    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [June 18, 1999]
    [Page 963]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Chancellor Gerhard
    Schroeder of Germany in Cologne
    June 18, 1999

    Character Education in Public Schools

        Q. Mr. President, in another House action, the House has passed a
    measure which would permit the Ten Commandments to be posted in public
    schools. Do you think that's constitutional?
        President Clinton. I think it raises constitutional questions. I
    think what they're trying to do is to say that the schools ought to
    teach basic elements of character education, and I agree with that. And
    Secretary Riley and I have worked on that
    for several years, now. So I would--what I would like to do is to,
    rather than get into a big constitutional fight, is to have the
    Secretary meet with the Members of Congress, show them what we're trying
    to do in this area that is plainly constitutional, and maybe get them to
    support that, so we can intensify our efforts.
        And the idea that the schools ought to build the character of
    children I think is a very good idea. But it ought to be done in a way
    that respects the wide diversity of our student body and that doesn't
    lead to a long, drawn-out legal challenge.
        I understand the impulse behind it, and I think the impulse is good.
    We just have to be--we don't want to raise constitutional questions.
    There is another option here that I think achieves their objective. I'm
    going to--when I get home I'm going to talk to them about it.

    NATO-Russia Negotiations on Kosovo

        Q. [Inaudible]--you think there will be a solution with the Russians
    concerning the problems in Kosovo?
        President Clinton. I do. The Chancellor and I--we're going to talk
    about it.
        I'd like to begin by thanking the Bundeskanzler for hosting this and
    for doing such an outstanding job not only leading the G-8 but also
    leading the EU in this period and for being a wonderful leader in our
    Alliance in the campaign in Kosovo.
        We have been working very hard in the last days, as you know, to get
    our troops in as the Serbs leave. Today, we have 19,000 in; 35,000 of
    theirs have gone. And this is a good day. And I do believe, based on
    what I have just heard, that we have a good chance of reaching a
    resolution today on the role of the Russians in our KFOR. So we have to
    discuss this, but I think if we can get everybody together on this in
    the next couple of hours, we'll have an agreement. I'm hoping.

    Debt Relief

        Q. Chancellor Schroeder, the indebted nations want debt forgiveness
    now, about $100 billion. Is that doable?
        Chancellor Schroeder. I think that sum will certainly not be
    achieved, whatever it will get to. But we certainly get together here
    during the summit to talk about the fact that we would like to assist
    the poorest countries with their development and their debt problems.
        We, of course, have to--we're at the beginning of the summit--have
    to go in and discuss the more finite detail, and then we'll come up with
    a result which we'll share with you at the end of the summit, and not
    now, at the beginning. [Laughter]

    Note: The exchange began at 2:51 p.m. in the Isabellensaal Room at the
    Gurzenich. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    this exchange.