troops and so forth, as the
    Spanish have done?
        President Clinton. Well, first of all, the Spanish Government--and
    the leader who is here, he certainly can speak for himself, but Spain
    has said that they want to be a part of the integrated military
    structure, but there are certain specifics we have to work out. And
    Spain should, obviously, take a very aggressive view of its own interest
    in trying to work through those things. And I have encouraged all of our
    people to try to cooperate, to work it out in a way that is military
    defensible. That is, keep in mind, NATO is first and foremost a defense
    structure, and whatever we do has to make sense from a security point of
    view. But Spain is working through these issues. And I feel comfortable
    they will be worked through.
        Now, with regard to France, at least in the United States, these
    issues are quite well known. We believe that there should be a new NATO
    command structure. We believe that more of the command positions should
    be given over to Europe and to everybody that is in the command
    structure, including France, should France decide to do that.
        What we have said is that we do not believe that the United States
    should give up one single command--the command of AFSOUTH it's called--
    because that's where the United States 6th Fleet is. And except for the
    position of our troops in Germany and Japan and South Korea, the 6th
    Fleet is our biggest asset beyond our borders and the major asset of
    AFSOUTH. But beyond that, we believe the French, if they

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    join the military structure, should be involved in the command, and we
    want to support it.
        So I hope as soon as the summit is over, NATO can resume
    negotiations with the French and by the end of the year, both Spain and
    France will be in the integrated command structure. They are very great
    countries; they should be in the command structure.
        Q. What are the Spanish caveats to joining the military structure?
        President Aznar. I am maintaining the Spanish Government's favorable
    position to conclude the process of integration in the military
    structure. That is our Government's agreement. It is the majority
    consensus of Spain's Parliament. We have already taken a number of steps
    in that direction. I think things are going very well as regards the
    prior work for concluding the new command structure.
        Spain, needless to say, has its own interests that have to be
    safeguarded, but these have been covered, more or less, by a general
    framework. There are some technical problems that still have to be
    ironed out, but I think that with the impetus given by the Madrid
    Summit, between now and the end of the year, particularly in the month
    of December, I think we can take the definitive decision to join the
    full integrated military structure, with all the consequences that
    entails, as Spain, which wants to shoulder its responsibilities and a
    country which wants to be present at a very ideal moment in history to
    contribute with its assets to peace and cooperation in the world, in the
    Atlantic, and particularly in the areas of interest to Spain.
        One last question, please. We are very pushed for time, I'm sorry.
        Q. A lot has been made of the United States position accepting just
    three countries. If a further enlargement took place, does Spain think
    that Spain's interests have not been fulfilled? The three-country
    enlargement is--[inaudible]--if Spain has been prepared to negotiate
    further? Has Spain's position been strengthened within the Atlantic
    alliance?
        This is a step forward--a specific question, please--if Spain does
    not join the full integrated military structure, will a new command
    structure--if it doesn't achieve a new command structure, will it be
    disappointed?
        President Clinton. That's your question.
        President Aznar. I'm convinced things will move along the lines I
    mentioned just a few moments ago. I think within a few months, Spain
    will be in the integrated military structure. That is in Spain's
    interest, in the Atlantic alliance's interest. I did say there were some
    technical difficulties that have to be ironed out, and they will be
    ironed out.
        As regards enlargement, can I just say that we will make every
    effort to arrive at a consensus with regard to enlargement, and that
    consensus will ensure that the summit is a milestone, a success in terms
    of cooperation and security.
        President Clinton. If I could just add to what Prime Minister Aznar
    said, we believe that the NATO doors should remain open. We do not
    believe we should close the doors on the aspirations of any democracy in
    Europe.
        As regards Romania and Slovenia, we applaud the work they have done
    in embracing democracy and in showing a willingness to share the
    responsibilities of preserving the peace in the future and resolving
    border disputes and ethnic difficulties. These things are to be
    applauded. And we do not believe they should be told that they can never
    be in NATO or that it would be decades upon decades. We believe,
    however, that each particular decision that should be made should be
    based on the military as well as the political imperatives of assuming
    the responsibilities of membership.
        But nothing the United States has said should be viewed in any way
    as a negative for the future prospects of either of these countries or
    others as well.

    Bosnia

        Q. Mr. President, do you expect the NATO Summit to change the rules
    of engagement for the SFOR troops in Bosnia to permit a more aggressive
    effort to capture war criminals? And a related question, is there a plan
    by--or have the CIA and Special Forces put together a plan that would
    lead to the apprehension of Mr. Karadzic?
        President Clinton. I think the--you've asked me two questions, and I
    will give what I believe is an appropriate answer. The War Crimes
    Tribunal is a part of the Dayton agreement, and we believe everyone
    should support the Dayton agreement in all its parts, including that
    one. We have. And insofar as it's been free to operate, I think it has
    been a positive force. And I think it should continue to do so, and I
    believe we should support it in all ways that are appropriate. So that
    is what I would say about that.

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        I do not expect there to be a statement here explicitly dealing with
    the rules of engagement. I think we will have a statement about Bosnia
    which will make it clear that all of us believe--and we just had a
    discussion about this, and we discussed it before on Mallorca--we
    believe that we have to do more to implement every element of Dayton. I
    think a lot of us are impatient that perhaps even we have not done as
    much as we should have on all of the elements of Dayton.
        Thank you.

    Note: President Aznar, Spain's Prime Minister, spoke at 8:43 p.m. in the
    Residence at the Moncloa Palace. In his remarks, President Clinton
    referred to King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain and President
    Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico. Reporters referred to Mexico City Mayor-elect
    Cuauhtemoc Cardenas and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. A portion
    of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was incomplete.