    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 37 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
    [Pages 1747-1751]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Jennifer Shipley of
    New Zealand in Christchurch

    September 15, 1999

        Prime Minister Shipley. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to report
    that we have held very successful talks this afternoon in Christchurch.
    These talks have ranged over many issues, regional issues--urgent
    regional issues--international issues and, of course, bilateral issues.
    I view them as extraordinarily satisfactory from New Zealand's point of
    view.
        For me, President Clinton's visit to New Zealand has been an
    opportunity for this region to make real progress on pressing
    international issues. This afternoon we were able to discuss the matter
    of East Timor, and I was able to thank the President for his leadership
    while in this country in helping to mobilize international support and
    opinion for restoring order and relieving the humanitarian crisis that
    exists in Timor. The plight of the displaced people in Timor has and is
    at the uppermost part of our minds at this time.
        New Zealand is making urgent preparations to contribute our defense
    force capability and personnel to the U.N. force in East Timor. We
    appreciated the opportunity this afternoon to review the most recent
    developments in New York, and the President was able to give us his most
    recent advice.
        I would also like to take this opportunity while we're here to
    publicly say how much we appreciate the leadership role that Australia
    is playing at this present time in evacuating the refugees from East
    Timor and also for providing such a major contribution to the U.N.
    force.
        New Zealand's Navy and Air Force are already on hand, working with
    the Australians. The New Zealand Cabinet will hold a special meeting
    tomorrow afternoon to review the latest developments and also to
    consider how and when we will deploy our troops to the area, if
    requested by the U.N. I've also asked that Parliament be called together
    on Friday, so that this important matter can be discussed.
        In our discussions with the President, we were able to consider
    where our current position on defense force personnel and our defense
    relationship was up to. I valued the opportunity for that discussion to
    take place, and I believe that good progress has been made.
        We reviewed the outlook for global trade. I think we felt that there
    was a real satisfaction in the achievements that the APEC meeting this
    week were able to make. There has been a clear sign that there is a
    commitment from the APEC region to see the launch of a highly successful
    WTO round, and the Auckland Challenge laid down the challenge to the
    rest of the world to come to the talks in Seattle with something
    decisive and clear to put on the table.
        As you are aware, APEC represents half of the world's population and
    half of the world's economy. New Zealand particularly values free and
    open trade, and we believe that strong markets are the most able way in
    which we can deliver a social dividend to the people within our
    respective economies.
        Mr. President, we wish you well in the preparations for the WTO
    round. It is a very important next step in achieving free and open trade
    globally, and many people depend on success being achieved in these
    talks.
        Finally, on the bilateral issue, I believe that the relationship
    between the New Zealand Government and the U.S. is in very good heart.
    There are so many shared values which see us working together across
    such areas of

    [[Page 1748]]

    the environment, world trade, peacekeeping, and, of course, the
    promotion of human rights.
        We also remain committed to working closely together on any trade
    matters between us that have some difficulties, such as the safeguard
    action on our lamb exports to the U.S. via the mechanism that's
    available to us through the WTO. That is, of course, how good friends
    should work these things through, and that is how it will remain in New
    Zealand.
        Mr. President, it's been a real pleasure and a privilege to have you
    in our country. Your own warmth has won the hearts of most New
    Zealanders, and we want to thank you for your leadership on policy
    issues that have seen very effective steps forward this week on pressing
    international issues of our time.
        I now invite you to make some comments.
        President Clinton. Thank you, Prime Minister. Let me begin by
    thanking you, your Government, and the people of New Zealand for the
    wonderful welcome that I and my family and our entire delegation have
    received. I also am very grateful for the tremendous leadership that you
    gave to the APEC summit. It was quite a success, and, I think, thanks in
    no small measure to your efforts.
        As you mentioned, we have a lot of shared values, and I believe that
    the world is moving toward a consensus around freer and more open trade
    but coupled with policies that leave no one behind, that invest in the
    education and health care and empowerment of people, that protect the
    economy while growing the environment, that promote democracy and human
    rights.
        As we see, however, in East Timor, there's one thing to say that
    there is such consensus and quite another to turn it into reality. We
    are working together to address the urgent and difficult tasks there.
    The people are still vulnerable to attack. Many have fled their homes;
    many are short of food, not only those who have left the country but
    those who are displaced within East Timor.
        As all of you know, the Security Council is now moving on a
    resolution that would provide a strong mandate for an effective
    international security force. I expect it to be approved. Meanwhile, we
    continue to receive reports of violence and intimidation, which
    Indonesia has a responsibility to prevent. And also, Indonesia has a
    responsibility to allow relief organizations access to the refugees now.
        Now, we know that this international peacekeeping force will face
    some stiff challenges. But we have affirmed together that we will meet
    those challenges. With our support, the people of East Timor can have
    the independence and the democracy they have voted for. By fostering
    stability there and in helping Indonesia to resume its progress in
    undergoing the profound transitions at work there, we can make our whole
    community of nations more secure.
        Let me say I'm very proud that the United States and New Zealand
    will be standing together to defend freedom and human rights once again.
    We will participate together in the force. As I told the Prime Minister
    earlier, based on our experience elsewhere, I think it is quite
    important that Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the other
    countries that will be participating, prepare through joint exercises
    that will help us to get ready to do what has to be done together in
    East Timor.
        On trade, in addition to what the Prime Minister has said about
    APEC, which we have said over and over and over again, which is that
    we're pleased with the agenda we embraced and we hope it will be
    embraced at the WTO ministerial in Seattle, I also want to say that I'm
    very excited that the whole world will soon benefit from the leadership
    of New Zealand's Mike Moore at the WTO.
        If we can keep pushing for freer and more open trade, if we can make
    that embrace at the WTO ministerial, once again we will see in the
    example of New Zealand how a small country can lead by the power of its
    example.
        Again, Madam Prime Minister, thank you for your hospitality, your
    leadership, and for all that your country is doing to build a better
    world. Thank you.
        Prime Minister Shipley. There are to be a couple of questions either
    side, and we'll take them side by side.

