[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
[March 21, 2000]
[Pages 498-502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee of India in New Delhi
March 21, 2000
Prime Minister Vajpayee. I am delighted to welcome President Clinton
to India. His visit provides us a unique opportunity for historic
confirmation in our relations. We have just concluded a very productive
meeting. President Clinton and I have had an indepth exchange of views
on many subjects. Our two delegations have also held extensive
discussions. Our discussions have been warm, friendly, and candid,
reflecting our common desire to build a new relationship of mutual trust
and respect.
Our objective is to forge a durable, politically constructive and
economically productive partnership between the world's two largest
democracies. I think with President Clinton's visit and
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our meeting today, we have laid a firm foundation for the future.
President Clinton and I have just signed a vision statement. The
statement outlines the contours of and defines the agenda of our
partnership in the 21st century. We both agreed that our commitment to
the principles and practice of democracy constitutes the bedrock of our
relations and for our cooperative efforts internationally for peace,
prosperity, and democratic freedom.
We have also concluded agreements and understandings on the
establishment of very wide-ranging dialog architecture. Closer contacts
between our business and scientific communities will be encouraged. Both
countries will endeavor to enhance trade and investment, cooperate in
energy and environment, and to draw upon the vast array of talent,
especially in the area of information technology and frontier sciences,
for the betterment of the lives of their peoples.
We share a common concern at the growing threat of terrorist
violence and its links with religious extremism and illegal trade in
narcotics. Both of us expressed our firm opposition to the use of any
form of violence, whether as an instrument of terror against democratic
society or as a means of realizing territorial ambition. Nothing
justifies the use of such matters against innocent people. We expressed
our determination to intensify our cooperation in this area.
President Clinton and I had a frank discussion on the issues of
disarmament and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The
dialog which is in progress between our two countries on these issues
has enhanced the mutual understanding of our respective concerns. I've
explained to President Clinton the reasons that compel us to maintain a
minimum nuclear deterrent. I have reiterated our firm commitment not to
conduct further nuclear explosive tests, not to engage in a nuclear arms
race, and not to be the first to use nuclear weapons against any
country.
We have resolved to continue a dialog and to work together in
cooperation with other countries to help bring about a peaceful and
secure world completely free of the threat of all weapons of mass
destruction.
In our discussion of regional issues, I reiterated our policy of
developing friendly and cooperative relations with all our neighbors in
accordance with established principles of good neighborly relations,
respect for each of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and on
the basis of agreements solemnly entered into. India remains committed
to resolving its difference with its neighbors through peaceful
bilateral dialog and in an atmosphere free from the thought of force and
violence.
We agreed that problems between countries of the region should be
resolved peacefully by the concerned countries themselves. As a means of
implementing our agenda, a partnership in the 21st century, we have
agreed to regular summit meetings. President Clinton has invited me to
Washington; I am delighted to accept.
The President will have the opportunity over the next few days to
see the rich cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of our
country, to experience the warmth and friendship of our people, to
witness the delicate blend of tradition and modernity in our society,
and to feel the democratic pulse of our large nation. I wish the
President and the members of his delegation a very pleasant stay in
India.
In that end, I would like to make some remarks on the tragic events
in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. The brutal massacre of 36 Sikhs in Jammu
and Kashmir last night is further evidence of the ethnic cleansing that
has been underway for a decade and is part of a pattern that we have
experienced earlier, including during my visit to Lahore last year. The
nation and the entire civilized community is outraged at this
premeditated act of barbarism and joins us in condemning this act.
The attempt at cloaking ethnic terrorism in the guise of jihad
carries no conviction. We and the international community reject the
notion that jihad can be a part of any civilized country's foreign
policy. None should doubt the determination of the people of India to
safeguard the secular unity of our society.
Together we have defeated all of the challenges in the past, and we
shall do so again. We have the means and the will to eliminate this
menace.
Thank you.
President Clinton. Thank you, Prime Minister, for your remarks and
for the warm welcome that you, your delegation, and the people of India
have given to me and my family and the Americans who have come with me.
It has been 22 years since a United States President has visited
this country. Of course, that is not much time in the grand sweep of
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India's civilization, but it is close to half your history since
becoming independent. That is far too long, and this day is therefore
long overdue. I am glad to be here.
As the world's two largest democracies, we are united in believing
that every person's dignity should be respected and every person's
potential fulfilled. There is no better example of the power of freedom
and opportunity to liberate human potential than the success that
Americans of Indian heritage have enjoyed in our Nation.
