[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 26 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Pages 986-987]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister John 
Howard of Australia

June 27, 1997

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Q. Sir, do you have any sympathy for Australia's position on 
greenhouse gas emissions?
    The President. The Prime Minister was just expressing sympathy with 
ours. [Laughter] We're going to talk about it today. I think we have to 
do something. I think it's a serious problem. But we've all got to--you 
know, what you want is everybody making a good effort. We don't want to 
falsely compare one person's circumstance to another. We've got from now 
to Kyoto to find a solution; I think we will.
    Q. Sir, is differentiation the answer?
    The President. I want to make sure I know what I am answering when I 
give an answer.
    Q. Different targets for different countries, sir, is that the 
answer?
    The President. I don't want to say yet; I want to have time to look 
through this and make a judgment.
    Q. Do you think Australia and the U.S. can meet on this, then?
    The President. I certainly hope so. I hope we can all meet in Kyoto 
on it. It's what I'm working for.
    Q. [Inaudible]--on the developing nations?
    Q. Will you be discussing China today and U.S. engagement in the 
region?
    The President. Just a minute. I think the developing nations should 
be part of it. And I think that--we believe we can demonstrate that the 
developing nations can continue to grow their economies rapidly and 
still adopt responsible, sustainable development policies. That's what 
behind our Export-Import Bank loan policy. It's what behind what Mr. 
Wolfensohn is doing at the World Bank. We can get there.
    What did you say about Asia?

U.S. Engagement in Asia

    Q. Will you be discussing the U.S. engagement in Asia?
    The President. Absolutely, a lot.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Q. Mr. Howard, do you think you can talk the President around?
    Prime Minister Howard. Well, I don't think it's a question of 
talking around. I think the Australian position is quite well known. We 
want to play a part; we don't expect a free ride. But we've argued for 
some kind of differentiation, because different countries are in 
different situations. And the concern Australia had was that the Group 
of Eight meeting in Denver might have preempted the outcome of the Kyoto 
Summit. And that clearly is not happening. And I get a lot of 
encouragement from the remarks that were made by the President yesterday 
in New York. And I think that is the basis of an understanding. I'd like 
to see Australia and the United States work together on it. We have a 
concern about domestic jobs, and I'm sure the United States does, too.

Note: The exchange began at approximately 1:20 p.m. in the Rose Garden 
at the White House. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of this exchange.

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