    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 25 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
    [Pages 1167-1168]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With President Kiro Gligorov of Macedonia in Skopje

    June 22, 1999

        Thank you very much, Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, leaders of
    the Macedonian Government and political life, parties in Parliament who
    were freely elected last November.
        I thank the President for his statement and would like to reply by
    saying that I came here for two reasons. First, I want to thank the
    leaders and the people of Macedonia for helping a just cause to prevail
    in Kosovo, for giving shelter and hope to the Kosovar refugees, and for
    welcoming our NATO troops who came here to help those refugees.
        NATO could not have achieved its mission without you; the people of
    Kosovo would not be going home to security and autonomy without you. I
    came here, as much as anything else, to say thank you.
        Second, I came here because I believe the United States, our NATO
    Allies and, indeed, all nations of the world who support the reversal of
    ethnic cleansing and respect for human rights and minority rights have a
    responsibility to help Macedonia to overcome the economic hardships that
    the recent crisis has imposed and to return to a path to prosperity and
    even stronger democracy and freedom.
        Already, our total aid to Macedonia has more than tripled over last
    year to $72 million; and today we will provide another $12 million in
    food commodities. In the months ahead, we will do more. But we are also
    committed to the restoration of economic opportunity and jobs in
    Macedonia. Today I am delighted that an executive of the American
    company Liz Claiborne came with the First

    [[Page 1168]]

    Lady here to Macedonia to follow up on her trip and to announce that
    they would be reopening facilities and employing somewhere between 2,000
    and 3,000 of your people. We will encourage other American businesses
    now to look at Macedonia as a model of stability at the end of the
    conflict in Kosovo.
        Finally, Mr. President, let me reaffirm once more our belief that in
    order to build a future of freedom and prosperity, in which human rights
    and minority rights are everywhere respected, in which nations are not
    torn apart by yesterday's hatreds and violence, we must make this
    Stability Pact a success. We must create real opportunities for ordinary
    citizens throughout southeastern Europe. And the United States is
    committed to doing that.
        But the thing that is even more important, Mr. President, is that
    the Macedonian people and leaders are committed to that kind of future.
    I think it is worth noting that this country is not ethnically
    homogeneous. It has its own challenges. And yet, in spite of that, you
    were willing to take these refugees--300,000 of them; 50,000 have
    already gone home. You bore this burden at great cost and considerable
    risk so that we could together pursue a vision of southeastern Europe
    very different from what the horrible ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and
    Kosovo represent.
        We have stopped that; now it is time to build that better future.
    And I pledge to you, sir, that the United States will work with you, and
    we will do this together.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 1:48 p.m. in the President's
    Ceremonial Office at the Parliament Building. In his remarks, he
    referred to Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski of Macedonia; and Paul R.
    Charron, chairman and chief executive officer, Liz Claiborne, Inc. The
    transcript made available by the Office of the Press Secretary also
    included the remarks of President Gligorov.