    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 23, 1998]
    [Pages 418-419]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 418]]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Jerry John
    Rawlings of Ghana in Accra, Ghana
    March 23, 1998

        President Rawlings. Let me just take this opportunity to welcome
    each and every one of you to Ghana, and quite frankly, if I had the
    choice, I would have suggested that you visit a place like Ghana in the
    month of August when it's nice and cool. So while you're here under this
    hot, blazing African sun, do everything you can to--what do you call--
    put in as much fluid as you can in order to fight the dehydrative effect
    of the tropics. But at the same time, if you keep away from the shades,
    the wives and the husbands would be missing the chance of a nice suntan
    before you leave the tropics.
        Let me say that as short as this visit is, I think what's most
    important is the content. And there's no doubt that the agenda that's
    been drawn out would be an issue that takes on the serious subjects that
    concern Africa, an issue that's been initiated by the President and
    members of his Cabinet. That's most welcome to this continent.
        Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, 27 years from now, as I
    said to some of our colleagues in the CNN yesterday, that the population
    of this continent or sub-Saharan Africa will be doubling to about 1.5
    billion. And if we don't take the appropriate measures, both from the
    economic standpoint and the political standpoint, to lay the foundation
    towards development and peace, I'm afraid we'll be running down the
    hill.
        However, I feel very hopeful and very confident that the measures
    we've taken--and a good number of African countries--we're beginning to
    register a healthy economic upturn. The political stability that's
    returning to this continent, no doubt, I believe, is what must have
    encouraged the President and his colleagues to take on this issue to do
    what they can to assist the efforts that we're putting in Africa.
        And for this, I would like to welcome him, his wife, his--our dear
    Chelsea--we'll talk about her later--and members of his Cabinet. And I'm
    so glad that we have Reverend Minister Jackson also as a member of the
    delegation.
        And--what else? Talking about the 8-hour period, let me explain that
    in politics there are times I believe that we spend the least time with
    those who have the least problems. It's hot, naturally so, all the time.
    I mean, there are times when we can relax and spend a lot of time with
    those that we have so much in common. But quite frankly, the
    relationship between the U.S. and Ghana has been so healthy, so much
    foundation has been laid, that, quite frankly, I believe there's no
    turning back in terms of the progress that's been made. And I can only
    see a forward movement.
        And let me simply end up by saying that please, you've come at the
    wrong time of the season, not in economic or political terms but the
    hot, blazing sun. So please do what you can to--not to dehydrate
    yourself. Do what you can to take in as much liquids as you can, and
    don't miss out on the sun.
        Thank you very much.
        Q. Mr. President Clinton, have you spoken with----
        President Rawlings. Can we make this just the one and only question,
    because--let's put it this way, I don't want to share the limited time
    that I have with the President. I have only, barely--no, about 8 hours
    from now. And our colleagues are waiting in the Cabinet for a meeting.
    Beyond that, our people have been waiting from 5 a.m., and there are
    hundreds of thousands, chiefs, elders, children, et cetera. I don't want
    anybody fainting. Neither do I think President Clinton would like to see
    that happen.
        Q. It's only one, sir.
        President Clinton. I'll take one question.

    President Boris Yeltsin of Russia

        Q. Thank you, sir. Have you spoken with President Yeltsin? Are you
    concerned about his dismissal of his Cabinet? Do you think you
    understand what is behind it or what the effect will be, sir?
        President Clinton. Let me say, first of all, I have not spoken with
    him. I found out about it this morning when I woke up. And until I know
    more, I don't think I should say much, except that we don't interfere in
    the internal affairs of any country, and as President, he has to
    constitute the government as he sees fit. We hope that the general
    direction of policy will

    [[Page 419]]

    be unaffected by this, and I have no reason to believe that it--that
    anything different will occur in a way that's at all adverse to the
    partnership we've been building with Russia. If I know anything else in
    the next few hours, I'll be glad to tell you.
        Let me also thank President Rawlings for welcoming me here. I have
    very much looked forward to coming to Ghana, especially since the first
    time we met in the White House. I admire the direction this nation is
    taking under his leadership, and I want to make the most of this next 8
    hours. So we better go to work, so we can get out there and see the
    people, too.
        President Rawlings. Thank you very much, sir.
        President Clinton. Thank you.

    Note: The exchange began at 9:25 a.m. in the garden at Osu Castle.
    President Rawlings referred to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson. A tape
    was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.