[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 14 (Monday, April 12, 1993)]
[Pages 554-561]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt

 April 6, 1993

    President Clinton. Good morning. Today I have the great pleasure of 
welcoming President Mubarak to Washington and to the White House. We 
have had an excellent meeting, and I look forward to more in the coming 
years, as well as to a successful conclusion of our first meeting here 
at lunch after this press conference.
    For nearly 2 decades, Egypt and the United States have worked 
together in a special relationship to bring peace and stability to the 
Middle East. American and Egyptian soldiers have served side by side in 
defeating aggression in the Gulf and in bringing humanitarian relief in 
Somalia. American and Egyptian diplomats have worked side by side to 
pioneer peace with Israel and lately to bring others to the negotiating 
table. And after our discussions today, I am convinced that we share a 
common vision of a more peaceful Middle East, and we are determined to 
see that vision realized.
    Egypt has long experience in peacemaking and knows that only 
negotiations can resolve longstanding grievances. The Egyptian-Israeli 
treaty stands as a cornerstone of our common efforts to attain a just 
and lasting and comprehensive settlement based upon U.N. Security 
Council Resolutions 242 and

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338. Our challenge is now to broaden the circle of peace, recognizing 
the principles that underlie the peace process: territory for peace, 
realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, security 
for all parties, and full and real peace.
    As I have made clear, the United States is prepared to assume the 
role of full partner when the parties themselves return to the 
negotiating table for serious discussions. We both feel deeply that 
there is an historic opportunity to achieve real progress in the Arab-
Israeli peace process in 1993. This opportunity must not be missed. And 
all parties must live up to their responsibilities for making peace.
    We discussed the need to ensure stability in the Gulf. We're 
determined that the hard-won achievements of Desert Storm will be 
protected and that Iraq will comply fully with all relevant U.N. 
Security Council resolutions. We're also determined to counter Iran's 
involvement in terrorism and its active opposition to the Middle East 
peace process.
    Both our nations have suffered from the tragic consequences of 
terrorism. Both are absolutely determined to oppose the cowardly cruelty 
of terrorists wherever we can. We reviewed the common danger presented 
by religious extremism which promotes an intolerant agenda through 
violent means. We discussed ways of strengthening our cooperation in 
countering this and other forms of terrorism. We know that all 
Americans, including Americans of all races and all faiths, join us in 
strongly condemning such terrorism.
    Mr. President, I know that you have undertaken the difficult task of 
reforming and restructuring your nation's economy to provide for the 
needs of tomorrow. We have a similar challenge here in the United 
States. We appreciate the gains that have been made in Egypt, as well as 
the bridges that remain to be crossed. We are impressed by your courage 
and your efforts.
    We will continue to work together to stimulate trade, investment, 
and cooperation. Our economic assistance will continue to support 
Egypt's economic reform program, including privatization and Egypt's 
cooperation with international financial institutions.
    We are fast approaching a new century. This is perhaps less of a 
milestone for Egypt, which has, after all, 7,000 years of recorded 
history, than it is for our relatively young country. I told the 
President on the way up that every President of the United States since 
1800 had lived in the White House, and he looked at me as if it were a 
drop in the bucket of time. [Laughter]
    But even taking the longest view, this is a critical period for the 
Middle East, the crucible of much of our common spiritual heritage. For 
the Middle East, the year 1993 can determine whether the new century is 
consumed by old enmities or used to unlock the human and material 
potential of the people. Our historic mission is to make this a year of 
peace. And I am delighted to have President Mubarak as a partner in 
pursuing this mission.
    The microphone is yours.
    President Mubarak. Thank you, Mr. President.
    I was very pleased to meet with President Clinton today. Our meeting 
was very positive and productive. In a spirit of friendship and mutual 
confidence, we explored the problems and opportunities our two nations 
are facing. I emphasized to the President that it is of utmost 
importance to our region to reach a just and comprehensive settlement 
between Israel and all her Arab neighbors, including the Palestinian 
people.
    Such a settlement should be raised on Security Council Resolution 
242 and 338 and the principle of land for peace and realizing the 
national rights of the Palestinians. We believe that Egypt and the 
United States have a crucial role to play in order to allow the peace 
negotiations to reach a successful conclusion. Together we can make the 
ends meet and bridge the existing gaps.
    Equally important is the task of removing the remaining obstacles, 
especially that of the deportees. I was pleased to hear from President 
Clinton that significant progress has been made on this issue and that 
he recognizes the importance of the Middle East peace talks. He is 
committed to the influence of the United States to achieve meaningful 
progress in these talks when they are resumed on April the 20th. We are 
confident

