[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 24 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
[Pages 1048-1050]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Robinson

June 13, 1996

    President Clinton. Let me begin by saying how delighted I am to 
welcome President Robinson to the United States, along with the 
delegation from the Irish Government. The United States is very proud to 
have been a partner with Ireland in so many ways. We appreciate the work 
that they have done for peace in Northern Ireland and for peace around 
the world. And I look forward to this discussion today and our continued 
common efforts.

Northern Ireland Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, are you concerned about the rocky start the peace 
talks have gotten

[[Page 1049]]

off to and the kind of cool relationship or cool welcoming George 
Mitchell got there?
    President Clinton. Well, it seems to be working itself out. And I 
believe that talks are going to go forward, and I'll do everything I can 
to support the process. And I hope very much that somehow the cease-fire 
can be reestablished so that everybody will participate, and there will 
be a successful resolution of it.

Colombian President Ernesto Samper

    Q. Mr. President, what do you plan to do about the exoneration of 
Samper yesterday by the Colombian Legislature?
    President Clinton. Well, the United States judges its relationships 
with Colombia on one standard, whether they're cooperating with us in 
the fight against narcotics. And we will judge our relationship with 
Colombia based on that standard. And we--however the--they have a 
democratically elected parliament; they have to vote on matters as they 
see fit. But we will judge our relationship with a country based on 
their level of cooperation with us in the fight against narcotics.

Church Burnings in the South

    Q. Mr. President, another church fire this morning. Are you 
concerned that all the attention, including what you've brought to it, 
is causing copycats?
    President Clinton. Well, it was getting quite a lot of attention 
before. We, after all, had had a huge number of them. All I can tell you 
is that the United States will never accept burning churches. It is 
wrong, and it's evil, and it has to stop. We have to continue to do 
whatever we can to stop it. And I may have more to say about it later 
today.

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

Northern Ireland Peace Process

    Q. Mrs. President, you said that you thought that some words of 
reconciliation would be helpful. Do you think that words of 
reconciliation from the White House would be helpful for the people of 
Ireland?
    President Robinson. I think the whole approach of the United States 
has been very helpful, not just today or yesterday but for the last 
number of years. It has been a very evenhanded, nurturing approach. It 
has been both words and practical help. And it's, I think, evidenced by 
the presence of Senator Mitchell in the very sensitive negotiations at 
the moment.
    There are so many different ways in which the United States is being 
truly helpful. And I have the opportunity during this state visit to 
express the appreciation of the people of Ireland. And I think it's 
timely to do that. I think this has been a very special friendship, 
reflecting the very long links between our two countries, but very, very 
thoughtful, very helpful, very nurturing, very evenhanded, very 
sensitive, and very patient. And it's not easy at the moment. Nobody 
believes it is. And so it needs that true friend who's with you during 
those times of difficulty. And that is how we view the United States.
    Q. Mr. President, did you feel in any way sad at the way Senator 
Mitchell seemed to have been treated in the early days of the talks 
process?
    President Clinton. Well, I don't think that Senator Mitchell feels 
sad about it. I think that we knew, all of us, from the beginning that 
these would be difficult talks and that there would be some rocky places 
in the road, especially in the beginning. We hope very much that the 
talks will proceed successfully now. Some of the procedural issues 
appear to have been resolved in a satisfactory manner to all parties. I 
also very much hope that the cease-fire can be reestablished so that 
everybody will be participating in the talks and they will actually 
produce what they were meant to produce. And we'll be further along the 
road to peace.
    But I actually feel pretty good about the way things have happened 
so far. We're still going; it's still rocking along in the right 
direction.
    Q. [Inaudible]--Mr. President, that the IRA might call another 
cease-fire?
    President Clinton. Well, I have no inside information about that. 
All I can tell you is what I hope will happen. We need everybody 
involved to have a resolution of this that will, at the other end of it, 
involve everyone in a system that will lead to permanent peace and 
reconciliation and participation in the affairs of Northern Ireland.

[[Page 1050]]

    Q. You said when you came to Ireland that you told the men of 
violence, ``Your day is done. Your day is over.'' Do you still feel 
that's the case after the Sinn Fein vote in the Northern Ireland 
elections? How would you interpret that vote?
    President Clinton. I don't think it's a vote for violence. That's 
not the way I interpreted the vote at all. And I think the--I think 
every voice that represents a substantial element of the people of 
Northern Ireland needs to be heard in the talks. But if the purpose of 
the talks is to produce a lasting and enduring peace, you can't have the 
talks with a gun to your head.
    Q. If you were talking directly to Gerry Adams today, what exactly 
would you say to him about restoration of the cease-fire?
    President Clinton. Probably the same thing I've always said--say, 
first of all, congratulations on the vote, and secondly, I would say I 
hope that a cease-fire can be secured so that everyone can participate.

Note: The President spoke at 11:19 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. A 
tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.