    [[Page 1749]]

    New Zealand-U.S. Military Exercises

        Q. Mr. President, could I just ask you, is there any possibility of
    the United States allowing the resumption of military exercises with New
    Zealand, given that we're currently barred from those? And if not, isn't
    that an anomaly when New Zealand works so closely with the United States
    in areas such as Iraq and the Gulf and also in East Timor?
        President Clinton. Well, I think we should do exercises in the
    specific context of East Timor. That's what I just said. And we will
    do--if I have anything to say about it, we will, along with the
    Australians and others have joint exercises as part of our preparation
    for East Timor.
        Q. What about other military exercises?
        President Clinton. I would deal with them on a case by case basis.
        Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    Hurricane Floyd

        Q. Mr. President, you spoke earlier today about Floyd being one of
    the most serious hurricanes ever to threaten the United States. You've
    been briefed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Can you tell us
    what they've told you and what everybody can expect? And sir, are you
    satisfied that Federal and State agencies have done everything possible
    in the way of mobilizing personnel and equipment?
        President Clinton. Well, I think we've done everything we know to
    do. Let me say, I just got off the phone with Dan Goldin, our NASA
    Administrator, and we were going over all that has been done in the
    event Floyd strikes Cape Canaveral. And as I'm sure you all know now,
    there are essentially two problems that literally threaten our space
    program. One is that we have our space shuttles in those big silos that
    are protected, and they're built to withstand 125 miles an hour winds.
    Right now, Floyd is coming in at about 145 miles an hour. Even if they
    withstand, which I think there's a good chance they will, the other
    thing we had to worry about is the flooding. We can get several feet of
    floodwaters in the Cape Canaveral area. And the NASA people have been
    working furiously to lift everything they can possibly lift as high as
    they can possibly lift it.
        As you know, a lot of individual citizens have been boarding up
    their homes. There have been a lot of relocation, a lot of evacuation.
    We have granted preemptive emergency declarations, which is virtually
    unheard of. I think it was absolutely the right thing to do. The
    Governors of Florida and Georgia were strongly for it; I think South
    Carolina will join.
        All I can tell you now, Terry, is I think we have to wait and see
    what happens. We have taken every step that I am aware of we can take. I
    had a long talk with the Vice President and James Lee Witt today;
    they're on top of it.
        The key will be, I think, when this storm hits--and it won't be long
    now--where does it come in? Will it come in as far south as Cape
    Canaveral and move up, or will it hit further north? How long will it
    last? And we'll just have to keep working, and things may occur as it
    goes on. But I think there's been a truly extraordinary effort to
    prepare for this by State and local and national officials. We've worked
    together; we've done the best we could.

    Situation in East Timor

        Q. Mr. President, in relation to East Timor, in order to make sure
    this is not another Rwanda, how can we shortcut negotiations in New York
    to make sure humanitarian aid gets to East Timor immediately?
        President Clinton. Well, let me say, I think we're moving as fast as
    possible. And the Prime Minister and I talked--we would like to see the
    first contingent of troops there in a matter of a couple of days, as
    soon as the resolution passes. And we think that will happen tomorrow,
    New York time.
        You know, we know the Australians are ready to go. We can be ready
    to go, and we have airlift, and we can bring in others who have made
    their commitments. So I don't think you have to worry about it. Also--I
    don't mean there won't be more people killed and more terrible things
    happen, but what happened in Rwanda was--first, there won't be another
    100 days, and not everybody has a machete. So there may be some terrible
    things happen, but we are moving as fast as we can.

