[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 51 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Pages 2514-2522]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With European Union Leaders

December 16, 1996

    President Clinton. Thank you very much. Please be seated. It is a 
pleasure to welcome back to the White House Prime Minister Bruton of 
Ireland and President Santer of the European Commission.
    A year ago in Madrid, the United States and the European Union 
launched the New Transatlantic Agenda to fight international crime and 
terrorism and drug trafficking, to support peacemakers around the world, 
to

[[Page 2515]]

bring down barriers to commerce between our two nations. Today I am 
proud of the concrete progress we have made in that short year.
    Our commitment to reducing trade barriers is paying off, clearing 
the path to greater prosperity. Next month our negotiators will finish 
work on a set of mutual recognition agreements which will abolish 
requirements that a broad range of products, including 
telecommunications and medical equipment, be reinspected and recertified 
for each other's markets. This will remove barriers on $40 billion worth 
of trade between the United States and the European Union, cutting 
redtape for our businesses and prices for our consumers: one standard; 
one test; one time.
    I want to especially thank the Transatlantic Business Dialogue for 
their leadership in achieving these agreements, especially the European 
and American cochairs, Jan Timmer, former chairman of the Phillips 
Corporation--excuse me--Phillips Electronics Corporation, and Dana Mead, 
chairman of Tenneco. They are both here today, and I'd like to ask them 
to stand and be recognized. Thank you very much, gentlemen, for what you 
did.
    I also thank our European partners for helping us to complete the 
landmark information technology agreement finished last week in 
Singapore. It will eliminate by the year 2000 all tariffs on computers, 
semiconductors, telecommunications equipment, and software products. 
That's a $5 billion cut in tariffs on American exports which will 
benefit producers and consumers all over the world.
    We have also deepened our work for peace and freedom in Bosnia. 
Today we agreed the civilian reconstruction effort there must move 
faster and that we have to have greater progress on projects for which 
funds have already been pledged. I thank the European Union for the 
generosity that has made it the largest donor to reconstruction, and 
we're working together to ensure the success of another donors 
conference next year.
    The U.S. and the EU are also moving to confront new security 
threats. Our law enforcement officials are now working on a new joint 
counternarcotics offensive in the Caribbean. We're on the verge of an 
agreement for the EU to join the Korean Peninsula Energy Development 
Corporation. The EU's financial contribution and political support for 
KEDO are essential so that we can keep frozen and eventually dismantle 
North Korea's dangerous nuclear program.
    And I welcome the EU's positive response in our proposal to 
establish an African crisis response force. This initiative would help 
African nations respond under the auspices of the U.N. to humanitarian 
and peacekeeping needs like those we have seen recently in Rwanda and 
Zaire. We look forward to working with European, African, and other 
nations to turn this concept into a reality.
    I applaud the European Union for the important step forward it has 
taken by adopting a common position on Cuba, one that puts support for 
democracy at the heart of the relationship between Europe and Cuba, in 
keeping with values shared by great democracies on both sides of the 
Atlantic. And I hope that together we and our allies will continue to 
increase our support for freedom there.
    As we look ahead, the historic strength of the relationship between 
the United States and Europe is deepening and taking new forms as we 
face new challenges. I thank Prime Minister Bruton and his government 
for the outstanding leadership that Ireland has given the EU during its 
Presidency. And I thank President Santer for making the last year's 
achievements possible. I am determined that we will carry them on in the 
coming year.
    Mr. Prime Minister.
    Prime Minister Bruton. Thank you very much. Mr. President, this has 
been a very successful summit between the European Union and the United 
States. We have discussed how we can promote peace and stability in the 
world, how we can enhance our trade between Europe and the United 
States, how we can meet the new challenges that are emerging on the 
world's stage.
    And one of those I think was very aptly described by you, Mr. 
President, in your book ``From Hope To History'' when you said, the very 
openness of our society makes us vulnerable to new forces of destruction 
that cross national borders: organized crime, drug cartels, the spread 
of dangerous weap