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that the negotiations will proceed smoothly and successfully.
    Beyond the peace process, we discussed a wide range of regional 
issues of common concern to our two countries. We stressed our concern 
for the stability of the Gulf region and the need for full compliance 
with the relevant Security Council resolutions. No country of that 
region should doubt our firm commitment to help preserve the security, 
stability, and territorial integrity of all friendly states. Similarly, 
we are doing all what we can to stop the spread of weapons of mass 
destruction in the Middle East. As you are certainly aware, Egypt has 
submitted a plan for making the area free of all weapons of mass 
destruction. We shall pursue this goal with vigor and determination.
    On the global front, I offered to work closely with the President 
for the purpose of making the world more humane and equitable, a world 
where opportunity and hope exists for all and where people learn to 
accept divergences and employ diversity for the benefit of mankind.
    I am making this appeal because I am alarmed by the refusal of some 
elements in the different societies to accept the diversity and the 
coexistence. This has resulted in unprecedented atrocities and suffering 
in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The world cannot tolerate the savage 
practices which are committed under the ugly slogan of ethnic cleansing 
and purification. It is against all human values to see such claims 
emerge at the threshold of the 21st century.
    Unfortunately, violence is increasingly being used by certain 
misguided elements in many parts of the world, including the Middle 
East. Acute social and economic problems are being exploited in order to 
breed violence and anarchy. At the same time, foreign countries are 
interfering in the domestic affairs of other nations under false 
pretext. All civilized nations are called upon to fight the spirit of 
violence and terrorism everywhere, for this is a threat to the existence 
and future of humanity. No country is immune or distant from that 
danger.
    In Egypt, we are coping with the phenomena through a comprehensive 
program which deals with the roots and the causes of the problem. We 
have embarked on an ambitious economic reform program. Parallel with 
this, we are enforcing our democratic system, solidifying the protection 
of the human rights. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for 
every Egyptian with equal determination. We are confronting foreign 
plots and attempted intervention.
    Having said this, I would like to assure you all that Egypt is not 
in danger. The image which has been projected by the media lately is 
rather exaggerated. As well as all know, violence makes instant news, 
but the real story is our confidence, our unity, and our growing success 
in facing this problem. The Egyptian people will not accept any 
challenge to their tradition of friendship with other nations and 
hospitality to our visitors. We will remain true to our culture of 
resolving problems peacefully and defeating the forces of violence and 
aggression. Let the whole world know that Egypt is as strong as ever and 
that its leadership is firm and confident.
    Mr. President, as I told you, Egypt is a country which values its 
excellent relations with the United States. Let me take this opportunity 
to express our deep appreciation for the support and assistance we are 
receiving from the United States. This aid is crucial to the success of 
our reform program.
    We would like to assure a friendly welcome to all Americans who 
visit us. We encourage the American business community to invest in our 
economy. The climate for investment has become very favorable following 
the steps we took in the past few years on the road to economic reform. 
Our budget deficit has been reduced from 18 percent of the GDP in 1990 
to 3.5 percent this year. The foreign exchange market has been 
deregulated, and our foreign currency reserves have reached record 
levels. Trade is being liberalized, and the balance in payment is 
showing steady improvement. After registering a deficit of $2.6 billion 
in 1990, it now shows a surplus of about $3 billion.
    President Clinton, our discussion today affirmed a broad identity of 
interest over a wide range of issues. We have developed a full agenda of 
cooperation for the future. I want to thank you for your understanding 
and your enthusiastic response. I fully appreciate your warm welcome and 
extend to the

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American people my best wishes for success and fulfillment. I look 
forward to working closely with you during the months ahead for our 
common goals. And I extend to you an invitation to visit Egypt at your 
earliest convenience.
    Thank you.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. ----human rights and violence in the Middle East and elsewhere, 
what is the cause of your optimism? And this question's for both of you: 
What can you both do to promote peace this year in the----
    President Clinton. The cause of my optimism, in terms of peace in 
the Middle East, is the extraordinary efforts that Prime Minister Rabin 
is making and my belief that the peace talks will reconvene in April, as 
well as some encouraging comments that have been made by Mr. Assad, the 
leader of Syria, recently in Egypt and publicly. He said he wanted a 
full peace, peace in all of its aspects, I think on Egyptian television. 
I think there is reason to believe that we can make real headway.
    President Mubarak might want to answer the question.
    President Mubarak. Really, I could tell you very frankly, I have met 
so many leaders in the area, not only the President of Syria, the 
Palestinians and the other Arab leaders. All of them want to reach peace 
as quickly as possible. The Syrian leader, he said it publicly and 
clearly, ``I'm very keen on peace.'' Peace will help every leader to 
raise the standard of the living of the people in the area. The 
Palestinians also are fed up from the present situation, being denied 
from everything. So I think this is very important, and I have great 
hopes that the negotiations will start on the 20th of April. And I may 
say much more, I hope and we are going to work closely on that to get an 
end to the problem by the end of this year, if it is possible.

