[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 21 (Monday, May 27, 1996)]
[Pages 927-929]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Chancellor Helmut Kohl 
of Germany in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 23, 1996

Chechnya Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, there are reports there are peace talks between 
Mr. Yeltsin and the leader of the Chechnyan group. Is that encouraging 
to you?
    The President. Of course. The Chancellor and I, I think--I don't 
want to speak for him, but I think we both would be very pleased if that 
could be resolved and the President could go back to devoting his 
energies to strengthening democracy and the economy of Russia. I know he 
wants peace there. I believe he's working toward it.
    Chancellor Kohl. I do hope that this will turn out well. It's a very 
important issue, obviously, also for the elections.

[[Page 928]]

Chancellor Kohl's Visit

    The President. Let me say to all of you, as you know, we're going to 
have a few moments later, and we'll answer all your questions at the 
press conference.
    But I want to welcome Chancellor Kohl back to the United States and 
to perhaps our most German American city, Milwaukee, a place which he's 
now visiting for the first time. I want to thank him for his friendship 
to our country and for his support for freedom. The world is a better 
place because of his leadership. And I have benefited greatly from his 
wise counsel, and we've had a good partnership. And I'm delighted to 
have him here in the United States and especially in Milwaukee today.
    Chancellor Kohl. May I perhaps make a few remarks on my part. I 
would like to thank the President. I would like to thank you, my friend, 
Bill, for this very warm welcome. When I was told that this would be on 
our itinerary, I was very enthusiastic about it because as a student I 
read a lot about this State, about this part of the country.
    And you know that many generations back and throughout many 
generations, many people from my home region, from the Palatine, 
immigrated to this part of the world. And the first thing I saw when I 
arrived yesterday night at the airport was a big sign announcing the 
product of a company called ``Kohl.'' And people are very friendly. 
Unfortunately, we only have a day, but I do hope that I shall have the 
opportunity to come back at some later stage.
    So now I'm looking very much forward to our talks. I must say, 
generally speaking, one of the best experiences that I've had in this 
office is the very good relation that we have been able to strike up, 
the President and myself, and the good conversations that we've had over 
the years. And let me say, I'm very pleased that we were able to move 
matters along in many issues over the years.
    And I think more than any other country, the two of us probably also 
got involved in Russia. And the two of us took a very personal interest 
in Russia. There are a lot of people who warned us because of the risks 
that were involved. But, let me say, we are very well aware of what it 
means if Russia now finally goes forward, pursues the path of reform, or 
the sort of risks it entails when it falls back into the old habits of 
the past.
    And if you want to do something good, please pray now for the rain 
going away and for us having nice weather. [Laughter]

1996 Election

    Q. Mr. President, there's a suspicion that election-year politics 
had something to do with your bringing Chancellor Kohl here.
    The President. Well, I'll tell you how we came about to do this. 
When Prime Minister Major came to the United States, you remember I took 
him to Pittsburgh. And it wasn't an election time then, but his 
grandfather had been there as a worker. And it seems to me that it's 
important for the United States to remember a lot of our roots, which in 
the beginning, of course, were European roots.
    When I was with the Chancellor last time in Germany, I gave him a 
copy of the Declaration of Independence which was printed in 1776 in 
German in the State of Pennsylvania because we had so many German-
Americans. So those two experiences made me think that the next time he 
came here for a visit, we should do it here in Milwaukee instead of 
Washington.
    Q. No politics?
    Chancellor Kohl. Incidentally, it is true, I mean, elections are 
part of democracy, are they not? So, you know, there are elections 
almost constantly in democracies and the only other choice we have is we 
say we don't meet when there's an election going on. And then you will 
write there's no personal chemistry between the two, it doesn't seem to 
work. And now you're telling us we're not supposed to meet because 
there's an election going on. So, well, I suppose you will have to write 
there's an election going on and that's probably--[laughter].
    The President. Thank you. We'll answer more questions later.

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

Chancellor Kohl's Visit

    The President. Let me say, if I might, that it is a great honor for 
me as President and a great personal pleasure for me as a friend of the 
Chancellor's to welcome him back to

[[Page 929]]

the United States, and especially here to Milwaukee, which is the most 
German American city in the United States.
    I am personally very grateful to Chancellor Kohl for his wise 
counsel to me, for his unfailing friendship to the United States, and 
for his determined devotion to freedom. We have a lot of important 
things to discuss today. I'm looking forward to that, and, of course, 
afterward we will make ourselves available to you again for your 
questions.
    Q. Mr. President, last time you were treated by Chancellor Kohl to 
some Italian pasta. Will you treat him to some German food today?
    The President. Well, we're going to a local diner which is sort of a 
community place in Milwaukee, and he will be able to eat whatever he 
wants.

Note: The exchange began at 10:12 a.m. in City Hall. In his remarks, the 
President referred to President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. Chancellor Kohl 
spoke in German, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter. A 
tape was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.