[[Page 2516]]

ons, including biological and chemical ones, and most of all, vicious 
terrorism. These were the challenges that this summit, first and 
foremost, set out to address.
    We have identified, in Europe at the Dublin summit, that organized 
crime represents perhaps the biggest single threat to the security of 
ordinary individuals in our societies at the present time. Organized 
crime respects no borders. It is using the most modern technology 
available to promote its evil ends. And it can only be combated if 
civilized states are equipped with the same sophistication and are 
willing to cooperate with one another with the same will as those who 
are seeking to break our laws and threaten the lives of our people are 
applying in their illicit activity.
    We have taken major steps at this summit in regard to the fight 
against drugs, which feeds organized crime. We've agreed on a program of 
action to support the governments of the Caribbean area to ensure that 
that area is no longer used as a transit area for drugs. We have reached 
agreements to cooperate on money laundering. And one of the suggestions 
that I made to the President is that we should also look at how we can 
pursue the assets gained through crime, so that there will be no place 
that people who have gained assets through crime can hide those assets 
in the world without law enforcement being able to confiscate those 
assets in order to compensate the victims of the crimes that are being 
committed.
    We also, I think, have got to use technology to the full to combat 
the use of technology for crime. In the book that I've just quoted, Mr. 
President, you said that when a child born today is old enough to read--
that's in 3 or 4 years' time--there would be 100 million users of the 
Internet in the world. The truth of the matter is that the Internet is 
being used to promote child sexual abuse. Modern technology is being 
used to move money across the exchanges from one country to another, 
money that has been gained through the sale of narcotics or other 
criminal activities. We must equip ourselves with sufficient 
sophistication, as civilized governments, to ensure that we can meet 
that challenge head on.
    I believe if there's anything subject that requires--there's no 
subject, rather, that requires more cooperation across the Atlantic for 
which our citizens will give us full support than the subject of the 
battle against crime.
    I'd also like to say, however, that this wasn't the sole subject we 
discussed. We applauded the work of those who are involved in the very 
successful World Trade Organization summit in Singapore. And I emphasize 
the word ``very.'' This was an outstandingly successful summit with a 
huge number of countries taking part, and yet in Singapore itself, 
through sophisticated negotiation, we were able to reach major 
agreements. You've mentioned the result of them. They will free up trade 
and information technology, and they are showing out a pathway for the 
future as far as trade is concerned, which is extremely good.
    I am glad to say also that we will reach agreement before the end of 
January on the mutual recognition by our standards authorities of 
products produced in the EU and in the U.S. A lot of business costs will 
be saved by ensuring that one certification will apply for a product. If 
it's safe enough for the United States, it would be safe enough for 
Europe and vice versa. That will save a lot of money for business and 
will enable more employment and more innovation to take place.
    As the President said, we share concern about the recent annulment 
of elections in Serbia, and we look forward to the OSC mission there. We 
also welcomed the U.S. proposal for an African crisis response force, 
which you referred to, which is a practical, longstanding requirement.
    We enhanced, during the Irish Presidency of the European Union, 
Europe's participation in the Middle East peace process. And we hope, as 
you do, Mr. President, for a rapid conclusion to the negotiations in 
Hebron. This is a vital and long overdue confidence-building measure as 
far as the peace process in the Middle East is concerned.
    And I, like you, Mr. President, would like to applaud the people who 
have been involved in the Transatlantic Business Dialogue. They have 
kept us on our toes. They have ensured that we reached agreements that 
we mightn't have agreed were it not for their practical pressure.

[[Page 2517]]

