[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Pages 2168-2169]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Shimon 
Peres of Israel

December 11, 1995

    The President. Good morning everyone. It's a pleasure and an honor 
to have the Prime Minister here. We're about to start our talks. And as 
you know, after we have those talks, we will have a press conference, 
and we'll be available for your questions. But I'm very much looking 
forward to continuing our work on the peace process and continuing our 
strong partnership.
    Q. Will you, Mr. President, become actively involved in an Israeli-
Syrian track?
    The President. Well, we're going to--let us have our talk, and I'll 
be glad to answer the questions after we finish our visit.
    Thank you.

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

[[Page 2169]]

    The President. Good morning everyone. I want to welcome the Prime 
Minister here. It's pleasure to have him here and a privilege to 
continue our partnership, our search for peace. I'm looking forward to 
our visit. And of course, after the visit we'll have a press conference 
and the opportunity to answer your questions.
    Prime Minister Peres. May I say the President has changed our hearts 
and changed our language. He changed our hearts by a very moving 
appearance at the funeral of the late Yitzhak Rabin. And he changed our 
language by adding two words that were never in our vocabulary: Shalom, 
chaver. It became a household expression.

Note: The President spoke at 10:46 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.