[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 21 (Monday, May 31, 1993)]
[Pages 929-930]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Glafcos 
Clerides of Cyprus

 May 21, 1993

Cyprus

    Q. Mr. President, is the United States willing to be a guarantor for 
Cyprus?
    The President. Well, we want to do what we can to promote a good 
agreement there, and we're going to be actively involved in working 
toward a peaceful settlement. The talks are just about to start again, 
and I don't think I should say or do anything which would disrupt them. 
But I'm glad to have the President here. I really appreciate the 
attitude he's taken. And I think that we have the best chance we've had 
in quite a long while to have a peaceful, successful conclusion to these 
talks.

White House Travel Office

    Q. Mr. President, do you think that you have at least the appearance 
of a problem in firing seven people, five of them apparently without 
cause, and replacing them with a relative and a major campaign 
contributor?
    The President. Well, I think, first of all, you ought to talk to my 
staff people who made those decisions. We reviewed the operation of 
every part of the White House. There was an audit, a review audit by 
Peat Marwick. It is my understanding that the decision was made based on 
striving to end inefficiency and mismanagement. And I believe the very 
first chartered plane flight coming out tomorrow under the new order of 
things is going to save about 25 percent over the old policy. And we're 
going to save the taxpayers money and save the press money, something I 
heard mentioned at the last press dinner.
    So I think what they're trying to do is right. If you have any 
particular questions about what they did, I would refer you to the 
people who made the decisions.
    Q. Mr. President, Senator Bond has written you a letter saying that 
there's a pattern of firing experienced public servants and replacing 
them with young political appointees.
    The President. I ask that you look at the facts. Is he defending the 
practices? Are you defending the practices? We now have a report on 
this. Do you think it's fine to have no-bid plane rides? At the press 
dinner there was a complaint about the costs of these plane rides to the 
press. The very first time in the new regime we go to a competitive 
bidding, modern system, anything that you would expect done in any sort 
of private company, and there's a 25 percent savings. Look at the facts, 
evaluate the facts, and draw your own conclusions.
    Q. ----on this issue and the haircut issue?
    The President. Not for me. That's what we've got a first amendment 
for. All I know is the taxpayers save money and the press saves money.

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

Cyprus

    Q. Mr. President, do you see any room for a direct U.S. involvement 
in the Cyprus issue?
    The President. The President is just about to start another round of 
talks, and I don't think I should prejudge the talks. But I have assured 
him that the United States wants to be active and constructive. And I 
think we have a reasonable chance to see a successful conclusion of 
these talks, perhaps the best chance in a long time, not because of me 
but because of where the parties are and the leadership that will be 
exercised. And the United States, if we can be helpful, we want to be. 
But I don't think we should be specific. I think we should let whatever 
happens come out of these talks and obviously be generated from the 
parties themselves.

[[Page 930]]

    Q. Is your administration prepared to provide some type of 
guarantee, assurances, resolutions, Mr. President?
    The President. Let's see what comes out of the talks and what we're 
asked to do. Again, I want to be supportive of the process. And I think 
that if we're supportive of the process, then we're more likely to get a 
good result. I don't think I should prejudge it or anything we might be 
asked to do.

Note: The exchange began at 5:50 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.