[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
[February 24, 1999]
[Pages 246-255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
The President's News Conference With President Jerry John
Rawlings of Ghana
February 24, 1999
President Clinton. Mr. President, distinguished members of the
Ghanaian delegation, it's been a real pleasure for me to welcome
President Rawlings back to Washington to advance the partnership between
the United States and Ghana.
On my visit to Africa last spring, I said the United States wanted
and very much needed a new partnership with Africa. We face stiff
challenges: a border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea; civil wars in the
Congo, Angola, Sierra Leone; famine and disease causing heartbreaking
human loss. But it is important not to forget how far Africa has come
since the days of apartheid and authoritarianism.
In a few days, we'll have an election in Nigeria to elect a
President and to give the largest, most populous country in Africa a
chance to chart a new course. Over half the countries of sub-Saharan
Africa already have democratically elected governments. It is clearly in
our interest to have a broad and constructive partnership.
Since Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana to independence in 1957, Ghana's
example has inspired other nations to take control of their destinies.
Over the past decade, Ghana has continued to lead the way, with a
growing economy, with peacekeeping forces in west Africa and around the
world, with its efforts to strengthen democracy at home.
Today President Rawlings and I are broadening our partnership. We're
encouraging multilateral African forces to respond quickly to outbreaks
of violence. We're providing more training for Ghana's battalion in the
new African peacekeeping enterprise, the African Crisis Response
Initiative. We're supporting Ghana's active role in stemming violence in
west Africa through ECOMOG's regional peacekeeping force, as it seeks to
stop the carnage that has racked Sierra Leone.
For our part, we have contributed logistical and medical support for
peacekeeping troops there, and we will continue to do so. In fact, I
want to increase our support for ECOMOG, and I hope Congress will
support my proposal to do so. In the last 18 months, we have also
provided over $75 million in humanitarian assistance to refugees and
victims of violence.
President Rawlings and I also agreed on a number of steps to
increase trade and investment between our nations. Tomorrow our U.S.
[[Page 247]]
Trade Representative will sign a trade
and investment framework agreement with her Ghanaian counterpart. It
will be only our second such agreement in Africa. Next month, here in
Washington, 9 members of my Cabinet will meet with ministers
representing more than 40 African nations to discuss ways that we can
work together to expand development. I also hope Congress will soon take
the next step by passing the ``African Growth and Opportunity Act.''
Finally, the President and I will continue to work together to
fulfill the promise of democracy in Africa. Ghana already invests a
phenomenal 40 percent of its budget in education. Today we announced
that we will be sending new Peace Corps volunteers to help link Ghana's
classrooms to the Internet. We're also working with Ghana to crack down
on child labor, to train judges and lawyers mediating disputes, to fight
HIV and AIDS while infection rates are still low there, to build a
reliable power supply for the future, to study and preserve Ghana's
elephant population and their environment, and to prepare for fair
elections in the year 2000.
This partnership, indeed, covers a lot of ground. Our investment in
Ghana and Africa is one of the most important we can make for the new
century. This year we will offer over $800 million in economic support
to Africa. We will augment this with a healthy program of bilateral debt
forgiveness for Africa's strongest performing economies. Over a 2-year
period, counting what we did last year, that bilateral debt forgiveness
will be almost $500 million.
Africa cannot overcome all its challenges overnight. But make no
mistake about it, there is a new Africa, growing proudly alongside its
ancient traditions. Ghana is not the largest country in Africa, but it
continues to lead toward tomorrow by the force of its example, by its
commitment to democracy, by its steady economic progress, by its
cooperation with its neighbors, by its willingness to take risks and
make contributions for peace. Ghana is lighting the way forward, and we
are proud to be here working to strengthen our partnership.
Mr. President.
President Rawlings. Thank you very much. Thanks for some parts of
the good news. I wish you had told me about it earlier on. [Laughter]
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the press, this morning, at
the ceremony on the White House lawn, I set out a rather modest agenda
for my visit to the U.S. I'm happy to note that the discussions that
we've had so far have been instructive from both sides. President
Clinton has shown to us his sincerity and determination to forge ahead
with a new era of cooperation with Africa.
We all agree that his trip to Africa last year represented the high
point of official U.S. attention to and recognition of our continent.
And I hope that Africa will continue to feature prominently on the
foreign policy agenda of the U.S.
It is rather unfortunate that the stereotype image of Africa as a
continent full of conflict, lack of democracy, et cetera, et cetera,
continues to dominate the international media. And yet, there are many
positive developments taking place on our continent. For example, in the
past 5 years, some 21 African countries have achieved positive GDP
growth rates, with 12 of them--including Ghana--reaching 45 percent a
year. Democracy has taken root in many African countries, with emphasis
on good governance.
And many of our countries have done the right things to create a
favorable climate for foreign investment. In fact, Africa has
demonstrated real promise as a destination for investment. Ladies and
gentlemen, listen. The statistics show that between 1990 and '94, the
average annual return on U.S. direct investment to Africa was 28--28--
percent. This, compared with 11 percent in Europe, 12 percent in Latin
America, and 14 percent in Asia--the Pacific areas.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude my very brief and introductory
remarks by saying that Africa is a continent in transition. It is a
continent facing challenges, and some of these have their roots in the
bipolar politics of the cold war. But Africa could very well be the
continent of the future. As you know, the Secretary-General of the U.N.,
Mr. Kofi Annan, put it succinctly the other day when he said that the
conflicts and problems of Africa were caused by human action and can,
therefore, be ended by human action.
We're here, ladies and gentlemen, as I said earlier on, to invite
the United States of America to be part and parcel of that human action,
to address the problem of hunger, poverty, debt, and conflict. Thank
you.
President Clinton. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, what we will do
is, we'll take alternating
[[Page 248]]
questions, one from the American press, one from the African press, and
we'll begin with Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International].
Independent Counsel Statute/Allegations of Misconduct
Q. Mr. President, would you like to see the independent counsel
statute expire in June? And what is your reaction to recent allegations
by an Arkansas woman, apparently of something she claims happened many
years ago?
President Clinton. Well, my counsel has
made a statement about the first issue, and I have nothing to add to it.
On the independent counsel law, I think that, as you know, we've
been--I think you know, I think it's been public that we've been asked
to testify, the White House Counsel has
been invited to testify next week. And I presume sometime between now
and then I'll have a chance to talk to them about what they intend to
say.
I think for right now what I would like to say, because I have been,
to put it mildly, closely involved with the operation of the statute,
that I think I would like to leave the maximum amount of time for others
to make their opinions known and to feel free, without any reference to
anything we might say, to do that. I would encourage people who have
views to make them known. And I was particularly struck by the change in
position of the American Bar Association and by the size of the vote in
favor of that different position. And I think it's just something that
Congress should look at.
Q. Excuse me, but you do have some ideas about----
President Clinton. I do; I do have some----
Q. ----the loss of confidentiality.
President Clinton. I do. I have some ideas about it. But I think it
would be better for me at this time to say less so that others can say
more. The Counsel will be testifying at some point next week. But now I
think the important thing is that everyone feel free to express their
opinion, and I don't think mine should, in effect, cast a shadow or
illuminate what others might wish to say between now and the time we
make our statement.
Peacekeeping Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Q. My question is for both Presidents. There is a conflict in the
Democratic Republic of Congo--[inaudible]--is trying to negotiate a
peaceful settlement. In the case that it reaches the point where it
needed the contribution of troops for a peacekeeping force in the Congo,
is, first, Ghana going to contribute troops to bring peace to the Congo?
And also, is the United States going to contribute money and logistics
for the peacekeeping in the Congo?
President Rawlings. If I may--do you mind, sir? You are no doubt
aware that we have more than enough problems on our hands on the West
Coast of Africa, and for the past--what--10 to 15 years or so, we've
been involved in the conflict issues in west Africa, mainly between
Nigeria, Guinea, and Ghana. We've managed to find the appropriate
solution to the problem in Liberia, and today we find ourselves also in
Sierra Leone.
I must admit, though, that much as we've enjoyed some form of
assistance from some of our Western allies, I don't think the assistance
that has been provided has been adequate, and it's something we've
always brought to their notice. But in our recent discussions with the
Cabinet, under his leadership, they've made it quite clear that they'll
do everything possible to assist us to be able to deal with some of the
problems in west Africa.
As far as the issues to do with the Congo is concerned, I believe
the U.S. is doing what you can by way of providing the necessary
assistance to South Africa and a few other countries to find a solution
to the problem in that part of Africa.
Should they be asking for troops from Ghana to serve in, what do you
call it--Congo-Brazzaville----
Q. The Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Rawlings. Thank you very much. I have to say that our
resources are stretched to the very limit. We have problems back at
home. And if the U.N. or the international organizations and countries
would want to assist us, we have a number of troops who would be
prepared to assist, to provide a peacemaking as well as the peace--what
do you call it--peacekeeping effort in that part of the country. Okay?
[[Page 249]]
President Clinton. My answer to you sir is, first of all, I think we
all have a stake in a resolution of the problems of the Congo. And if
there were an appropriate peace signed that we felt to be consistent
with the rules of the international community and the long-term
stability and welfare of the people of the Congo, as well as its
neighbors, I would certainly do my best to support any necessary force
to maintain the peace for a period of transition, including logistical
and other support.
I'm sure you know this, I mentioned it in my remarks, but for some
years now, we've been trying to help establish an Africa Crisis Response
Initiative, and help to support it financially, that would, in effect,
go beyond the efforts of ECOMOG in west Africa, to deal with the whole
continent. And when I was in Senegal last year, I actually went out to a
training operation of the Africa Crisis Response Initiative, and I met
with some of the soldiers, and I talked with our people about what we
were doing together.
So I would be pleased. I also went to Rwanda last year and met with
the leaders of the surrounding countries, the Great Lake countries,
including Mr. Kabila. At that time, we
were trying to--I was hoping we could avoid the bad year we've had in
the Congo.
So if there could be an internationally recognized agreement,
consistent with international law, that required a peacekeeping force,
and we were asked to provide some sort of support, logistical and
otherwise, I would be inclined to do so.
Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].
Kosovo Peace Negotiations/U.S. Foreign Policy Interests
Q. Mr. President, two questions. Last Friday you said it would be a
mistake to extend the negotiating deadline for Kosovo. What made you
change your mind in less than 24 hours? And how do you respond to former
Secretary of State Kissinger, who says that Kosovo should be protected
by European troops and not American troops? He wrote this week, ``Kosovo
is no more a threat to America than Haiti was to Europe, and we never
asked for NATO support there.''
President Clinton. Well, this is a good way to have a six-question,
instead of a three-question press conference. [Laughter] Let me try to
disaggregate those things.
First of all, what they did in the peace talks was to reach an
agreement that they had gone as far as they could, but they did not want
to give up and disintegrate into violence. So when we agreed to extend,
we were basically agreeing to what both parties wished to do. It seems
to me that if your objective is to get people to get together to make
peace and they say, ``We think this is what we need,'' I think that's
the right thing to do.
Now, the Kosovars have agreed in principle to the agreement. They
want to go home and have time to sell it between now and the middle of
March. The Serbs have agreed, except they don't agree to having a
multinational, NATO-led peacekeeping force because they say there's a
big difference between Kosovo and Bosnia. Bosnia was an independent
country in which the Serbs had interests; Kosovo, they say, is a part of
their country, so this erodes their sovereignty. The problem is that we
believe, and all others, including the Europeans, who have been involved
in this process, believe that unless there is some sort of multinational
force, we cannot keep the peace.
So they've agreed to work on this between now and March 15th, and
they're giving us some time to work on it to try to make it work, and
I'm committed to do that.
Now, second point: I would say there is a difference between the
interests of Europe in Haiti and the interest of the United States in
Kosovo. And I don't mean--this does not diminish the importance of
Haiti. We've worked very hard to save democracy in Haiti, and to support
that country. But our country, for 50 years, has recognized that what we
wanted in Europe was a Europe that was democratic, peaceful, and
undivided. At the end of the cold war, we finally had a chance to
achieve all three. But with the disappearance of repressive regimes and
the threat of the cold war conflict, a lot of old ethnic, religious
conflicts reasserted themselves.