    Finally, I think it's appropriate as we enter 1997 that we should 
look back in history and say that next year will be the 50th anniversary 
of the Marshall plan. Through the Marshall plan, a prosperous and 
triumphant United States assisted a prostrate Europe back onto its feet 
in one of the greatest acts of generosity in human history. There was no 
requirement on the United States to do what it did under the Marshall 
plan. It did it, and it is fair to say that the United States has 
profited and prospered as a result of that generosity, even though that 
wasn't its intention.
    I think now that Europe and the United States are on an equal 
footing, we can, I think, continue in that spirit of mutual generosity. 
We have the capacity to be generous, too, now in Europe, just as you 
were, the United States, so generous in 1947. And I hope that our dialog 
will intensify on that basis.
    Thank you.
    President Santer. Mr. President, Prime Minister, ladies and 
gentlemen, 6 months ago in this very room I said the world needed joint 
leadership from Europe and America as much as ever before. And 6 months 
later progress in that regard has been impressive.
    The New Transatlantic Agenda signed a year ago has brought us a rich 
harvest. We have worked successfully together on humanitarian aid and 
nuclear nonproliferation, and we are cooperating to bring peace to the 
Great Lakes region, as well as making sure it holds in Bosnia and in the 
Middle East.
    The New Transatlantic Agenda has also delivered to the world the 
prospect of a major deed on information technology in Singapore which 
will boost trade and provide vast new opportunities for business. We are 
also working together for a worldwide agreement on telecoms.
    Next month we are hopeful of promoting transatlantic trade by 
cutting unnecessary administrative controls on business through a mutual 
recognition agreement. We are also fighting drugs and drug-related crime 
by working to stop dangerous chemicals falling into the wrong hands.
    Today's summit has helped us take stock and prepare to cooperate in 
other areas. Let me mention two. Firstly, we have helped clear the air 
on Cuba. Today's talks have convinced me that although our views may 
differ on the means, we certainly agree on the end goal. Europe will 
remain firmly opposed to all extraterritorial legislation, whatever its 
source, and will continue to defend its interests. But we remain 
determined to search for common ground with the United States in our 
desire to bring democracy, freedom, and human rights to Cuba. We must 
all continue to work to bring Cuba into the international community.
    Two days ago European leaders restated in some detail the policies 
they have held towards Cuba for at least a year. They endorsed a common 
position calling on Cuba to reform its laws so as to guarantee political 
and civil rights. We must sustain a dialog with Cuba in which we make 
clear that the further deepening of our relations with that country is 
linked to Havana's own efforts to improve human rights and political 
freedom. No agreement with Cuba could be envisaged if political 
circumstances did not improve.
    Secondly, I have greatly appreciated the chance to discuss China 
with President Clinton and, in particular, China's entry in the WTO. 
There is little really that separates us on many of the key issues. We 
must work to get China into the WTO as soon as possible on the right 
terms for China and for us all.
    I was also able to confirm Europe's determination to press ahead 
with the enlargement of the European Union, to include countries from 
Central and Eastern Europe. This is vital for the stability of the 
continent and as such is a major interest of the United States.
    Let me conclude by saying that the stronger Europe becomes, the more 
effective our joint leadership with America will be. I have reassured 
President Clinton that a united Europe will be a stable, open, and 
powerful friend of the United States. Those here in America who doubt 
the will of most European Union countries to build such unity should 
witness their resolve to create a single currency at the EU summit that 
I and, of course, Prime Minister John Bruton, as President in office, 
have just attended in Dublin.
    President Clinton has shown himself to be a loyal ally of the 
European Union. We look

[[Page 2518]]

forward to working with him over the next few years, a time when Europe 
will undergo great change, change that I believe to be fundamentally in 
the interest of the United States economically and politically.
    Next year, as the Taoiseach said, next year we will see that 50th 
anniversary of the Marshall plan and the 40th anniversary of the Treaty 
of Rome which created the European Community. Those events are naturally 
connected. The Marshall plan has helped to revive and unite Europe, 
which is now working in a renewed partnership with the United States 
throughout the world. History shows that there is always more that 
unites us than divides us.
    Thank you.
    President Clinton. Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International].

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, since you've been otherwise preoccupied, the 
Middle East peace process is going down the drain. The Israeli Prime 
Minister is encouraging the expansion of settlements in occupied Arab 
lands and also new financing. Isn't it time that you spoke out? And 
while we're in the region, are you prepared to lift the ban on travel to 
Lebanon?
    President Clinton. The answer to the second question is that our 
advisers still tell me they do not believe it is safe for American 
business people to do that, and so I am not, at this time, prepared to 
do it.
    The answer to the first question is, of course, we have been in 
active contact with both sides in the negotiations between the Israelis 
and the Palestinians, pushing for an agreement on Hebron. There's been 
very little difference between them for weeks and weeks and weeks now. 
And we need to get the Hebron agreement over and behind us and go on to 
other issues.
    With regard to settlements, I believe the State Department stated 
yesterday what my position is, which is that it just stands to reason 
that anything that preempts the outcome of something that both parties 
have agreed to should be part of the final negotiations cannot be 
helpful in making peace. And that's my concern about that.
    Q. Can you do anything about it?
    President Clinton. Well, we can say what we believe and we can press 
our views on all those issues, and we are. But I want to assure you that 
we have been in very close contact with both parties for some time now--
I have personally, our administration has--and we're pushing ahead.
    The talks are at a critical juncture, I think. The situation is full 
of tension and full of frustration. And I'm pleased that the Prime 
Minister and Chairman Arafat talked yesterday. That's a good thing, 
better than not talking. But sooner or later they have to do something. 
And they've had an agreement within grasp with very little difference on 
Hebron for some time now. The time has come to make that agreement. But 
I don't think that on the settlement issue that anything should be done 
which would, in effect, be seen as preempting the outcome of something 
they've already agreed to should be part of the final negotiations. And 
we've had a very clear position on that all along.

