[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 21 (Monday, May 30, 1994)]
[Pages 1156-1157]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With 
President Guntis Ulmanis of Latvia

May 24, 1994

    President Clinton. Since we're not going to do a press 
availability--it's late in the afternoon--I'd like to make a brief 
statement about the purpose of this meeting and then ask President 
Ulmanis to say a few words.
    First, I want to welcome him to the United States and express my 
appreciation for the close working relationship we have had with him 
during my tenure and his, which have overlapped.
    Our administration has worked very hard to support the withdrawal of 
Russian troops from the Baltics in general and from Latvia in 
particular. We have been very involved in trying to help resolve the 
dispute between Russia and Latvia over the facility at Skrunda, and we 
have been very pleased at the resolution of that. And we have supported 
the resettlement of Russian soldiers and the housing program for them 
when they leave the Baltics and go back home. And so we look forward to 
the completion of that effort this summer. And we are very, very pleased 
about it. It's an important part of our overall objectives and our long-
term relationships with all the nations in the Baltics area and the CIS, 
and particular with Russia. So I'm very pleased about that.
    I'm glad to have President Ulmanis here. And he, perhaps, has a word 
or two he'd like to say.
    President Ulmanis. I'm honored about the progress that has been made 
since I have met with the American President. At that time we talked 
about very difficult problems, and I'm happy to say that some of those 
problems have been resolved.
    An issue that's very important to the Baltic area is the whole 
question of troop patrols, and that will occur after a few months. We 
have legally established a basis for the Skrunda facility, and we have 
ensured that this will not be turned into a Russian military base.
    This is a great achievement also for the United States, since we 
worked together on this issue and were able to resolve it together. And 
today I have come here to talk about the way we can work together in the 
future.
    I want to ensure that in the future the Baltic area is not a victim 
of any kind of aggression, that we establish a good--[inaudible]--
stimulating the area and that we begin to develop that area 
economically.
    When I was speaking with the Pope recently, we talked about the fact 
that the Baltic area could be a key to peace in that area. Now we can 
talk about various kinds of development in the area of agriculture and 
social fields, in economic area. But most importantly, we need to talk 
about how we can help former Russian army personnel leave the Baltic 
area voluntarily.
    Thank you.

Russia and the Baltic Countries

    Q. You're sure they will pull out? And does that mean out of the 
entire Balkans area, out of Estonia, Lithuania, wherever they are?
    President Ulmanis. He's convinced that that will be the case, and 
that's why he's here.\1\
    \1\As translated by an interpreter.
    President Clinton. Our preliminary--I say it's not preliminary with 
regard to Lithuania and Latvia--but we think by the summer that all the 
negotiations will be concluded. The Yeltsin government and President 
Yeltsin himself have been personally--he's been personally involved in 
this. I have been personally involved in it. We discussed these matters 
in enormous detail when I was in Russia. I think it's going in the right 
direction.
    And the leadership of President Ulmanis and the leaders of all the 
Baltic States, I

[[Page 1157]]

think, has been quite key to this. So I feel good about it. I think it's 
going in the right direction. And it clearly will be a force for 
stability and democracy in the years ahead in that part of the world.

China and Japan

    Q. [Inaudible]--Secretary Christopher has been consulting with 
Congress today. Have you got a better idea on what you plan to do about 
MFN for China and where that's going, and could you share that with us?
    President Clinton. Yes, I have an idea of where it's going. No, I'm 
not prepared to share it with you, because we still have not only 
ongoing negotiations with Congress but with others as well, and there 
are a number of things that still have to be resolved. We're working 
through it as quickly as we can. We will resolve it as quickly as we 
can.
    I do want to say that the United States announced some very good 
news today. Late last night we reached agreement with the Japanese on 
returning to our trade talks with them. They are an important part of 
our long-term strategy for peace and stability and democracy in Asia. 
And I think that will support what we hope will be a long-term, positive 
relationship with China and our desire to advance the cause of human 
rights within the country. I think Japanese--the break there with the 
negotiations is a big plus. And we've been working hard on it. I talked 
to Prime Minister Hata today. I'm very encouraged about that. And we'll 
have the Chinese decision as quickly as we can work through it.
    Q. Before you go to Normandy? Before you go to Normandy?

The Cabinet

    Q. Is there going to be a Cabinet shakeup?
    President Clinton. Sometimes I'm the last to know, but as far as I 
know there isn't. [Laughter] Unless you know something I don't, the 
answer is no.
    Well, the deadline's June 3d. And I don't expect to announce it in 
Europe.

Note: The President spoke at 5:16 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. President Ulmanis spoke in Latvian, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter.