[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
[July 30, 1999]
[Pages 1347-1348]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With Balkan Leaders and an Exchange With 
Reporters in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
July 30, 1999

    The President. Let me, first of all, say that I appreciate very much 
the leadership of President Jelavic, President 
Izetbegovic, President Radisic, and the other leaders here in putting together this 
stability conference. It's a real tribute to the progress made in 
Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last couple of years that they could host this 
conference. And I want to emphasize that with all the work we still have 
to do here, there has been a great deal of effort, thanks to the 
leaders, in increasing cooperation in political and economic ways. The 
economy is beginning to grow briskly again. And I am committed to doing 
what I can to see that the United States remains a good partner, with 
this nation and with the European Union, in continuing to work toward 
the future.
    Secondly, I want to compliment the European Union in taking the lead 
in our efforts here to do a Stability Pact for the Balkans, beginning in 
Kosovo. Secretary Albright was in 
Kosovo yesterday, and we think things are moving in the right direction 
there. And I want to reaffirm our commitment to do our part there.
    But I think the larger, important point to be made is, we want to 
promote the integration of all the democracies within the region and 
then the integration of the region with Europe. And anything I can do to 
assist that, I am prepared to do.
    So I think this is a very important day, and I would hope it is a 
very proud day for the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina because of their 
hosting this meeting and because of what it means for the future.

Multiple Shooting in Atlanta

    Q. Mr. President, I wonder if you would share some thoughts about 
what happened in Atlanta, if you've been brought up to speed, and what 
could have been done or should have been done, and if there are any 
lessons to be learned from this?
    The President. Well, I think it's too soon to draw conclusions about 
that. I watched the reports from home last night on CNN for an hour 
before I went to bed, and I've gotten, obviously, the final reports 
today. Our thoughts today primarily are with the families of the victims 
and with those that are still struggling for their lives in the 
hospitals.
    I am pleased with the work that the Federal authorities have done. 
The Vice President has been back home 
coordinating that, and I think we have done a good job of working with 
the State and local officials. But in terms of what could have, should 
have been done and what this means for other issues, I think we have

[[Page 1348]]

to wait until all the facts are in. I don't believe I have enough to 
make a judgment on that.

Balkan Peace Process

    Q. As far as the situation in the Balkans is concerned, there's been 
a lot of concern expressed about, here in Bosnia, that it's been done 
the wrong way, and that reconstruction in Kosovo, they should learn the 
lessons of what the mistakes were in Bosnia and try not to repeat those 
mistakes in Kosovo. What should have been done in Bosnia and what should 
be done in Kosovo now to make sure that those mistakes aren't repeated?
    The President.  If you ask these leaders, I'm sure they would say we 
should do more and do it faster. But I want to say, I believe that, if 
you remember where we were in Bosnia--keep in mind, here we had 250,000 
people killed. You know, they've done a remarkable, astonishing job of 
rebuilding Sarajevo. It doesn't even look like the same place I visited 
2 years ago. And I compliment you. But we had 250,000 people killed. We 
had 2.5 million refugees. The conflict went on for more than 4 years. 
And in the time since 1995, look at the level of cooperation here: You 
now have a common currency; we have other common institutions; we have 
opposition political parties; we have, last year, very brisk economic 
growth. We have a lot more to do. But I think the people who are overly 
critical should come here and look and see.
    In Kosovo, we were able to act more quickly because the facts were 
different. And so I hope we'll be able to turn it around more quickly. 
But I think the work being done by these leaders in Bosnia shows us what 
can be done if we work together and if the international community is 
properly supportive. And I think the leadership, the initiative of the 
EU in setting up this Stability Pact, is a good sign and should be 
encouraging to people.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe

    Q. Do you think General Wesley Clark was treated properly in the way 
he was told about his early retirement?
    The President.  I'm not sure what the facts are. I can tell you 
this: Any inference that it amounts to an early retirement or that 
somebody was disappointed in his performance is just simply wrong, just 
flat out wrong. We actually extended his 
term of service as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and asked him to 
serve another year.
    And it's a very complicated challenge, as you implied in your former 
question, for us to do the right thing, so we have to get an equally 
strong person to come in behind him. And we 
wanted General Ralston to go, and under 
the military rules, he has to take up another post within 60 days of the 
termination of his present post, or he would have to retire. So that in 
order to have the right continuity, it has to be about a 2-month 
adjustment there. And that's all this is about.
    I was, myself, a little distressed about the way it broke, and how 
it did, because of the inference that many people drew. But that is 
literally all there is to it. I think Wes Clark's done a terrific job. As you know, I've known him for 30 
years. I have great confidence in him, and his strength and 
determination were very important to the outcome of what happened not 
only in Kosovo but, earlier, his pivotal role in the peace process 
coming in Bosnia. So I don't think anyone should have any doubt about 
that.
    So I'm disturbed about the way it became public. I don't know that--
because I think it opens the way to an inference that is absolutely 
false on my part. I have the highest regard for him, but I want to make sure that when he's gone we have the 
highest quality successor, and that's why I wanted Joe Ralston in there.
    That's all there is to this. It's just a question of working out the 
transition within the rules of military retirements and reassignments. 
That's all there is. There is nothing else.

Note: The President spoke at 9:42 a.m. in Room A 103 at Zetra Stadium. 
In his remarks, he referred to Presidency Member (Croat) Ante Jelavic, 
Presidency Member (Muslim) Alija Izetbegovic, and Presidency Chairman 
(Serb) Zivko Radisic of Bosnia-Herzegovina; and Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, 
USAF, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of these remarks.