Does the United States have an immediate, selfish interest in what
happens on some lonely road in Kosovo to some poor farm family driving a
wagon, with horses that are underfed because they haven't been able to
get food? No. We have--I would argue we have a humanitarian interest.
One of our major papers yesterday ran a gripping picture on the front
page of a whole line of refugees moving out.
[[Page 250]]
But the United States does have a direct interest in whether there
is instability in the Balkans. And I would say to Dr.
Kissinger, I think we're moving in the
right direction. We want Europe to assume more of its own defense. And
if you compare where we were in Bosnia--how long it took to get there,
what our role was, our contribution in the beginning of the Bosnia
operation--to where we are in Kosovo on this military proposal--how much
more quickly it materialized, and our contribution, only about 14
percent, I think, of the total--I think we're moving toward more of an
independent European force, but supported by the United States, because
we have a very large stake in anything that upsets the stability of
central Europe.
Support for the President's Africa Initiative
Q. It's obvious that Africa does not play a major role in terms of
the minds of the people of the United States, as we can gather now that
no questions have been asked about Africa.
President Clinton. You shouldn't take it--it often happens with
Asians and Latin Americans and--[laughter]--and it's really my fault
because I don't let them ask me enough questions on other occasions, so
I'm forcing them to use this opportunity to pepper me. I apologize.
[Laughter] So go ahead.
Q. It's obvious that you and your Government have very good
intentions towards Africa. But how are you going to ``conscientize''
Congress and the American people to be able to support your efforts in
Africa?
President Clinton. Well, first of all, that's a very good question.
We talked about that at great length in our meeting today. We spent as
much time on that as anything.
Let me say, I see this as a multiyear effort, long-term effort. It
started when we had the first-ever White House conference on Africa
here. And we're about to have this ministerial, as I said, next month,
with at least 40 African nations represented--very high levels. I was
the first President ever to take a really long trip to sub-Saharan
Africa and to go to six countries.
We're trying to increase both--not both, all three--aid, trade, and
investment and bilateral debt relief. We are working on demining
activities, which is very sensitive and important in many parts of
Africa. We're working especially hard on health-related issues and
particularly HIV and AIDS, where that's a big problem.
And meanwhile, we're trying to lift the profile of Africa in the
United States. There is actually quite a lot of interest among ordinary
citizens here. The Africa trip I took last year, particularly since it
got off to such a good start, when a half million people showed up in
Accra--[laughter]--and most of our people--Presidents are not used to
having half a million people. [Laughter] If I get 10,000 or 20,000 here,
it's a big show. [Laughter].
But the point is, it captured the imagination of the American
people. And we also had a good delegation from Congress there. And
tonight, at the state dinner, we will have a delegation from Congress, a
sizable delegation, which will include both African-Americans and non-
African-Americans. It will include both Democrats and Republicans.
This is not going to be--we were isolated from Africa for a long
time, except for cold war concerns, as you know. And we are trying to
have a broad, deep, full relationship now. And it is simply not going to
happen overnight; we're going to have to work at building it.
But I want you to be encouraged. I think we're moving in the right
direction. And I have been very heartened by the genuine interest I have
gotten from Members of Congress, from both parties and all kinds of
backgrounds. I have been trying to tell them that this is a phenomenal
opportunity, as well as obligation, for the United States; we've been
missing it, and we don't need to miss it anymore. And I think that we're
moving in that direction.
President Rawlings. It is true that when this issue came up I did a
lot of talking about, engaging about this issue, almost sounding like a
priest. [Laughter] And at the end of it, the response I got was that
there are other ones that you should be talking to this way. I mean,
those who you should be talking to this way were outside of this room,
outside of this Cabinet. And in other words, they are very much in
agreement with our perceptions about Africa's problems, what the
problems are and what the solutions ought to be. So in effect, it's hard
to take this message outside of that Cabinet, to the broader American
public, to Members of Congress, et cetera, on both sides of the aisle.
President Clinton. To be fair, what the President said here in his
opening statement in some ways is the most important thing you can say
to Americans who are not involved in Africa.