Cuba and the Helms-Burton Amendment

    Q. Mr. President, Jacques Santer says you've cleared the air on 
Cuba. Does that mean you won't be implementing Helms-Burton? And, Mr. 
Bruton, does that mean that Europe will be withdrawing its court action 
against the United States at the WTO? Or are you still at loggerheads?
    President Clinton. I thought you'd never ask. [Laughter] I don't 
think it necessarily means either one. I'll let the Prime Minister or 
President Santer speak for themselves. I have a decision deadline on 
that which has not been reached, and I have not gotten the final 
recommendation from Mr. Eizenstat, who's been working on that for me, 
and others in the administration.
    But I would say this was a decision that Europe made on its own that 
was very impressive to me, not only the common position on democracy but 
the action taken by all the member nations of the EU on human rights and 
the decision made to channel further aid through the nongovernmental 
organizations. All those steps are quite significant and show that we 
are now working together to promote freedom and democracy in Cuba. And 
that, to me--it obviously has to be a factor in the decision I make, but 
that decision will be

[[Page 2519]]

made sometime in the middle of next month. And I'm not prepared to 
announce it yet and haven't received a final recommendation yet.
    Prime Minister Bruton. Could I say that there is, of course, a 
difference in method, but there is absolutely no difference in objective 
between the European Union and the United States. We both want to see 
pluralist democracy in Cuba at the earliest possible moment. We believe 
that the denial of democratic rights to the Cuban people is an 
anachronism in the modern world and is denying the Cuban people 
something to which they are absolutely entitled. The United States and 
the European Union are working with vigor towards the same objective. 
It's fair to say that at the 2d of December council chaired by Dick 
Spring, a very strong declaration was adopted by the European Union, 
absolutely unanimously, calling for democracy in Cuba and saying that we 
will work together as a union of 15 to achieve that objective.
    Of course, there are differences between us in regard to what we 
consider to be an attempt to apply U.S. law outside U.S. territory, to 
the detriment of European companies. However, that's an issue that can 
be--an issue that we will deal with in the course of normal negotiation.
    Q. Monsieur Santer, does that mean that the European Union is going 
to drop its effort to take this issue of the Helms-Burton law to the 
World Trade Organization or to the World Court, in following up the 
first question?
    And Mr. President, if I could ask you a related question: Why is it 
useful to engage in constructive engagement and trade policy with China, 
which has a human rights policy which you so strongly oppose, yet it's 
not worthwhile to engage in constructive engagement with Cuba? And at 
the risk of following up with a very self-serving question----
    President Clinton. You asked three questions there. [Laughter]
    Q. Very self-serving question. As you know, the Cuban Government----
    President Clinton. Do I watch CNN every day? Yes, I do. Go ahead. 
[Laughter] I was thinking of the most self-serving question I could 
think of. Go ahead. [Laughter]
    Q. You're close. [Laughter]
    Q. The Cuban Government has given CNN permission to open up a bureau 
in Havana. The U.S. Government is sitting on that request right now. Do 
you think it's appropriate to give CNN permission to have a bureau in 
Havana, President Santer?
    President Santer. For the first question--[laughter]--I must say, I 
remember it as the Taoiseach said, we have the same target. We are 
sharing, the United States and the European Union, the same values of 
democracy, of pluralism, and so on. We are already differing in means. 
And in that respect, we're sticking, of course, to the decision taken by 
the European Council about this--about also the panel which is pending 
before the WTO in Geneva.
    But on the other hand, I repeat that we have adopted a clear policy, 
a common position for Cuba in a positive way, and we are implementing 
this common position. And the head of states and government in Dublin 
last weekend, they confirmed this common position. And we're working on 
that, and we're elevating on that, I hope so, very constructively with 
the United States to bring the pluralism of democracy to Cuba.
    President Clinton. On the question of Cuba versus China or any other 
country, I can do no better than Ambassador Albright did when she 
pointed out that the United States cannot afford to have a cookie-cutter 
approach to the promotion of peace, democracy, and prosperity. We have 
to have different policies for different nations, different regions, 
different realities. That's the first point. The second point is the 
Chinese have not shot down any innocent American citizens out of the sky 
recently, and that had a very chilling effect on our relationships with 
Europe--or with Cuba and clearly raised the security issues related to 
our proximity.
    On the bureau location, this is the first I've heard of it. I think 
you better give me a chance to huddle, think, and I will give you an 
answer to that, in public or private, but I can't do it right now.
    Mr. Fornier [Ron Fornier, Associated Press].

