[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 14 (Monday, April 12, 1993)]
[Pages 553-554]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Hosni 
Mubarak of Egypt

 April 6, 1993

World Trade Center Bombing

    Q. President Mubarak, did you give the United States a specific 
warning about the World Trade Center bombing?
    President Mubarak. Let me tackle this problem in the press 
conference, if you don't mind.

Stimulus Package

    Q. Mr. President, do you think you'll get your stimulus package 
intact after the recess?
    President Clinton. Well, let me say this: We're going to give the 
Senate a chance to prove that the stated objections to some of the 
programs were their real objections. I mean, the American people, I'm 
sure, are disappointed to find that a program that would put a half-
million people to work and that has the support of a majority of the 
United States Senate cannot be brought to a vote in the Senate, because 
democracy and the majority rule is being undermined.
    The whole purpose of the Senate's debating rules is to allow all 
amendments to be offered. We've had amendment after amendment after 
amendment after amendment, and the Republican minority is just trying to 
keep it from being voted on. So we're going to give them a chance to see 
if they were serious about their specific concerns and if they really 
want to put the American people back to work or not. This is a big 
issue, and we'll just see what happens.
    Q. You are going to have to compromise, though, aren't you?
    Q. ----frustrated about the delay?
    President Clinton. Of course. I think that we ought to be--I can't 
imagine how they could be satisfied with the condition of this economy. 
I can't imagine how they could be satisfied with it. They were here, 
many of them, while we increased the national debt by 4 times, while we 
exploded the deficit, we drove down employment and drove up 
unemployment. And I've given them a plan to bring down the deficit and 
increase employment, put people back to work, and I

[[Page 554]]

think they ought to be for it. And we'll see if they will be.
    Q. How much are you willing to cut----
    President Clinton. As soon as the thing is over--when they come 
back, we'll see whether they really care about putting people to work or 
whether this is all just political posturing to prove that a minority 
can paralyze the Federal Government. It's just more gridlock, and I 
think the people will rebel against it.
    You can count how many people they're going to keep out of work. You 
will know job by job how many they'll be responsible for not putting to 
work. We'll see.
    Q. You sound pretty passionate on the subject.

Serbia

    President Clinton. What did you say about Milosevic?
    Q. How do you feel--by his message?
    President Clinton. Oh, that was like the Iraqi charm offensive. He's 
just trying to head off tougher sanctions if the Vance-Owen plan is not 
embraced.
    Q. Is it going to work?
    President Clinton. No, it won't. Of course not.
    Q. Do you think he's getting the wrong message, though, sir? I 
mean----
    President Clinton. It's pure politics. He's trying to head off 
tougher sanctions in the U.N. if the Serbs don't sign off on Vance-Owen. 
That's all that's going on there. And it won't work.
    Q. Don't you think he's sending a message saying it's actually--this 
is great, you're not going to hound us?
    President Clinton. Well, we are going to press for tougher 
sanctions. We'll see.
    Q. You don't want any compliments from him, huh?
    Q. ----are you rethinking the arms embargo?
    President Clinton. I'm always rethinking that. There's never been a 
day when I haven't rethought that. But I can't do that by myself.


[At this point, one group of reporters left the room, and another group 
entered.]

Meeting With President Mubarak

    Q. How about your first impression, Mr. President?
    President Clinton. Very good. I'm glad to see President Mubarak. He 
and I have talked on the phone and worked on some things together, but 
this is our first personal meeting. And we'll have a press conference in 
a few minutes--in a couple of hours, I guess. We'll answer your 
questions.

Note: The exchange began at 9:45 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, President Clinton referred to President Slobodan 
Milosevic of Serbia. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of this exchange.