[[Page 251]]
This is not simply a continent with problems; it's a continent with
promise. Our investments in Africa, American investments in Africa, have
earned a rate of return more than twice the rate of return earned by
American investments the last 5 years in Europe, Asia, or Latin America.
That is quite a stunning statistic.
And you can say, ``Oh, well, it's because it's just the beginning of
investment;'' or, ``Oh, well, the best opportunities are there.'' You
can make all the excuses you want; 30 percent is 30 percent. [Laughter]
And that's real money, you know? Even by the standards of the last 5
years, that's a hefty rate of return.
I did tell--after the President was pounding on me to do better by
Africa, I did say, I said, ``Reverend Rawlings, you're preaching to the
saved.'' [Laughter] ``You should just pass the plate, you know.'' He was
preaching to the saved. [Laughter] But it's a very important point. I
don't blame him, or you, for asking this question.
But you have to understand, too--I know the cold war has been over
10 years now; I know that. But I also would call your--I would like to
say one other thing, briefly, I said to the delegation earlier. The end
of the cold war presented the United States with a new circumstance that
required us to take an approach different from the approach we had taken
for 200 years. For 200 years, our principal involvement with other
countries was commercial or cultural, unless attacked. Then in the 20th
century, we got into World War I because our ideals were offended and
because our allies were in trouble in Europe. We immediately withdrew
from the world, with disastrous consequences. One of the reasons that we
had the Great Depression and we had World War II is that the United
States in its idealism walked away from the world.
So then we had World War II, and then we had the cold war, a reason
for America to stay in the world. For the last 10 years, it is the first
time in the history of the United States that we have had a sustained,
comprehensive commitment, bipartisan, to have a larger role in the
world--in peacetime, without our existence being threatened--which means
we learned something from what happened between World War I and World
War II, and we understand that America is a country where people here
come from everywhere, and we know we have unique responsibilities
because of the blessings we enjoy at this moment in history. But it is a
new moment for us, and we are still learning how to do it.
That is not an excuse. I know when you see a child die of AIDS, or
you see a child step on a mine in Angola, or you see an economic
opportunity going unfulfilled, or you think that we could help you to
end a war more quickly, I know it's frustrating. But our friends in
Africa have to understand what we have been doing for the last 10 years
is unique in more than 200 years of history for us. And I think we'll
get it right and do the right thing, but it requires a certain departure
that I think most people who don't know the history of our country have
difficulty accepting.
Go ahead, Larry [Larry McQuillan, Reuters].
President Rawlings' Budget/Iraq
Q. President Rawlings, your domestic critics say that your budget
proposal for the coming year has been unrealistically optimistic, and
I'm just wondering if you might like to take this opportunity to respond
to that.
And President Clinton, on Iraq--[laughter].
President Clinton. I thought you were going to ask me the first
question. [Laughter] Go ahead.
Q. There's been another incident again today. And this certainly
seems to be an ongoing recurrence. And I'm just wondering if, perhaps,
you can clarify for us what the U.S. policy objective is on Iraq? And
have we given up all hope of any kind of arms inspections again?
President Rawlings. Please. I don't think there's anything
unrealistic about what the Minister of Finance--and it's not just the
Minister of Finance, but it's the whole Cabinet, under the chairmanship
of the Presidency, myself, as well as the Vice President, do a very
thorough examination of the pros and cons of what's coming in and what's
going out, et cetera, and on the basis of which, we do a very thorough
examination of what will come and what will not. And it's on the basis
of this that we come out with the budget statement for the country.
And please accept it when I say that we've gone through an
experience where, unlike governments of the past, we did not make the
mistake of--what do you call it--taking politically expedient moves just
to deal with some economic problem. Because ultimately it's going to
catch up with us, and this is what has happened
[[Page 252]]
in the past. And this is a lesson we learned more than 10, 15 years ago.
I mean, it's been very difficult for us in the past, every time
we've had to read the budget, but then we take the trouble to educate
our people about what it entails, what it means, what the difficulties
are going to be, et cetera.
But you've got to keep in mind that the minute our people under--
very often--I think I understand where you're coming from--very often,
whenever people do not understand or appreciate what is being churned
out in a broadcast, then of course, I mean, they wonder what you're
talking about. But if you can reduce it to the lowest denominator and
then they understand what it all entails, they are all for you. That's
half the problem; that's half the solution that's solved. And that's
what we do, not just with our civilian counterparts, the workers in the
factories, but soldiers, officers, et cetera, in the barracks, et
cetera. The minute they understand it, that's half the problem.
Now, if you're telling me this on account of what you are reading on
the Internet, it's unfortunate that we're not as quick, as efficient to
correct misimpressions--is that the word?--or distortions on the
Internet, as others do ahead of us. I wish we were just as efficient as
they are on the Internet--[laughter]--then you wouldn't be asking me
this question. [Laughter]
We have a Finance Minister--wait a minute--who started off as the
Energy--he made a success of it--no, before the Energy--Transport and
Communication; he made a success of it. From there we moved him to Lands
and Forestry; he made a success of it; from there to Energy--no, Energy
and to do with the gold mine--Mines and Energy; he made a fantastic
success of that one. And that's how he ended up as the Minister of
Finance. A man of integrity, earnestness, he sits with a cross-section
of the people, from the top right down to the bottom--workers, union
leaders, et cetera--and lays everything on the table.
And that is what we need in Africa. That's what we've been doing in
Ghana. That's how come we've survived this long, because we don't hide
anything from anybody. We lay everything on the table.
So if you're putting this question across to me, please, attribute
it to those who just cannot accept the earnestness, the sincerity of
this government. Is that okay? [Laughter] No, if I haven't finished,
please feel free, you can come back.
President Clinton. On Iraq, you asked two questions. Let me take the
second question first.
No, we have not given up on the prospect of restoring inspections.
But since Saddam Hussein terminated his
cooperation with UNSCOM and then the military action was taken by the
United States, Great Britain, with the support of our allies, they have
continued to defy the U.N., and that's where we are now. That brings us
back to your first question.
What's going on with these incidents is that under the United
Nations resolutions, which are still in place, the no-fly zone still
exists. The no-fly zone has to be patrolled. When it is patrolled by
American and British pilots, from time to time, as you pointed out,
there have now been several instances when Israeli air defense--excuse
me, Iraqi air defense weapons have been fired at our airplanes. And
they're trying, obviously, for the symbolic victory of shooting one of
these planes down, and perhaps trying to intimidate us from enforcing
the no-fly zone, which we're still bound to do under the United Nations
resolution.
Now, in response to that, we have certain rules of engagement which
permit us to take out the air defense. And we have done quite a lot of
it. I noticed there was one column in the press in the last week--I
think it was Mr. Seib's [Jerry Seib, Wall Street Journal] column--but
anyway, it was a column which pointed out that a significant amount of
damage, perhaps as much damage or more, has been done to the air defense
network since the end of the last military action than was done during
the military action, where we had a lot broader range of targets we were
going after.
And I regret this, you know. I regret this. I wish he would stop
doing that. I wish he would make an agreement
with the United Nations to let the inspections go back. We have shown
that we are not interested in hurting the Iraqi people. We have been for
broader rules for meeting the nonmilitary needs of the people of Iraq,
and we will continue to work at that.
But these little encounters--each of them so far has been relatively
small--are as a result of the fact that we are still, notwithstanding
the fact that the inspectors aren't there, bound to enforce a no-fly
zone which still exists under the U.N. resolutions.
[[Page 253]]
Debt Relief for African Nations
Q. This question is to President Clinton. In recent years, there's
been much talk about the need for debt cancellation, and the general
feeling among African countries is that this is one surest escape route
towards economic development. I would like to hear your comments on it.
President Clinton. I'm sorry. I'm hard of hearing. Could you
repeat--the debt cancellation issue?
Q. Yes.
President Clinton. Well, I believe that debt relief is appropriate,
in Africa and in certain other places, particularly in view of the
countries in--some of the countries in Asia that have been so hard hit
by the financial crisis. I think that debt relief, frankly, though, only
works if it is accompanied by a longer term commitment to a sound
economic policy.