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. I want to ask you a question about your CIA designate. But a 
quick followup to Hel

[[Page 2520]]

en's question. Your aides have been intimating that--more than what you 
said--the West Bank--it's not helpful, the West Bank settlement issue. 
Your aides have been intimating that it's actually an obstacle to peace. 
Do you agree with that?
    President Clinton. Absolutely.
    Q. It is an obstacle to peace?
    President Clinton. Absolutely.

Director of Central Intelligence-Designate

    Q. And on Tony Lake, he is telling congressional leaders that it was 
a mistake to keep Congress uninformed when your administration looked 
the other way as Iran shipped arms to the Bosnia Muslims. Do you agree 
it was a mistake, and do you think his confirmation is in jeopardy?
    President Clinton. No, I don't think his confirmation is in jeopardy 
because he did a superb job as National Security Adviser, and this 
country is in better shape than it was 4 years ago, and because he's 
very well-qualified to be head of the CIA.
    I believe that what he said is right. A lot of things were happening 
during that period of time. We were not under any legal obligation of 
any kind, as far as I'm aware, to make any kind of specific notation 
about the cables that went back and forth regarding this issue. But in 
retrospect, he said it probably would have been better to inform key 
Members of Congress on a confidential basis, and I accept that.
    I would like to point out, though, one reason why I don't see how in 
the world this could be any kind of basis for voting against him--the 
Congress actually mandated that policy just a few weeks later, if you'll 
remember. The Congress actually mandated that the arms embargo not be 
enforced by the United States, going far beyond anything that had 
transpired in the cables. So I think that ought to be on the public 
record, and that will be a factor here.

Mutual Recognition Agreement

    Q. How long will it take for business--on the MRA's?
    Prime Minister Bruton. Pretty well immediately after it comes into 
force, because any new standards, any new products that are being 
introduced will not have to go through a twin-track approach, they will 
be able to get the requisite recognition in one jurisdiction and that 
would then be recognized in the other.
    President Clinton. Do you agree with that?
    Mr. Dana Mead. Yes, sir. Essentially immediately.

Central Intelligence Agency

    Q. [Inaudible]----cooperation in Europe, we have an agency called 
the Central Intelligence Agency, which you may or may not know much 
about, but they are living in secret all the time, and they're trying to 
overthrow other nations around the world and sell arms to nations--even 
those fighting in a civil war, they sell to both sides. Don't you think 
that's adverse to cooperation?
    President Clinton. They shouldn't do anything illegal, and if they 
are today, I don't know about it. I can't vouch for what they did before 
I showed up.
    Yes, go ahead.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, during your second administration, are you 
prepared to enforce your policy on the settlement issue upon the Israeli 
Government, using American financial, political means in order to 
enforce the policy?
    President Clinton. Let me say what I have said all along, what I 
strongly believe. I believe the United States cannot impose a peace in 
the Middle East. What the United States can do is to create the 
conditions in which it is easier for peace to be made by the parties 
because we work to minimize the risks of peace.
    From my point of view, sir, the most significant incentive to making 
peace in the Middle East is the clear consequence of what will flow if 
it is not made. We cannot--this is not a situation in equilibrium here. 
It's not as if tomorrow will be like today and the day after tomorrow 
will be like today and the day after that will be like today. This is a 
process that, once having been undertaken, is either going to go forward 
or fall back. It will either lead to greater integration or greater 
disintegration and greater trouble. And I think the

[[Page 2521]]

leaders of the Middle East are well aware of that.
    It has always been my position that we exercised the influence most 
profoundly when we did it in that context--when we said what we had to 
say to them in private, but our public role maintained its essential 
balanced neutral position that we had to create the conditions in which 
peace could occur, and then we were morally obligated--and in terms of 
our interests--obligated to minimize the risks for peace. I still 
believe that. But I've already said what I have to say about the present 
situation, and I think it's pretty clear.

