[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 19 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Page 810]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With Opposition Leaders in 
Moscow

May 11, 1995

    Q. Good morning, Mr. President.
    The President. Good morning. How are you?
    Q. Very good, sir. Does President Yeltsin have any reason to be 
upset at this meeting you're having this morning?
    The President. I don't think so. I'm looking forward to this 
breakfast. I want to have this opportunity mostly just to listen to all 
these leaders talk about the conditions here in Russia, what the people 
are going through. It's an opportunity for me to learn and to 
reemphasize that I came on this trip because, first, I wanted to express 
the feelings of the United States on the 50th anniversary of the end of 
World War II and to finally acknowledge the enormous sacrifice of the 
Russian people and, secondly, because I am trying to increase the 
security of the people of America and the people of Russia in this 
partnership. So I'm glad to have a chance to have this meeting.
    Q. What are you going to tell them?
    The President. Just what I told you just now. I'm going to listen. 
I'm going to listen.
    Q. Do you think you have--you've been emphasizing the security 
aspect of your trip. Do you think you've succeeded?
    The President. Yes. We're in better shape than we were before I got 
here. It was a good trip.

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

    Q. [Inaudible]--did you run today, Mr. President? Did you run today?
    The President. I didn't. I ran yesterday, and I was----
    Q. What about today?
    The President. ----in the gym this morning. I ran away from the 
weather. I worked out in the gymnasium at the hotel. I was weak today. I 
gave into the weather.

Note: The exchange began at 8:45 a.m. at Spaso House. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of this exchange.