    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 17 (Monday, April 29, 1996)]
    [Page 693]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Exchange With Reporters in St. Petersburg, Russia

    April 19, 1996

        Q. Mr. President, can I ask you--anything you wanted to see in
    particular?
        The President. I saw the Impressionists paintings. I wanted to see
    them. And I wanted to see the living quarters of Catherine the Great.
    [Laughter]
        Q. How did it compare to yours?
        The President. I like mine just fine. [Laughter]
        Q. [Inaudible]----house, Mr. President?
        The President. Well, she didn't have to run for election. [Laughter]
        Q. Are you going to see the Rembrandts here?
        The President. Perhaps, yes. I love the desks. The thing that
    strikes me is the woodwork. I hadn't counted on seeing all that. You
    ought to go back and see all the secret chambers in the desk back there.
    He put everything he had in there.
        Q. Mr. President, you've seen some religious symbols today that have
    been opened in the last few years to the Russian people. What are your
    thoughts on seeing things that didn't used to be open during the Soviet
    era?
        The President. That's a very good thing, not only making it
    available to the people, but also making religious expression legitimate
    again and making it--encouraging and nourishing it. I think it's a real
    sign of the health of the Russian democracy that religion is respected
    and people are free to pursue it and express their honest convictions.

    Note: The exchange began at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the White Hall
    Room at the Hermitage Museum. This item was not received in time for
    publication in the appropriate issue. A tape was not available for
    verification of the content of this exchange.