[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
[September 12, 1999]
[Pages 1526-1527]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan and an Exchange With Reporters in Auckland
September 12, 1999

    President Clinton. Let me say just very briefly, I am honored to 
have the opportunity to have this meeting with President Kim and Prime 
Minister Obuchi. We have much to discuss, but I would just mention two 
or three issues: our common interest in stability and reconciliation on 
the Korean Peninsula, our concern about events in East Timor, our 
commitment to try to find a common ground on economic issues here and at 
the WTO meeting to be held in Seattle in the next couple of months, and 
our commitment to continued, sustained economic growth in the nations of 
Asia.
    I'm very concerned and pleased with the apparent economic turnaround 
in the region, and I want to do whatever I can to continue to support 
both these leaders as they attempt to lead the way there.
    I also will reaffirm what I said yesterday in my meeting with 
President Jiang, which is the interests of the 
United States in the long-term stable, constructive relationship with 
China, something I know that is supported by both President Kim and 
Prime Minister Obuchi.
    So I am delighted to have them here.

East Timor

    Q. Mr. President, you mentioned earlier that you would support an 
international force in East Timor, but you didn't say anything about a 
commitment of U.S. troops. Could you give us your thinking on that, sir?
    President Clinton. Well, the discussions that I have had with Prime 
Minister Howard and others--but since Australia 
would lead this mission and provide most of the troops--have centered 
around our providing some of the things that only we can provide, 
probably, like extensive airlift support to bring troops from other 
countries, primarily of Asia, into the theater, other logistical 
support--intelligence, communications--some things which would require 
our presence in a limited way within the country, within East Timor.
    Our people are working that out. General Shelton and our commander, our commander in chief of the Pacific, 
Admiral Blair, are working with the 
Australians, and no final decisions have been made, nor could they be 
until I have extensive congressional consultations. I've talked to, oh, 
probably 8 or 10 congressional leaders on this, and the Secretary of 
Defense and Mr. Podesta, on my behalf back 
home, have talked to many more. But we haven't finalized anything yet.
    Keep in mind, the position of the international community at the 
moment is that such a force would have to be approved by the United 
Nations, which would only happen if Indonesia asked for it. So right now 
I think the important thing is to keep the pressure up here to try to 
get the Indonesians to fix the problem and, if not, to go on and ask for 
help, support from the United Nations.

[At this point, a question was asked in Korean, and President Kim 
replied also in Korean. A translation was not provided.]

    President Clinton. Would you like to say anything?

[At this point, Prime Minister Obuchi made brief remarks in Japanese, 
and no translation was provided.]

    President Clinton. Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 12:02 p.m. in the Stamford Ballroom at the 
Stamford Plaza Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to President Jiang 
Zemin of China; and Prime Minister John Howard

[[Page 1527]]

of Australia. A tape was not available for verification of the content 
of these remarks.