    [[Page 1750]]

        Now, the other thing I would say, though, to make the point you
    made, it's not just a question of stopping the violence--we've got to
    get the NGO's and others in there who can provide humanitarian relief to
    people who are within the country. There are a lot of displaced persons
    who did not leave East Timor. And we know it, we know what we have to
    do. All I can tell you is, we'll do the best we can.
        Lori [Lori Santos, United Press International].
        Q. Sir, you said that Indonesia had the responsibility to prevent
    the systematic killing. What would you like to see them do, and why
    haven't they stepped up to the plate?
        President Clinton. Well, the why--frankly, I don't think we're going
    to know that for a while, until we get the people on the ground, and
    people begin to talk. You know, it's not clear whether some elements of
    the military were encouraging what has happened or whether they felt
    they couldn't stop it. It's not clear what the designs were. There are a
    lot of things about that we don't know. A few days ago I stopped
    worrying about why and started worrying about how to change it. So, I
    don't know.
        What I would like them to do, now that they have asked the United
    Nations to come in, is simply to stop the most egregious forms of
    violence and let the NGO's in to provide humanitarian relief right now.
    Within--it may become a moot point within 72 to 96 hours. But in 2 or 3
    days, a lot of people could die, and they don't have to die if they work
    with us.
        Prime Minister Shipley. From the New Zealand side.

    New Zealand-U.S. Trade

        Q. Mr. President, we know that the United States are the champions
    of free trade, and yet, recently tariffs were put on our lamb imports to
    the United States. How do you equate one with the other? And can you
    give us your views on P5?
        President Clinton. Yes. First, we are a champion of free trade.
    During the recent Asian financial crisis, when we lost huge agricultural
    and other markets, we kept our markets open and sustained the largest
    trade deficits in our history, while we were running the largest budget
    surpluses in our history, two things which don't normally go together.
        I said in the meeting that during this period we bought 10 times as
    much steel from Japan and Russia as all of Europe did.
        Now, I think you understand, in the American system, we have an
    International Trade Commission. People can bring complaints before it.
    The Commission makes a ruling. They made a recommendation. After they
    made a recommendation for some action in the case of the lamb, the Prime
    Minister called me; I called her back. She expressed some--obviously,
    the concerns of New Zealand. I did as much as I could to take those into
    account, including calling for a 3- rather than a 4-year period of
    action and saying that I would review it in the middle of the timeframe.
    So I believe what I did was WTO-consistent, and I believe that what I
    did was appropriate, given the recommendation I was made under our laws,
    just like I think you have a perfect right to appeal the decision. And
    if I were in your position, that's exactly what I'd do.
        Q. And your view on P5?
        President Clinton. On P5, I think it's a very interesting idea. I
    have asked the Prime Minister to give me 10 to 14 days to go home, talk
    to all of our people about it, have a chance to think it through. I had
    hoped to have a well-formulated position by the time I got here. But as
    you know, all of us have been completely swamped by developments in East
    Timor, and we honestly haven't had the time to work it through. So I
    told her I'd get back to her in a couple of weeks, and I will.
        Prime Minister Shipley. Can I just comment on the issue of lamb,
    briefly, before the next question? Perhaps the last question needs to be
    taken. We have fed the President as much fine New Zealand lamb as we
    could possibly fit in. And--[laughter]----
        President Clinton. And I've eaten it all. Not so much as a scrap has
    escaped my attention. [Laughter]
        Prime Minister Shipley. This is an issue that New Zealand felt
    keenly. The WTO is the right forum. We will pursue that actively. But it
    does not spill over into what we view as not only a very valuable market
    for New

    [[Page 1751]]

    Zealand agricultural exports but also a very warm relationship.

    China-U.S. Trade

        Q. [Inaudible]--WTO, are the U.S.-China trade talks proving more
    difficult than you had hoped? When and where will the next round of
    talks take place? And are you disappointed that there hasn't been a
    breakthrough?
        President Clinton. Well, first of all, I think, on balance, this has
    been quite a good week for the United States in Asia, in the Asia-
    Pacific region. I did have a good meeting with President Jiang; we
    talked about things other than trade. One of our common interests, North
    Korea and avoiding the missile launch, appears to be headed in the right
    direction. We had progress in East Timor, and with the Prime Minister's
    leadership, we made the right commitments here at APEC. So I think this
    is good.
        Now, on the Chinese-WTO talks, we have reengaged, and each side will
    now do whatever it thinks is right. You know, I don't totally control
    the timetable there, but I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic about
    it. I am satisfied that we have reengaged, and we will do the best we
    can to just deal with this on the merits. We only had one or two issues
    before us when we couldn't quite get there in Washington. I still think
    it would be a better thing for China and a better thing for the world if
    they were in the WTO, but that is, of course, ultimately a decision that
    they have to make, not me. But we're talking; we're working; and I feel
    good about it.
        Prime Minister Shipley. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President's 180th news conference began at 3:30 p.m. in the
    courtyard at the Sign of the Takahe, a historic landmark and restaurant.
    In his remarks, he referred to Mike Moore, Director General, World Trade
    Organization; Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; Gov. Roy Barnes of Georgia; and
    President Jiang Zemin of China. The President also referred to P5,
    Pacific 5, a proposed free trade area, which would include Australia,
    Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. A tape was not
    available for verification of the content of this news conference.