[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 30 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Pages 1485-1486]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Democratic National Committee Picnic and an Exchange 
With Reporters in Aspen

July 24, 1999

Death of King Hassan II of Morocco

    The President. Let me, again, offer my condolences to the family of 
His Majesty King Hassan of Morocco and to the people of Morocco. As all 
of you know, Hillary and I are going to the funeral. His Majesty was a 
friend of the United States for a very long time and a friend of the 
Middle East peace process. He also worked very hard to reconcile the 
differences among the Moroccan people, within Morocco, and therefore, to 
set an example of the kind of thing that all of us should be doing and 
certainly there should be more of in the Middle East.
    He was particularly gracious to Hillary and other members of our 
family. And after she went to see him recently, Morocco once again 
manifested its friendship to the United States by standing with us on 
human rights issues in ways that had not been the case before.
    So I feel very, very grateful that the United States had a partner 
and friend like King Hassan, and I considered him a personal friend. And 
I am grateful for the many kindnesses he extended to me and to our 
family. And so I'm looking forward to going to Morocco for the funeral 
and to seeing the

[[Page 1486]]

new King. I talked with him on the phone; I wished him well. We had met 
before, and I have high hopes for our continuing successful endeavors 
for both his partners and for the peace process.

President Hafiz al-Asad of Syria

    Q. Do you expect to meet with King Asad while you're there?
    The President. With President Asad from Syria?
    Q. President Asad, yes, I'm sorry.
    The President. No, it's okay. I don't know yet whether he is coming; 
I don't know who all is coming. But I will be on the ground for a few 
hours, as all of you know. We'll have to stay, I think, 5 hours after 
the service is over, and so I'll have an opportunity to see a number of 
people, and I'll do what I can to make the best use of the time. And as 
soon as I know with whom I'll be meeting, I'll let you know. I just 
don't know yet.

Morocco and the Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Is this part of a changing of the guard, sir, in the Middle East, 
between King Hussein and the elections?
    The President. Well, there is some change. You know, some of it is 
the rhythm of politics and some of it is the rhythm of life. King 
Hussein and King Hassan both had health problems and had had long and 
distinguished tenures. And that happens, you know. Everybody's time runs 
out. Mine does, too.
    But I think the important thing is that Morocco has been a model of 
reconciliation within the country and a model of partnership and 
friendship for peace in the Middle East. And I think that direction will 
continue. That's the really important thing for me, that this change be 
a positive thing for the people of Morocco and for the people of the 
region. And I'm going to do everything I can to be a good friend to the 
new King and to the country.
    Press Secretary Joe Lockhart. Thank you very much.
    The President. Thank you.

Michael Jordan

    Q. Who told you you were Michael Jordan?
    The President. One of my Republican friends was being crude. That's 
what I said to him. I said no one in their right mind could compare me 
to Michael Jordan. Well, he said, ``I meant it only in the political 
context.'' [Laughter] I said, ``I can't jump 4 inches. I have a vertical 
jump of about 4 inches.''

Note: The President spoke at 1:10 p.m. at a private residence. In his 
remarks, he referred to King Mohammed VI, successor to King Hassan II; 
and former NBA Chicago Bull Michael Jordan. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of these remarks.