[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Pages 2178-2179]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to Citizens Involved in Humanitarian Relief Efforts for Bosnia 
and an Exchange With Reporters

December 12, 1995

    The President. Well, first of all, let me say that I know I speak 
for everyone here in thanking the people who have spoken and thanking 
them, more importantly, for their remarkable efforts. I want to express 
my appreciation to two of their Representatives who joined us: 
Congressman Ehlers from Michigan and Congressman Moran from Virginia. To 
Franklin Graham, thank you, sir, for the remarkable work that you are 
doing and for giving people like Mary the chance to be remarkable in 
their own right.
    What you have just heard is a series of astonishing human 
testaments. I don't know that I've ever felt more proud to be an 
American than I did in the last few minutes just listening to these 
people talk. And I know all of you feel that way as well.
    The purpose of our mission is to take advantage of this remarkable 
opportunity we have when all of the parties have agreed to make peace, 
when they have agreed that the madness you have just heard recounted 
ought to stop.
    We saw further evidence of their good-faith intention to do their 
part this morning, when the French pilots were released. And I just, by 
pure coincidence, had the French Ambassador in this morning, and I told 
him to convey to President Chirac the joy of all Americans that these 
pilots are free because the mission that we all undertook together 
through NATO had a lot to do with bringing about this peace agreement.
    Since I became President, I have said that I thought the United 
States had an obligation to participate in the enforcement of a peace 
agreement. Because we have a peace agreement, which is enforceable, 
which can be protected, which can be enhanced by the NATO force, the 
work that you have just heard about will be able to be multiplied 
hundreds of times over. And that's the thing I want to emphasize to all 
of you.
    The NATO mission in which the United States will play a leading role 
by separating the forces, by making sure the territory is the way the 
peace agreement agreed, by maintaining a secure environment, will permit 
more of these things to be done, will permit the reconstruction effort 
to proceed, not only the physical reconstruction effort but the human 
reconstruction effort.
    And I have just told all of the folks whom you heard speak that it 
is very important that these efforts continue in Bosnia and, in fact, be 
intensified because there are a lot of lives that have to be put 
together; there are a lot of communities that have to be rebuilt. But 
this kind of energy by the American people and by others throughout the 
world who will join now in helping them can help to turn the worst 
nightmare in Europe since the end of the Second World War into a story 
of reconciliation and peace and progress.
    And again, let me say, there is nothing I can say to add to what 
these fine people have said. But when Americans like these folks are 
willing to do what they have done, I think it is incumbent on the United 
States, the other NATO powers, the others who are joining with us, to 
make sure that this peace takes hold and is preserved so that they can 
do it in an atmosphere free of fear for themselves and help that country 
come back and help all these little children regain their childhood.
    I hope we all live to see the day when the only bombs in the world 
are peace bombs.
    Thank you very much.
    Q. Mr. President, are you going to be able to get this through 
Congress, win approval?
    The President. Well, let me say I'm quite encouraged by two things. 
Number one, a very large number of Members of Congress, especially House 
Members, have actually gone to the region in the last few days, and I 
applaud them for doing it. And some of those with deep reservations 
about the missions have gone. I have no exact vote count for you, but I 
can tell you that it's clear to me that there's been a real shift among 
those who have gone. Those who have gone have come back more favorable 
than they left America. And so I can't believe that when the time for 
the counting comes that Congress won't support our troops in this 
mission. I believe they will.
    Thank you.

[[Page 2179]]

Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Franklin Graham, president 
of Samaritan's Purse; Mary Damron of Ikes Fork, WV; and President 
Jacques Chirac of France.