[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 20 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Pages 931-932]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With King Abdullah II of Jordan and an 
Exchange With Reporters

May 18, 1999

    President Clinton. Well, let me just begin by saying how delighted I 
am to have His Majesty here today. The United States values our 
relationship with Jordan very much. We hope to have a discussion about 
the opportunity and the obligation we have to continue the peace process 
in the Middle East. I think we've both talked to Prime Minister-elect 
Barak about that.
    And we are also very much committed to Jordan's economic renewal. 
And the supplemental appropriation bill now working its way through the 
Congress has, among other things, $100 million in support for Jordan, 
and I believe it will pass in the next few days, so I'm very encouraged 
by that.
    And I'm delighted to have you here, Your Majesty.

Israeli Election and Middle East Peace Process

    Q. What would be the first step, Mr. President, towards a renewal, a 
revival of the peace process? Do you have anything in mind, I mean, have 
you set any dates?
    President Clinton. No. Well, we have to, first of all, await the 
formation of a government in Israel. They probably have only known for a 
few hours what the distribution of the vote is by parties, in terms of 
what the composition of the Knesset will be. And so I think General 
Barak is entitled to a few days to put a government together.
    Q. Why do you have so many hopes about this? I mean, why are you 
suddenly encouraged?
    President Clinton. Well, I think that, clearly, the whole issue of 
the peace process was an issue; and I think because of his military 
service, the question of General Barak's devotion to the security of 
Israel is not in question. But he has evidenced an intention to continue 
the peace process. And if he's willing to do it, I think that we're 
certainly both willing to do it and we're hopeful that we'll have a 
chance to do so.
    Q. Mr. President, what can the United States do to help further this 
peace process at this point?
    President Clinton. Well, we have an accord at Wye to implement and 
we have a lot of work to do on the final status issues. I think the 
roadmap is out there. And we'll do what we've always done. I've been 
working at this for 6 years, and I'm looking forward to continuing. I'll 
do what I have done under all the previous leadership of Israel and what 
we have worked very closely with Jordan to do.

Jordanian Economy

    Q. Mr. President, the U.S. and you, personally, have been very 
supportive to Jordan in the past few months. What immediate plans do you 
have now to help Jordan's economy, in addition to the $100 million?
    President Clinton. Well, that's what--we're going to have a 
conversation about that. I hope that Jordan can receive some relief on 
its debt problem from other countries. The United States has already 
done about all we can on that; we've done quite a bit.

[[Page 932]]

But I think other nations could do more to help Jordan, and I know His 
Majesty has been working on that. And I would like to see more action on 
that, and I will do what I can to support that.

Apache Helicopters in Kosovo

    Q. Why is the United States, sir, stalling the use of Apache 
helicopters in Kosovo?
    President Clinton. Well, first of all, I think that's a 
mischaracterization. This is a military campaign with clear objectives. 
And military leaders will make their decisions about when and under what 
circumstances to use the Apaches. As General Clark and others have made 
clear, when the weather is good, as it generally is at this time of 
year, most of what the Apaches could do can be done with the A-10s at 
less risk.
    But those are judgments there being made; I don't really understand 
this implication that the United States is stalling. They're a military 
asset that's there; they're there to be used under appropriate 
circumstances when the military commanders decide that it should be 
done. It's not a political decision in any way, and it should not be.

Ground Troops

    Q. With the air war now in its second month, are you giving more 
consideration to ground troops?
    President Clinton. Well, first of all, I think the air war has 
accomplished quite a bit, and there's a lot more that it can accomplish. 
I, and everyone else, has always said that we intend to see our 
objectives achieved and that we have not, and will not, take any option 
off the table.
    But we are making progress, and I am convinced that we will achieve 
our objectives one way or the other. And I'm very hopeful, obviously, 
that the diplomatic efforts that are being made in the State Department 
and with the Russians will bear some fruit. But if they do not, we will 
continue to press ahead. But I do believe that they've done an excellent 
job and--now over 20,000 sorties--a great deal of what we have been 
trying to accomplish has been done. I don't think that we or our Allies 
should take any options off the table and that has been my position from 
the beginning, but we ought to stay with the strategy we have and work 
it through to the end.

Jordan-U.S. Relations/Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Your Majesty, what do you hope your talks with the President will 
result in? And do you think the climate in Israel now is more conducive 
to making progress in the peace process?
    King Abdullah. Well, I think we have many issues to discuss with the 
President, and one of the main things is to thank the overwhelming 
support that the President has shown Jordan over the many years, but 
especially with the passing away of His Majesty. And again, the 
President went out of his way, and the American administration and 
government, to support us through this very difficult time.
    Vis-a-vis, obviously, the elections in Israel were very, very 
optimistic. I just had the opportunity to speak to Prime Minister-elect 
Barak and wish him well. And we had the opportunity of seeing him in 
Jordan only several days ago, and we see eye-to-eye on many issues and 
we're very optimistic of taking the peace process forward.

Note: The President spoke at 9:57 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak of 
Israel; and Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. 
A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.