[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 29 (Monday, July 26, 1993)]
[Pages 1417-1418]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of 
Haiti and an Exchange With Reporters

 July 22, 1993

    The President. Let me make a brief statement, and then I can answer 
some questions.
    First of all, it's a good pleasure for me to have President Aristide 
back here in the White House. I want to commend him on the progress that 
has been made and the

[[Page 1418]]

courage he showed in signing the Governor's Island agreement which set a 
process and a timetable for his return as President of Haiti by October 
30th and for the parliamentary agreement. We're here to talk about what 
our next steps are.
    I want to compliment, again, the United Nations envoy, Mr. Caputo, 
and our Ambassador, Mr. Pezzulo, for the wonderful work they have done 
in trying to restore democracy and Father Aristide to the Presidency. So 
we're going to have a good meeting this morning and talk about the next 
steps, naming the Prime Minister, getting the international police force 
in place, and going forward. I'm excited about this process. It's a 
major potential for a victory for democracy.

Haiti

    Q. Is President Aristide ready to accept 300 American troops to 
train his military force and carry out all the provisions of the 
agreement?
    President Aristide. We are doing our best to do that and also to 
have what we call the four points of--[inaudible]--plan: pro- 
fessionalization of the army, a new police force, reform of the judicial 
system, and the economic package for having something for every single 
citizen of the country.

Economic Program

    Q. Mr. President, on the budget, Senator Boren wants more cuts; 
Congressman Rangel wants more taxes for more investment programs. How do 
you bridge this kind of gap?
    The President. I don't know. That's what they're working on now. 
Senator Boren voted with some enthusiasm for the bill when it came out 
of the Senate. We'll be glad to work with him. But we'll just have to 
see what happens.
    Q. And are you leaning toward a higher gasoline tax than the 4.3 
percent? There are indications from your people on the Hill that you 
are.
    The President. Let's see what happens there in the budget process. I 
went up there and talked to the conferees, and I told them what I 
thought the principles and the guideposts ought to be, and they're 
working on it.
    Q. How about----
    The President. They may discuss a lot of different things. Let's 
just see what happens.

    Q. Are you thinking of 5 cents, 5 cents a gallon?

Bosnia

    Q. Have you given up on Bosnia?

    The President. No. That's not true. Those stories are not accurate.

    Q. That's the way Secretary Christopher's remarks were interpreted.

    The President. I disagree that that's what they said. I realize that 
that's how one or two sentences were interpreted, but that's not so. We 
have aggressively committed ourselves to the process in Geneva. And if 
the Bosnian Government voluntarily signs an agreement, we have made it 
clear that we were prepared to participate in the enforcement of it. And 
we are continuing to work with the Europeans on other options. So you 
know what the United States believes, that an opportunity was lost 
shortly after Athens because our position did not prevail with the 
Europeans. But that is not true that we have given up on it. We are 
continuing to work.

Note: The exchange began at 9:40 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.