Terrorism

    Q. ----what's now happening in Egypt is Muslim and Muslim which is 
not Islam. What is your policy in confronting this exported terrorism to 
Egypt and get Egypt back where it was and where it is: love, peace, 
happiness, pleasure with Egypt?
    President Mubarak. Look, the majority of the Egyptian people are 
supporting me and any measures I am taking to put an end to this kind of 
terrorism. Copts, Muslims, any kind of religion in Egypt, they are all 
Egyptians. We expect that this small minority was trying to make use of 
the economic problems. You know we are going through economic reform in 
our country; the reform has its side-effects. It makes a burden on some 
groups of the people. Some foreign forces, like the Iranians, let me 
mention the name, making use of this to try to destabilize the country. 
But be sure we are very firm with that by law, and we are not going to 
violate the law. And the Copts and the Muslims are very good friends, 
and the best friends I had all my life were all Copts.

Stimulus Package

    Q. Mr. President, on another subject, the Republicans have been 
delaying action on your $1 billion jobs stimulus bill, and now the 
Senate has gone out. Are there areas where you would be willing to 
compromise, cut spending in order to win Republican votes?
    President Clinton. Well, I'm going to work on a proposal that I 
think will address some of the legitimate expressed objections. And we 
will see when Congress comes back whether the Republicans are committed 
to putting the American people back to work or just playing politics.
    You know, we have a system in this country where people, all of whom 
have jobs--a minority of the Senators, who all have jobs--can literally 
thwart majority rule; where a rule designed to guarantee that all 
possible amendments can be offered can be used to stop all decisions. 
Now, the American people now are learning that again, that--and if they 
want to stop the Government, they can do it.
    But I don't think that it's going to be very defensible when they 
come back to say, ``The economy is fine in America. There are enough 
jobs. We don't have to do this.'' And I'll give them a chance to show 
their real motives, and I trust that they'll do the right thing.
    Andrea [Andrea Mitchell, NBC News]?

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Palestinians

    Q. Mr. President, President Mubarak has been quoted as saying he 
wants you to press Mr. Rabin on the issues of the deportees. When Mr. 
Rabin was here, you said that you didn't raise that issue with him. Are 
you now prepared to----
    President Clinton. We had discussed that in great detail before he 
came here; that's what I said.
    Q. Are you now prepared to take more steps to press Mr. Rabin? And 
Mr. Mubarak, I'd like to know whether you feel that the President is 
doing enough to resolve that issue.
    President Clinton. I believe that Israel has been quite forthcoming 
in trying to give the reassurance that the Palestinians need to come to 
the talks. President Mubarak is going to have further discussions, I 
think, with all the parties and certainly with Israel about it. We will 
see what will be done. But President Rabin has taken a very forthright 
and open stand in trying to reach out to the Palestinians and to the 
other parties, and I believe that it's enough to get people back to the 
table. I hope it is.
    President Mubarak. Really I didn't use the word ``press'' on Mr. 
Rabin. We have good contacts with Mr. Rabin. I'm used to exchange views 
with him, and where it was convenient to help the peace process to start 
and the negotiations to continue, I am doing it. I sent him a message 
when I was in London before I come here and am intending to meet with 
him. And I have discussed all these points with the President, and I am 
going to continue that with Mr. Rabin whenever I go back.
    Q. Is there anything more that the United States should be doing 
regarding Israel?
    President Mubarak. I think that the United States is a full partner 
and she's doing its maximum in that sense. She has good dialog with 
Prime Minister Rabin, and he was here. And I'm going to continue with 
Mr. Rabin so as to persuade the Palestinians to start negotiations on 
the fixed date.
    President Clinton. There is someone from the Egyptian press----
    Q. I would like to address to President Clinton, please, the human 
rights President: How far are you ready to go to help the human rights 
of the Palestinians in the occupied territories? Would you like to 
comment on the ideas expressed by President Mubarak to remove the 
obstacles so that they can come to the table?
    President Clinton. Well, the human rights issues obviously will be 
discussed as a part of the peace process. They are very important to me, 
and I think they will be at the forefront of the process. And President 
Mubarak and I have discussed that, and I think that there won't be peace 
in the Middle East unless those issues are addressed.
    Tom [Tom Friedman, New York Times]?