EU-U.S. Anticrime Efforts

    Q. Taoiseach and Mr. President, could you surmise what kind of 
financial outlay might be involved in the crime and drugs package you're 
talking about, put a bit more flesh on the joint action that will be 
taken by the two governments, by Europe and the U.S.?
    Prime Minister Bruton. Well, the bulk of this will be within 
existing budgets, where people will cooperate on agreed standards. One 
of the areas where already the United States is very active in Europe is 
in police training. The United States has set up an institute in 
Budapest, which is helping the Eastern European countries to engage in 
police training, to bring their police levels up to a sophisticated 
standard capable of dealing with the modern crime as we know it in the 
West, unfortunately.
    We can see more cooperation in that area. The fact that we will 
conclude a customs agreement, for example, very shortly will mean that 
our customs authorities will cooperate much more effectively, within 
existing budgets, on sharing information in order to stop crime moving 
from--or stop drugs moving from one jurisdiction to another.
    The European Union will be preparing a major report on organized 
crime as a whole, which is in a sense a new phenomenon on its present 
scale, by the end of April. And we would hope to see the United States 
assisting us and participating with us in that study--that we will go 
forward, if you like, with the next wave of legal changes and also the 
devotion of resources to back those legal changes up on a transatlantic 
basis.

Greece and Turkey

    Q. Did you talk about the problems between Greece and Turkey and the 
crisis in the Aegean and the problems of Cyprus within the context of 
the accession of Cyprus to the European Union?
    President Santer. Yes, of course, we discussed it.
    President Clinton. I'll be glad to comment, but since you mentioned 
the European Union, I think I should let them reply.
    President Santer. You know, the position of the European Union in 
this respect is very clear. We defined it in a package on the 6th of 
March, 1995, in which package we developed the ideas that we would 
establish a customs union with Turkey. It is in force from the first of 
January 1996 and is benefiting from the European Union, and also third 
countries are benefiting from it. Unfortunately, the second deal is not 
yet realized, achieved, because of the financial protocol, because of 
the blockade of Greece, you know, because the difference they have with 
some islands in the Aegean Sea. And the third element of this package is 
also the development of human rights, the promotion of human rights. And 
we are stressing also these problems with the Turkish Government. And in 
the financial provisions through our program MIDA, we are providing some 
programs to Turkey to strengthen the human rights situation in Turkey 
and also to assist the civil society and also the needs of the 
population in the southeast, in the poorest part of Turkey.
    That is what we are doing for Turkey at this moment. We hope that 
there would be also some evolution in the human rights situation and 
that we can deal also with the differences between Turkey and Greece on 
the basis of the resolution the European Council--not the European 
Council but the Council of Ministers of the European Union took on the 
15th of July to go to the international core to deal with all these 
legal institutional problems.
    For Cyprus, we didn't change our policy, not at all, because Cyprus 
is a candidate to become a member of the European Union. And we clearly 
defined on the 6th of March, 1995, that negotiations for enlargement 
with Cyprus would start 6 months after the con

[[Page 2522]]

clusion of the intergovernmental conference. And this conclusion, we 
hope, would be finished under the Dutch Presidency in June 1997. So we 
are starting with the negotiation at the beginning of 1998.
    President Clinton. Let me make two general comments. Number one, the 
United States believes that an integrated and democratic and prosperous 
Europe is very much in our interest, therefore we support the expansion 
of the European Union. But we recognize that it is for the Europeans to 
decide the terms and the parties and the timetable of that expansion. 
But in general, we welcome the strengthening and the broadening of the 
Union.
    Secondly, we have spent a lot of time since I've been in office 
trying to minimize tensions and resolve difficulties between Greece and 
Turkey. And in particular, I have made an effort to try to resolve the 
problems over Cyprus. I believe that the future of the European Union 
and the future of the United States will be much brighter and much less 
troublesome if these things can be resolved.
    I believe that Greece and Turkey are two great nations that have an 
enormous commonality of interest, whether in NATO, whether in their 
interest in European integration, whether in their interest in 
minimizing chaos in the vicinity in which they both live--if they could 
simply resolve these longstanding difficulties between them. And I can 
only say for my part that I intend to do whatever I can in these next 4 
years the American people have given me to try to help work out the 
situation in Cyprus and work out the problems generally between Greece 
and Turkey.
    They are both our allies, and they're both very, very important to a 
stable 21st century. And I intend to invest an enormous amount of effort 
in trying to succeed there. And I ask them to reexamine their positions 
and try to reach out to one another. They plainly have more in common 
looking to the future than they do which divides them. It is only the 
past which continues to bedevil them.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President's 133d news conference began at 2:20 p.m. in Room 
450 of the Old Executive Office Building. The President met with Prime 
Minister John Bruton in his capacity as President of the European 
Council and President Jacques Santer of the European Commission. In his 
remarks, the President referred to Stuart E. Eizenstat, Special 
Representative of the President and Secretary of State for the Promotion 
of Democracy in Cuba.