[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 8 (Monday, March 1, 1993)]
[Page 306]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With United Nations 
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali

 February 23, 1993

Aid to Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Q. Mr. President, is an airdrop enough to relieve the suffering? 
Will that do the job of getting food to people?
    The President. Well, if we can reach an agreement, it will help, I 
think.
    Q. How close are you to an agreement, Mr. President?
    The President. I don't know. We can't talk until you leave. 
[Laughter]
    Q. Do you think that there is some risk, though, of this being the 
first step to an engagement that we won't be able to get out of?
    The President. Not necessarily, no. Not at all.
    Q. Why not?
    The President. Because what we're discussing is very different. It 
has no combat connotations whatever, and it's purely humanitarian and 
quite limited.
    Q. Isn't there a risk of people being shot at by antiaircraft 
artillery?
    The President. Well, if we do it, we'll have an announcement that 
deals with that. We think the risks are quite small.

Note: The exchange began at 4:10 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House.