[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 20 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Pages 1116-1117]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister P.V. 
Narasimha Rao of India

May 19, 1994

    The President. Let me say that it's a great honor for me personally 
and for the United States to welcome Prime Minister Rao and his 
delegation here.
    India is the world's largest democracy, by a long ways, and a very 
important partner for the United States on many issues, with a very 
impressive rate of economic growth now and the prospect of a real 
partnership with our country, spanning not only economic but many other 
issues. And I'm really looking forward to our discussions. And I'm 
delighted that he's found the time to come and be here with us.

Nuclear Nonproliferation

    Q. Mr. President, how much of a hang-up is the issue of the Non-
Proliferation Treaty and India's resistance to signing it? Will

[[Page 1117]]

that come up? And do you think there's any way of persuading India to 
sign this treaty?
    The President. Well, we'll have a chance to talk about a number of 
issues. I think that, as you know, we have a broad-based approach. We're 
supporting the comprehensive test ban. We want to have the fissile 
materials production ban. We've got a lot of things to discuss, and 
we'll have a chance to talk about them.
    But he just got here. I don't want to presume upon the conversation 
that hasn't yet occurred.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

    Q. Mr. President, do you have anything to say to the Kennedys? Do 
you have any words for the Kennedys? You know, Jacqueline Kennedy 
Onassis is----
    The President. Hillary and I have been in touch with Mrs. Onassis in 
the last several days and are getting regular updates. She's been quite 
wonderful to my wife and to my daughter and to all of us. And we're 
thinking about her, praying for her.

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

    The President. I would like to say it's a great honor for me 
personally and for the United States to welcome Prime Minister Rao and 
his party here.
    India is not only the world's largest democracy, but a very 
impressive one, having preserved democracy through all manner of 
difficulties and challenges. We are mindful of the profound importance 
of our relationship with India, and the many aspects of that 
relationship. And I am looking forward to establishing a good working 
relationship with the Prime Minister and to building on that as we go 
into the future. I'm very hopeful about it.

India

    Q. Mr. President, may I ask you a question? The economic reforms in 
India and the end of cold war--what kind of an impact do you think these 
two events have had on the Indo-American relationship?
    The President. Well, I think it should--both those things should 
permit that relationship to grow and to flourish, to deepen, and should 
permit us to do things that together as leaders in the community of 
nations, as we work together in the United Nations. And India, for 
example, has been very constructive in Somalia and Mozambique and other 
places around the world. So I think we'll have a deeper and better 
partnership now. and I'm looking forward to building on it, and that's 
one of the things that I hope to have a chance to discuss with the Prime 
Minister.
    Q. Mr. President--[inaudible]--said that this trip was a turning 
point in Indo-U.S. relations. What do you think? Would it prove to be a 
turning point?
    The President. Well, if it's a positive turning point, that would 
make me very happy because I think it's very important that the United 
States and India have good relations and strong relations. And so I'm 
hopeful of that.
    Let me remind you, we're going to have a time that the press--at the 
end of this, where we can both make statements and answer questions. So 
let's do that after we have a chance to visit.

Note: The exchange began at 11:40 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this 
exchange.