    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 17 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
    [Pages 578-579]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on Senate Ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention and an
    Exchange With Reporters

    April 24, 1997

        The President. Ladies and gentlemen, the United States Senate has
    served America well tonight. Because they have ratified the Chemical
    Weapons Convention, our troops will be less likely to face poison gas on
    the battlefield, our hand will be strengthened in the fight against
    terrorists and rogue states. We will end a century that began with the
    horror of chemical weapons in World War I much closer to the elimination
    of those kinds of weapons. And once again, America has displayed the
    leadership that we must demonstrate as we build a safer world for the
    21st century.
        Two and a half months ago, Majority Leader Lott and I put together a
    process to work through the concerns that some Senators had about the
    treaty. Our negotiating teams held 30 hours of meetings; so did groups
    led by Senator Biden and Senator Helms. At the end of the day, because
    we went the extra mile, we resolved the problems that had been raised by
    the vast majority of the Senators.
        I thank the Majority Leader for guiding these efforts so
    successfully. I applaud the efforts of Senators on both sides of the
    aisle, including Minority Leader Daschle, Senator Biden, Senator Lugar,
    and Senator McCain. And I've been so gratified that in these past few
    weeks, so many have put politics aside to join together behind this
    treaty, as we saw yesterday when Senator Dole and General Powell, Brent
    Scowcroft, and other Republicans joined me, as they had previously.
        I thank the Vice President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
    Staff, and so many of

    [[Page 579]]

    our military leaders, past and present, who also came out strongly in
    support of this treaty.
        This vote is an example of America working as it should, Democrats
    and Republicans together, putting our country first, reaching across
    party lines, reaching for the common good. This vote is vivid proof that
    we are stronger as a nation when we work together. It's true when it
    comes to our leadership in the world; it's also true when it comes to
    dealing with our challenges here at home: strengthening our education
    system, finishing the job of reforming welfare, fighting crime,
    defending the environment, and finishing the job of balancing the
    budget.
        The Chemical Weapons Convention truly was made in America, under two
    of my predecessors. It is right for America. Now it has been ratified in
    America, and it will make our future more secure. For that, on behalf of
    the American people, I am profoundly grateful to the United States
    Senate.

    Budget Agreement

        Q. Mr. President, Senator Lott said today that, in light of his
    support of this treaty, that you should show, quote, ``similar courage
    against your base and make budget concessions that might upset
    Democrats.'' Are you willing to anger Democrats to balance the budget,
    if that's what it takes?
        The President. Well, first of all, a majority of Republicans
    supported this treaty and all the Democrats. And I think we can get a
    balanced budget supported by a majority of Republicans and a majority of
    Democrats in both Houses if we work together in good faith. This was not
    some unilateral move. This was an honest, good-faith negotiation. We put
    28 clarifying conditions on to the treaty that we worked very hard with
    Senator Lott and others with.
        I am--what I am willing to do, I'm willing to work through this
    process on the budget just the way we worked through this. I'm very
    encouraged by it, and I think that America should be encouraged by it.
    If we work together in a very practical way to do what's in the national
    interest, I think we can get there.
        Q. Mr. President, how far apart are you right now with the
    Republican leadership and the Democrats in Congress in achieving a
    balanced budget agreement?
        The President. I don't want to characterize it. They're working
    hard, and they're working in good faith. And I want to leave it like
    that.
        I'm going to--we're going to talk tomorrow. It's late. Let's go to
    bed.

    Missing Military Trucks in Texas

        Q. Mr. President, we're told that two military trucks are missing
    tonight, one carrying four unarmed Air Force missiles, the other said to
    be carrying machine guns and mortar. Mr. President, we're told that they
    are overdue 3 to 4 days. What's being done to find these trucks, and is
    foul play suspected?
        The President. I've just been briefed on it. The FBI is working on
    it--working hard on it. It's my understanding that one of the trucks has
    been recovered, and that the other one has weapons that are inert and
    cannot cause any harm. But we're working on it. We'll have more reports
    tomorrow.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:51 p.m. in the Briefing Room at the
    White House.