I have come to India because I want us to build a dynamic and
lasting partnership, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. India
and America should be better friends and stronger partners. In a world
of increasing globalization, our futures plainly are intertwined. Today
we have agreed to hold regular meetings between our heads of government
and top officials. I thank the Prime Minister for accepting my
invitation to visit the United States later this year. We have just
signed, as you know, a joint vision statement that outlines the goals we
share and the challenges we face.
The world has become a better place as more nations have joined us
on the unfolding path of democracy. We want democracy to spread and
deepen, to protect human rights, including the rights of women and
minorities.
This June our two countries will convene the Community of
Democracies meeting in Warsaw. I thank the Prime Minister for the
leadership of India in this important endeavor. And I'm pleased that our
National Endowment for Democracy, the Confederation of Indian Industry,
and the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies here will organize the Asian
Center for Democratic Governance, based here in New Delhi, to share our
common experience with the hope of advancing freedom across Asia.
Both our nations now enjoy strong economic growth. Both are
pioneering the information revolution. Today we've reached agreement to
bring more jobs and opportunities to our people, to accelerate trade
between us, to help India's financial markets and assist its small
businesses, to institute a regular economic dialog between our
Governments.
We both face, still, the challenges of better educating our
children, lifting them from poverty, protecting them from disease and
environmental peril. Today, these are global challenges; what happens in
one nation affects others across their borders. We have agreed to face
these challenges together. And together we can succeed.
Finally, both our nations want a peaceful future. I recognize that
India has real security concerns. We certainly share your outrage and
heartbreak over last night's brutal attack in Kashmir. We offer our
profoundest sympathies to the people, especially to the families of the
victims. It reminds us of what tremendous suffering this conflict has
caused India. The violence must end. This should be a time for
restraint, for respect for the Line of Control, for renewed lines of
communication.
I also stressed that at a time when most nations, including the
United States and Russia, are making real progress in moving away from
nuclear weapons, the world needs India to lead in the same direction.
While I am here, I will have the opportunity to speak with Indians
about these issues and listen, as I have today, to the concerns of
India's leaders and its people. Then our discussions will continue after
I leave. I say again, we have neglected this relationship for more than
two decades. It is too important to ever fall into disrepair again. I am
committed to building a stronger partnership. And we are committed to
building a better world.
I look forward to spending the next 4 days here, meeting with your
people, learning more about a rich history and culture I have long
admired, and strengthening a friendship that, indeed, is critical to the
future of the entire planet.
Thank you very much.
Q. [Inaudible]
President Clinton. Thank you. I'll come get it when we finish the
questions, how's that?
India-U.S. Relations
Q. This question is addressed to the Prime Minister. How did your
one-to-one talks go, and what are your expectations of the future of
India-U.S. relations?
Prime Minister Vajpayee. I'm glad you asked that question. As you
can see, our talks have gone very well. We discussed substantive issues
relating to bilateral relations. We discussed the situation in South
Asia in a very frank and candid manner. I'm sure, as a result of this
visit and as a result of the discussion, a new chapter is being added
into our bilateral relations.
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Nuclear Nonproliferation
Q. Mr. President, did you make any progress, did you achieve any
progress today in persuading Prime Minister Vajpayee to take any of the
specific steps that you have urged to restrain India's nuclear program,
specifically, signing the CTBT, banning the production of fissile
materials, and tightening export controls? If you didn't make any
progress today and if you don't in the future, how close can this new
relationship that you both have spoken of become?
President Clinton. Well, first of all, on this whole
nonproliferation issue, we have had a dialog that has gone on for some
time now under the leadership of Mr. Singh and
Mr. Talbott. And I would like to thank the
Indian Government for that work.
Secondly, I felt today that there was a possibility that we could
reach more common ground on the issues of testing, on the production of
fissile material, on export controls, and on restraint, generally.
With regard to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, you heard the
Prime Minister's statement about his position on testing. I would hope
that the democratic process will produce a signing and, ultimately, a
ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban in India, just like I hope
the democratic process will ultimately produce a ratification of the
Test Ban Treaty in America that I signed. These are contentious issues.
But I'm actually quite optimistic about our ability to make progress on
them.
And again, I thank the Prime Minister for sanctioning what I think
has been a very honest and thoroughgoing dialog. We've been working on
this for some time, and we will continue to do it. And I believe we will
wind up in a common position.
Situation in Kashmir
Q. This question is addressed to both President Clinton and Prime
Minister Vajpayee. Thirty-five people were massacred in the valley
yesterday, and both of you have expressed outrage at the incident. In
the context of ongoing India-U.S. cooperation on counterterrorism, what
are your reactions to this, and did this come up during your discussions
on terrorism?
