[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 13 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Pages 482-483]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Jerry John 
Rawlings of Ghana in Accra, Ghana

March 23, 1998

    President Rawlings. Let me just take this opportunity to welcome 
each and every one of you to Ghana, and quite frankly, if I had the 
choice, I would have suggested that you visit a place like Ghana in the 
month of August when it's nice and cool. So while you're here under this 
hot, blazing African sun, do everything you can to--what do you call--
put in as much fluid as you can in order to fight the dehydrate effect 
of the tropics. But at the same time, if you keep away from the shades, 
the wives and the husbands would be missing the chance of a nice suntan 
before you leave the tropics.
    Let me say that as short as this visit is, I think what's most 
important is the content. And there's no doubt that the agenda that's 
been drawn out would be an issue that takes on the serious subjects that 
concern Africa, an issue that's been initiated by the President and 
members of his Cabinet. That's most welcome to this continent.
    Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, 27 years from now, as I 
said to some of our colleagues in the CNN yesterday, that the population 
of this continent or sub-Saharan Africa will be doubling to about 1.5 
billion. And if we don't take the appropriate measures both from the 
economic standpoint and the political standpoint to lay the foundation 
towards development and peace, I'm afraid we'll be running down the 
hill.
    However, I feel very hopeful and very confident that the measures 
we've taken--and a good number of African countries--we're

[[Page 483]]

beginning to register a healthy economic upturn. The political stability 
that's returning to this continent, no doubt, I believe is what must 
have encouraged the President and his colleagues to take on this issue 
to do what they can to assist the efforts that we're putting in Africa.
    And for this, I would like to welcome him, his wife, his--our dear 
Chelsea--we'll talk about her later--and members of his Cabinet. And I'm 
so glad that we have Reverend Minister Jackson also as a member of the 
delegation.
    And--what else? Talking about the 8-hour period, let me explain that 
in politics there are times I believe that we spend the least time with 
those who have the least problems. It's hot naturally so all the time. I 
mean, there are times when we can relax and spend a lot of time with 
those that we have so much in common. But quite frankly, the 
relationship between the U.S. and Ghana has been so healthy, so much 
foundation has been laid, that, quite frankly, I believe there's no 
turning back in terms of the progress that's been made. And I can only 
see a forward movement.
    And let me simply end up by saying that please, you've come at the 
wrong time of the season, not in economic or political terms but the 
hot, blazing sun. So please do what you can to--not to dehydrate 
yourself. Do what you can to take in as much liquids as you can, and 
don't miss out on the sun.
    Thank you very much.
    Q. Mr. President Clinton, have you spoken with----
    President Rawlings. Can we make this just the one and only question, 
because--let's put it this way, I don't want to share the limited time 
that I have with the President. I have only, barely--no, about 8 hours 
from now. And our colleagues are waiting in the Cabinet for a meeting. 
Beyond that, our people have been waiting from 5 a.m., and there are 
hundreds of thousands, chiefs, elders, children, et cetera. I don't want 
anybody fainting. Neither do I think President Clinton would like to see 
that happen.
    Q. It's only one, sir.
    President Clinton. I'll take one question.

President Boris Yeltsin of Russia

    Q. Thank you, sir. Have you spoken with President Yeltsin? Are you 
concerned about his dismissal of his Cabinet? Do you think you 
understand what is behind it or what the effect will be, sir?
    President Clinton. Let me say, first of all, I have not spoken with 
him. I found out about it this morning when I woke up. And until I know 
more, I don't think I should say much, except that we don't interfere in 
the internal affairs of any country, and as President, he has to 
constitute the government as he sees fit. We hope that the general 
direction of policy will be unaffected by this, and I have no reason to 
believe that it--that anything different will occur in a way that's at 
all adverse to the partnership we've been building with Russia. If I 
know anything else in the next few hours, I'll be glad to tell you.
    Let me also thank President Rawlings for welcoming me here. I have 
very much looked forward to coming to Ghana, especially since the first 
time we met in the White House. I admire the direction this nation is 
taking under his leadership, and I want to make the most of this next 8 
hours. So we better go to work so we can get out there and see the 
people, too.
    President Rawlings. Thank you very much, sir.
    President Clinton. Thank you.

Note: The exchange began at 9:25 a.m. in the garden at Osu Castle. 
President Rawlings referred to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson. A tape 
was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.