[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 6 (Monday, February 14, 1994)]
[Page 244]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement by the Press Secretary on Access by the House Banking 
Committee to Iraq-Related Documents

February 8, 1994

    President Clinton on February 4, restored the access of the House 
Banking Committee to classified material and ordered relevant Federal 
agencies to declassify certain Iraq-related documents requested by the 
committee.
    In a letter to Banking Committee Chairman Henry Gonzalez, the 
President said, ``I am very pleased to tell you that in view of your 
October 28 letter and your pledge to protect the confidentiality of 
classified information provided by the administration, we have decided, 
effective immediately, to restore fully your committee's access to 
classified information. This action will resolve an unfortunate and 
long-standing difficulty that has severely interfered in the committee's 
relations with the executive branch.''
    Accordingly, the President has directed relevant agencies of the 
Federal Government to provide the committee access to the classified 
information it has requested in connection with its investigation of BNL 
and pre-war policy toward Iraq. Consistent with past practice and 
policy, access will be subject to arrangements to protect intelligence 
sources and methods as well as ongoing law enforcement investigations.
    The President also ordered relevant Federal agencies to declassify 
and disclose to the public Iraq-related documents requested by the 
committee concerning the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL), Cardoen, 
Matrix-Churchill, Gerald Bull, and U.S. policy toward Iraq immediately 
preceding the Persian Gulf war. The President also indicated that 
agencies will review for declassification other specific documents 
identified by the committee as necessary to carry out the purposes of 
its investigation. The administration will declassify these documents to 
the maximum extent possible, excluding from public release only: (1) 
material that must remain classified; (2) material whose disclosure 
would compromise privacy rights; and (3) material that reveals executive 
branch deliberations.