PLO

    Q. When the United States broke off the dialog with the PLO 2 years 
ago, it did so leaving three conditions behind that if the PLO met, the 
dialog would be resumed: that they forswear terrorism, expel those 
involved, and condemn the act involved. Does your administration stand 
by those conditions? That is, if the PLO now fulfills those conditions, 
would you be willing to resume the U.S.-PLO dialog? And to President 
Mubarak: Do you think the resumption of the U.S.-PLO dialog would be 
helpful to the peace process at this time?
    President Clinton. Let me say this: There has been no change in the 
policy of the United States, but the focus of my efforts has been toward 
getting the peace process started again. I still believe that that is 
the best way to proceed.
    President Mubarak. The PLO we consider in the Arab world is the 
representative of the Palestinians. We have very good contacts with 
them, and we convey whatever we needed to President Clinton and even to 
the Israelis. I think at this present time we are going to concentrate 
on the negotiations to start. And you know, the PLO is everywhere. So 
many people of the delegation are from the PLO. So I don't think that 
there is any problem at the time being for that.

Serbia

    Q. ----the situation in Bosnia. I know that earlier today you 
dismissed the comments of President Milosevic about your policy there as 
a charm offensive. But I wonder, sir, if you don't think, nonetheless, 
that he wouldn't have said such things if he was find- 

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ing the actions you've taken so far very bothersome and perhaps whether 
you think now that they would ever be sufficient to deter?
    President Clinton. I don't know. I've done everything that I know to 
do, consistent with the possibilities we have for further action in the 
United Nations with our European allies and the members of the Security 
Council. As you know, I think the sanctions should be strengthened if 
the Bosnians don't sign the Vance-Owen agreement. We obviously have made 
life more difficult for the people in Serbia, and I think there are 
other things that we can do. I wouldn't rule out or in anything. But 
it's plain that what Milosevic was trying to do was to essentially head 
off further efforts to toughen the sanctions or to take further actions. 
That will not be successful.
    Q. ----that he may not feel that, not ruling out anything, that he 
may indeed feel that the use, for example, of American military force 
has in effect been ruled out?
    President Clinton. It's never been ruled in. The United States is 
not capable of solving that problem alone. I don't think anyone expects 
us to do that. We have been, in many cases, more aggressive in what we 
were willing to do than the European neighbors of the former Yugoslavia. 
I still believe there is some chance that we can make this peace process 
work, and I still think there are lots of other things we can do to make 
life more uncomfortable for the Serbs. And I wouldn't rule those out.

Libya

    Q. This is a question President Clinton, please. Owing to the new--
--
    President Clinton. Oh, I recognized you hoping you would ask 
President Mubarak a question. [Laughter]
    Q. Egyptians want to ask you----
    President Clinton. Please, go ahead.
    Q. Owing to the new liberal view that you represent now in being the 
President of the United States, to what limits have you arrived to an 
agreement with Mr. Mubarak about the ties of Libya with the West?
    President Clinton. The question was about our policies with regard 
to Libya.
    Well, as you know, we have one huge barrier that overrides 
everything else right now, and that is the determination of the United 
States to see that the people who have been charged with the Pan Am 103 
disaster are released from Libya and subject to a legitimate trial. And 
that has to be resolved in a way that is legal and appropriate before 
any other issues with regard to Libya can be raised.
    The President and I discussed this today. I think that it is 
inevitable that we will press for tougher sanctions if the Government of 
Libya does not release the people that have been charged. There's a lot 
of evidence against them. They should go on trial. They should be 
punished if they're found guilty. It should be a real and legitimate 
trial. It is an enormous issue in the United States, and nothing else 
really can be resolved with regard to Libya until that issue is 
resolved.

