[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 12 (Monday, March 29, 1993)]
[Page 478]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With Foreign Minister Andrey 
Kozyrev of Russia

 March 24, 1993

Russia

    Q. Will you answer a couple of questions? Do you have any reaction 
to what Mr. Kozyrev suggested this morning as to the future economic 
relations between us and Russia?
    The President. Well, we haven't had a conversation about it yet. Let 
me just say that I'm delighted to have him here. I'm glad to have a 
firsthand account of what's going on in Russia. And I want to reaffirm 
my support for democracy and for reform and say I'm looking very much 
forward to the Vancouver summit with President Yeltsin.
    Q. Mr. President, apparently you seem to oppose aiding Russia. What 
will you do to try to sell your program for Russian aid?
    The President. Well, I would tell the American people what I've been 
saying for well over a year now, that it is very much in our interest to 
keep Russia a democracy, to keep moving toward market reforms, and to 
keep moving toward reducing the nuclear threat. It will save the 
American people billions of dollars, in money we don't have to spend 
maintaining a nuclear arsenal, if we can continue to denuclearize the 
world. It will make the American people billions of dollars in future 
trade opportunities. And it will make the world a safer place. So, I 
think this is a good investment for America. I've always believed that. 
And I hope I can persuade the American people and the United States 
Congress that it is.
    Q. Do you think there's still a chance for a compromise in Russia?
    The President. That's something the Russians will have to work out 
among themselves. I presume there is, but that's obviously something 
that has to be decided by the Russian people. The United States can't 
dictate that.
    Q. Mr. Kozyrev, can you tell us, did the meetings go poorly this 
morning, because it seems as though the line was harder when they came 
out from those meetings?
    Foreign Minister Kozyrev. [Inaudible]--well, I think the people will 
pass final judgment. As President just said, it is for Russians and 
Russian people to pass final judgment, and President calls for vote, 
popular vote. And I think this will be the decisive event. But on the--
President, as always, is open to compromise where there are those 
political forces who are not apt to just reverse the reform and advance 
the democracy.
    Q. Will you support the idea of Russia joining G-7 as soon as 
possible?
    The President. I wouldn't rule out or in anything particular. We're 
going to be dealing with a whole broad range of issues between the 
United States and Russia and with the G-7. And let's just see what 
happens.

Note: The exchange began at 1:10 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.