President Clinton. Would you like to go first, Prime Minister?
Let me ask you this, could you just repeat just the question you
asked? Did this come up in our discussions--yes, it did. Ask me the
previous question you asked. I want to make sure I understood it.
Q. In the context of ongoing India-U.S. cooperation on
counterterrorism, did you discuss this issue in terms of--did you
discuss this in the context of international terrorism? And did this
question come up just in terms of the violence?
President Clinton. Well, first of all, we discussed it at some
length, and I expressed privately to the Prime Minister my outrage about
it--apparently the first targeting of the Sikhs in Kashmir. I don't
think--the answer to your question is, I don't suppose it came up in the
context of overall terrorism in the sense that it just happened last
night. We have to know who did it before there could be a conclusion
about that.
But I think that the targeting of innocent civilians is the worst
thing about modern conflicts today. And the extent to which more and
more people seem to believe it is legitimate to target innocent
civilians to reach their larger political goals, I think that's
something that has to be resisted at every turn. There should be less
violence in Kashmir, not more. And when people take on others, they
ought to be those that have the responsibility for defending--if
somebody wants to fight, at least they ought to leave the civilians
alone.
I think this is a horrible development in Kashmir, but unfortunately
it's becoming all too common around the world. And one of the things
that I hope we'll be able to do together is to reduce the incidence of
violence against innocent civilians, not only here but in other parts of
the world as well.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, if you'd like?
Prime Minister Vajpayee. I have nothing more to add.
Q. Thank you. Mr. President, you said in February that South Asia
was perhaps the most dangerous place in the world today. Given the
massacre yesterday and the increasing nuclear tensions, do you think
that the risk of another war is increasing?
And to the Prime Minister, sir, who do you hold responsible for the
massacre yesterday, and what do you mean when you say, ``We have the
will and the means to eliminate this menace''?
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President Clinton. Your turn. [Laughter]
Prime Minister Vajpayee. I'll take my turn. [Laughter] I'm sure
after visiting this part of the world, the President will come to the
conclusion that the situation is not so bad as it is made out to be.
There are differences; there have been clashes; there is the problem of
cross-country terrorism; innocent people are being killed. But there is
no threat of any war. India is committed to peaceful means. We are
prepared to solve all problems, discuss all problems on the table. We do
not think in terms of war, and nobody should think in those terms in
this subcontinent.
So far as the massacre is concerned, it's a brutal act, an outrage.
This is not for the first time; it has been going on. And whenever there
are chances of both countries coming together--and at the people-to-
people level our relations are very good, as I realized when I visited
Lahore--but there is a deliberate design to foment trouble, to encourage
killing, mass murders, to sabotage any attempt to bring about normalcy
in this part of the world. This policy is not going to pay. And I hope
this question will be discussed by the President in Islamabad.
Q. Mr. President.
President Clinton. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press], to go
back to the questions you asked me. First of all, I was encouraged by
what the Prime Minister said to me in private, which was just what he
said to you in public, that he did not want any of the difficulties that
we have been discussing today to become the occasion for war.
I have basically four beliefs about this whole thing, and I can
state them very concisely. First, I think that that sort of restraint is
something that everyone on the subcontinent should practice. Second, I
think there must be a respect for the Line of Control. Third, I think
some way must be found to renew the dialog.
The Prime Minister did, I thought, a brave thing in participating in
the Lahore process. He took some risks to do it. He'd always said that
just the facts of geography and shared history called upon him to do
that. But you cannot expect a dialog to go forward unless there is an
absence of violence and a respect for the Line of Control.
And the last thing that I would say is, I doubt very seriously that
there is a military solution to the difficulties that the Kashmiris
face. And that makes the death of these Sikhs all the more tragic and
the importance of trying to restart the dialog all the more important,
not just over this but other issues as well.
And the Prime Minister said he hoped I would say that in Islamabad,
and I will. I don't believe--one of the nice things about having you
folks with us all the time is that we can't get away with saying one
thing in one place and a different thing in another. We almost have to
say the same thing everywhere, or you'll find us out. So I can tell you
that this is my same message: Respect the Line of Control; show
restraint; stand against violence; restore the dialog.
Thank you.
Note: The President's 188th news conference began at 1:03 p.m. in the
garden at the Hyderabad House. In his remarks, the President referred to
Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh of India and U.S. Deputy Secretary of
State Strobe Talbott.