If you look at the astonishing results that Ghana has produced over
a period of years--steady growth, good years and bad years; some years
are better than others--but you've enjoyed steady growth. You've had a
steady political environment that has also become steadily more
democratic, not steadily more repressive, moving in the right direction.
I think that it is unlikely that a lot of these countries can really
resume significant growth without debt relief. But I do not believe debt
relief alone will bring them their growth. That's my position. I'm for
more debt relief. The United States is sponsoring--as I said, we will
have, in Africa alone, almost $500 million in debt relief this year and
last year, if Congress approves my proposal. We also have contributed
another $50 million in this budget as our contribution to a larger
international debt relief effort.
And I think we can do more. But it is essential for some countries,
but it is not enough. So we need debt relief plus trade and investment,
plus aid, plus good economic policies within the country. You have to
have all of them, I think, to maximize African growth.
Let's take one more. John [John King, Cable News Network].
Cooperation With Congress
Q. Sir, both the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader
left their meeting with you yesterday and refused to answer directly
when we asked them outside if they could trust you after the events of
the past few months. Was that your sense in the meeting? And if that is
the case, how do you hope to accomplish anything in your final 22
months?
President Clinton. Well, the answer is, that was not my sense. I
thought it was a good meeting. Because of what they went through with their own
Members, that's a difficult question for you to ask them. And no matter
what answer they give, it causes them more problems than it solves. You
guys are great at asking me those questions, too.
But I mean, keep in mind, they're the leader of--they have
to lead their caucuses in the House and the Senate. So that sort of
question, at the time when some of the nerves are still raw, any answer
they give makes it more difficult for them, potentially, at least,
within their caucus or within the country, depending on what answer they
give.
So I think the answer ought to be, the answer they ought to give and the
answer they ought to have deeply imbedded in their minds and hearts is
that their feelings are not important here--just like my feelings are
not important. We have an oath to fulfill, a responsibility to fulfill.
We were hired to do the public's business, and they expect us to do it.
You know, it would be hard to imagine a year that was more strained
than last year, and we got a lot done. It was a good year,
legislatively. We continued--we passed our second balanced budget; we
passed the legislation to provide for 100,000 teachers, with almost a
third of them paid for in the downpayment, and lots of other things.
So I think we're now in a period--this is early in the legislative
calendar; they have a new leader in the House; they have a lot of work
to do; they have to get a budget resolution through. And then we have
probably, oh, I don't know, 8 or 10 bills that I can conceive of us
getting agreement on--I mean, really significant bills, a lot of them--
between the two parties.
And then we've got these big questions of what to do about Social
Security, Medicare; whether I'm right, they're right, something else is
right on the tax cut issue. There are big questions out here. And I
believe that we will all do our duty in the end; that's what I think.
And I just think we need to--if we focus on the American people and
doing our duty, and not on whether we're mad or happy, disappointed or
elated about the events of the last
[[Page 254]]
year, then all this in the course of time will work itself out. And the
American system will be validated.
We--if you take a position like the ones we've taken, it is simply
wrong for you to think about what your feelings are. Your responsibility
is to fulfill your oath and do what the public needs. And if we focus on
that, we'll be just fine.
Dual Citizenship
Q. President Rawlings, I think I'm on the wrong side of the room. I
apologize, but I have a question for you.
President Rawlings. I understand. Actually, I was actually briefed
that most of the questions would be directed at the President.
[Laughter] I was made to understand that, don't be surprised if most of
the questions are related to American domestic situations and not the
fact that I'm here from Africa. Thank you. Carry on, please. [Laughter]
Q. Well, I've heard that Ghana is offering some sort of dual
citizenship to African-Americans. Is that true? What does it mean, and
what's the reasoning behind it?
President Rawlings. It's very true. Sorry, do you mind if I--is it
something connected to the question?
President Clinton. Answer this one, and then if you want to call on
him, it's fine.
President Rawlings. Very soon, our Parliament will be passing the
bill to grant black Americans their dual citizenship, as far as Ghana is
concerned, and you'll have the right of dual abode.
Q. What does it mean?
President Rawlings. What does it mean?
Q. Yes.
President Rawlings. You wouldn't need a visa; you wouldn't need
whatever it is to enter my country. You will have the freedom to move
around as any fellow Ghanaian, and that will not deny you your American
citizenship, either.
Q. What's the reasoning behind it?
President Rawlings. What's the reason behind it?
Q. Yes.
President Rawlings. Do German-Americans, do Israeli-Americans--are
they denied the right of their citizenship back at home? No, no, please,
if I'm wrong, can you correct me?
Q. I don't know. [Laughter]
President Rawlings. Quite frankly, I mean, I could go on and on. But
the point is that, I mean, you're our kith and kin. If others can refer
to themselves as Jewish Americans or German-Americans or Irish-
Americans, whatever it is, Italian-Americans, and you're calling
yourself African----
Q. Americans.
President Rawlings. ----whatever it is. [Laughter] I mean, where do
you come from? After all, I mean, my continent is the mother of--what do
you call it?--not all continents but humanity and civilization as we've
come to know today. I mean, is there any reason why you should not have
the right to enjoy the citizenship of where you come from?
President Clinton. I'm just sorry I can't do it. [Laughter] I don't
qualify. [Laughter]
President Rawlings. No, no, wait a minute, sir. Hold on, Mr.
President. [Laughter] No, no. You're not going to explain this for me.
[Laughter]
Let's put it this way. I'm rather surprised that you're asking me
this question. I should be asking you, I mean, how on God's possible--
whatever it is--could you be asking me a question like this? [Laughter]
Because, I mean----
Q. Would it be dual loyalty?
President Rawlings. Well, I guess that's what we have a bit of--we
don't have any problem with that. I think--when I look into that issue,
I have a problem with you, because you're demanding loyalty to the
American Constitution, and yet I cannot demand the same kind of loyalty
to my country. And this is where I'm beginning to have a problem. But
nonetheless, there's no reason why I will deny my fellow black African
the right to enjoy the citizenship as I enjoy as an African.
President Clinton. Let me just try to--the general rule is that dual
citizenship laws are, by definition, controlled by the citizenship
conditions of both countries. And it's not unheard of for Americans to
have dual citizenship.
Interestingly enough, after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the
breakup of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, we've had American
citizens who had roots, for example, in the Baltic States. One went home
to his country and became the Ambassador. I don't know if he had to give
up his American citizenship, or not. It would be a function of the law.
But there are--and the laws operate differently in different countries.
But almost all countries allow some form of dual citizenship.
Now, second thing is, the President didn't mention this, but if
Ghana does this, it certainly
[[Page 255]]
won't hurt in trying to get more Americans interested in Ghana, going to
Ghana, and contributing to Ghana's future. I thought it was quite a
clever idea myself. [Laughter]
Thank you very much.
President Rawlings. No, no, no. Hold on, Mr. President. [Laughter]
On one condition--that if you fall foul of the laws and regulations of
my country, the--what do you call it?--the judiciary, the police, and
the laws of my country will take their course without the American
Government attempting to intervene, to say, this is a citizen of my
country.
President Clinton. I think that's what the rule is.
President Rawlings. Thank you, sir.
President Clinton. There's a whole lot of law on that. I think
that's the rule.
Thank you.
Q. I want to say to you something.
President Rawlings. Yes, sir.
Q. You know, we the people----
President Rawlings. Yes sir.
Q. ----of African descent that are Latino, are ready, willing, and
able to cooperate with Africa--[inaudible]--and our experience, the
President of the Dominican Republic, and I, as a Cuban-American, reside
here for--[inaudible]--are ready and willing to help you in the African
initiative. And I guarantee you with my friend of the Republican Party
is going to give me 100 percent support for the initiatives of the
President of Africa--[inaudible]. So you have the cooperation of the
Latinos, like the Jewish have for their people in Israel.
President Clinton. Thank you.
Note: The President's 169th news conference began at 2:35 p.m. in the
Presidential Hall (formerly Room 450) of the Old Executive Office
Building. In his remarks, he referred to David E. Kendall, the
President's personal attorney; President Laurent Desire Kabila of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo; former Secretary of State Henry A.
Kissinger; and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. President Rawlings
referred to Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Richard Kwame
Peprah of Ghana.