World Trade Center Bombing

    Q. Could the United States have made better use of the information 
which was given to us by Egypt before the bombing of the World Trade 
Center? President Mubarak, why do you believe, as you said in an 
interview, that the bombing might have been prevented if the U.S. had 
used the information differently?
    President Clinton. The short answer to your question is I don't know 
yet. I have ordered a complete review of what the United States was told 
last year and when we were told it. I think President Mubarak would 
support my contention that we have tried to step up our cooperation with 
the Egyptians in combating international terrorism since I've been 
President. In February we sent American officials to Egypt, and they 
stayed there about a week working on cooperative exchanges and 
information. And we talked today about what we could do to do more. 
Whether there was something given to us that we could have acted on that 
might have changed the shape of future events, I cannot answer that yet. 
But since the statements that President Mubarak has made, I have ordered 
a review of what we knew, when we knew it, what was done. And I don't 
know yet what the answer to that is.
    I think the important thing is we do know that there was nothing 
specific related to the World Trade Center bombing that was given

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to the United States. We know we have stepped up cooperation, and we 
know we intend to do more in the future. And the United States has to 
review a lot of its policies in view of what happened at the World Trade 
Center to try to make sure we are doing everything we can to minimize 
the impact of terrorism in this country.
    President Mubarak. I would like, if the President would permit me, 
we had no definite information about what happened in the World Trade 
Center. We were making good cooperation with the United States in the 
direction of fighting terrorism. But nobody knows, or knew beforehand 
that something was going to happen to the World Trade Center.
    We are exchanging information about any kind of terrorism which 
takes place here or there. But different information, of course, we 
haven't. Otherwise, we would have told very clearly to the Americans, 
there is something going to happen in this or that place.

Iran

    Q. Mr. President, it was mentioned the question of the threat of 
regional security in the Gulf. Can you be more specific what these 
threats are at present, and are you putting the threats from Iran and 
Iraq on an equal footing?
    President Mubarak. It's for me?
    President Clinton. Both.
    President Mubarak. Look, Iraq now is in a position not to have the 
ability to threaten any of the--accept some--things that Kuwait is ours, 
but there are so many measures being taken. But Iran, Iran now, because 
it's the only country on the--you know the Iranians and Kuwaitis were 
competing each other. Nowadays, the Iranians are stronger. They are 
trying to find a way to destabilize the security in some countries, 
mainly Egypt. And we are working hard for that. And this was the main 
cause of making some explosions, some instance in our country. I think 
Iran now is trying to create problems. And we are very firm with them. 
We are capable to do so many things, but we are not a country to 
interfere in any internal affair of any other.
    Q. You mentioned that you and President Mubarak were agreed on the 
need to counter Iran's support for terrorism and its opposition to the 
Middle East peace process. What specific steps are you considering and 
have you discussed with President Mubarak?
    President Clinton. I don't think it would be appropriate for us to 
discuss that at this time.

Serbia

    Q. I couldn't help but notice in your answer to Brit's [Brit Hume, 
ABC News] question that you sounded frustrated about the situation in 
Bosnia and that if there is no change in the position of European 
governments, that if they can withstand sanctions, the Serbians will 
essentially be able to get what they want.
    President Clinton. That is what I am concerned about. You got it. 
That's about as good a statement as I could have made myself. [Laughter]
    Q. Are you putting, then, the onus on the European governments to 
take this a further step, or is there some other step the U.S. can----
    President Clinton. No. No, my point is, though, that the United 
States--if you believe that we should engage these problems in a 
multilateral way, if you believe, for example, in what happened in a 
good way in Operation Desert Storm, then the reverse has to be true, 
too. The United States has got to work through the United Nations, and 
all of our views may not always prevail. Look how long it took us to 
just secure the approval of enforcement of the no-fly zone.
    Also it is, frankly, a very difficult situation. The Europeans 
remember how many German troops were once in what became Yugoslavia and 
then came apart. It is a difficult situation. It is the most difficult, 
the most frustrating problem in the world today.
    The only point I was trying to make is I have proceeded all along on 
the assumption that whatever we did and whatever we could do, we would 
and should act through the United Nations in a multilateral way. I have 
done my best to continue to stiffen the sanctions, to continue to push 
for more action, to push for the enforcement of the no-fly zone, to push 
all the countries involved to do what we could to try to bring this to a 
successful conclusion so that the principle of

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ethnic cleansing is not rewarded in Bosnia and, therefore, encouraged in 
other countries.
    I have not thought that the United States should or could 
successfully take unilateral action. And I know that a lot of things 
that we could do to inflict some pain might also entail a great deal of 
cost and might not change the ultimate outcome of how the Bosnian people 
have to live.
    So it is a very frustrating and difficult circumstance. And I can't 
really add to the way you captured the question; you said it very well.
    Thank you.
    President Mubarak. Thank you.

Note: The President's 10th news conference began at 11:35 a.m. in the 
Briefing Room at the White House. In the news conference, he referred to 
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel.