[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 47 (Monday, November 29, 1999)]
[Pages 2412-2417]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Konstandinos Simitis 
of Greece in Athens

November 20, 1999

    Prime Minister Simitis. Ladies and gentlemen, with very special 
pleasure, the Greek Government and the Greek people and I, personally, 
are welcoming President Clinton and the American delegation. This visit 
is confirming the historic friendship relations between the two 
countries and between our two people, a relationship that has been kept 
alive by the Greeks who have lived and are still living creatively in 
the United States, by the common struggles in other times, by our close 
relationship and partnership within the North Atlantic Alliance, 
political solidarity, and cooperation, our cooperation for our common 
goals.
    With President Clinton, we had a very friendly, open, and free 
discussion. During our talks we covered all issues, those which under 
the present situation have a certain importance from our country, for 
going from Greek-American relations to developments in the Balkans, 
Greek-Turkish relations, and the Cyprus issue. We agreed, as regards 
Greek-American relations, that there is still considerable margin for 
the improvement of the cooperation between the two countries.
    Greece, thanks to its economic renewal these last few years, 
provides new major opportunities for investments, trade relations, 
relations in the field of technology, and other areas. For the Balkans, 
our conviction is that

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the present situation entails certain risks. Stability is necessary in 
the region, respect of existing borders, and the strengthening of 
initiatives for the reconstruction of the region, and above all, the 
implementation of the Stability Pact.
    As regards relations with neighboring Turkey, we have emphasized the 
need of deserving international law and international treaties and 
conventions. Rapprochement, steps towards rapprochement have been made 
recently. We believe that the most substantial answer is required on the 
part of Turkey to the initiatives of the Greek side.
    We have agreed that Turkey's European perspective will help 
establish closer links based on peaceful development and cooperation. 
However, its candidature could not be accepted unless certain conditions 
are met for the settlement of existing problems. As regards the Cyprus 
issue, we have agreed that talks that have just started should be 
substantive in order to lead to the settlement of this issue.
    The talks with the United States political leadership are, of 
course, self-understood. We have had a very interesting exchange of 
views, as I said, on all important issues for us. And we have also 
ascertained the friendly relations between the American and the Greek 
people, the close ties, not only at a political and economic levels but 
also at the levels of styles and culture where we believe our relations 
and cooperation should be extended. The friendship between our two 
peoples is confirmed by the substantial presence and role of a Greek 
community in the United States; successfully, it is making full use of 
all its rights as an American citizen.
    Greece is a pole of democracy, political stability, social and 
political cohesion in the wider region. Its potential is much greater 
compared to the size of the country and its population. We have 
established that it is in the interest of both countries for our 
cooperation to safeguard and promote peace development and a network of 
relations in the region that would minimize tension, and this is why we 
will pursue and strengthen our cooperation with the United States.
    This visit does not just confirm the past but also constitutes a 
guarantee for the future where, together, we can respond to the new 
challenges, the new challenges of a new era, of a new reality that is 
taking shape at the end of this century based on mutual understanding, 
equal cooperation, common resolve, and determination to face problems 
together, provide new answers, build on the values of democracy, freedom 
shared by our people, which are defended by our people, the values that 
we want to promote.
    President Clinton. First of all, Prime Minister, let me thank you 
and the members of your government for the very good meeting that we had 
today. I think the Prime Minister has summarized the results of our 
meeting quite well. I would like to add just a few words.
    First, the Greek relationship is profoundly important to me and to 
the United States because of the values and history we share; because of 
the large role Greek-Americans play in our national life, as the Prime 
Minister said. But also because of two historic transformations that 
have occurred in the last decade.
    The first is the transformation of southeast Europe from a 
battleground between East and West to a proving ground for democracy and 
tolerance in the post-cold-war world. The second is the remarkable 
transformation of Greece itself into a regional leader with a booming 
economy, a vibrant democracy, with the ability to help to pull its 
neighbors together and push them forward into 21st century Europe.
    We spoke a lot today about the role Greece is playing in the 
Balkans, with its troops in Bosnia and Kosovo, with its support for 
economic development and reconstruction, with its private sector 
investment. Greece is carrying a heavier burden in this region than 
almost any other country, but the potential payoff is very large: an 
undivided, democratic Europe, in which wars like those we've seen in the 
former Yugoslavia no longer happen. And I want to pay a tribute to the 
Prime Minister and the people of Greece for all they are doing in the 
Balkans and pledge my support for the Stability Pact and the economic 
growth necessary for this to work.
    Of course, we also spoke about the road to reconciliation and 
lasting peace between Greece and Turkey and the issues in the Aegean 
and, of course, Cyprus. I told the Prime

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Minister how pleased I am that the parties in Cyprus have agreed to 
start these proximity talks on December 3d in New York, and how 
determined I am that they be serious talks. The goal is to lay the 
foundation for meaningful negotiations toward a comprehensive 
settlement. We should have no illusions; there's a tough road ahead. But 
we will work closely with Secretary-General Annan to ensure that the 
talks are productive.
    We talked about our growing trade and investment, about how we can 
strengthen our economic relationship further. Greece's economic renewal 
has made it one of the most attractive places in Europe in which to do 
business. I am very pleased that its progress in improving protection 
for intellectual property rights makes it possible to move rapidly 
toward settling our copyright case in the WTO.
    Finally, let me just express the great sympathy and support of the 
American people to all those who lost their loved ones in the tragic 
earthquake last August. We will not forget the heroism of the Greek 
emergency teams who pulled survivors from the rubble, not only here in 
Athens but also across the Aegean in Turkey. I am very glad that our own 
Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed with its Greek 
counterparts to work together to strengthen their preparedness for 
future disasters.
    Let me say in closing, I am satisfied with the work we advanced 
today. We look to, as I said last night, we look to ancient Greece for 
inspiration but to modern Greece for leadership and for partnership. 
After this visit, I believe we have strengthened that partnership.
    Thank you very much.

Turkey's Candidacy for European Union Membership

    Q. From what we know, you did ask while you were in Turkey for some 
specific move by Ankara that would match the moves Greece has done in 
order, also, to make her candidacy for the European Union easier. Do you 
have anything concrete on that?
    President Clinton. Well, I didn't think that was my role. Let me 
tell you what I did do. I spoke both at every opportunity, publicly and 
privately, before the Turkish Assembly, before the business group, 
before the group of earthquake survivors, and in all my private meetings 
about the importance of resolving outstanding issues between Greece and 
Turkey, including Cyprus.
    I specifically asked that the Halki seminary be reopened. I have 
pushed a lot of issues. And I came away believing that in the next few 
months, as all these issues are bubbling up--the start of the proximity 
talks, the debate over whether Turkey should be given candidacy status 
in the EU at Helsinki, and the continuing bilateral talks between Greece 
and Turkey--which I applaud the Prime Minister's government for his 
leadership in--that there will be an opportunity to resolve a large 
number of these issues.
    I hope that my trip there was constructive in that regard. I believe 
it was. But I would not expect the Turkish leaders to let me be the 
conduit of their ultimate resolution of this. I think that I helped to 
improve the climate, and I dealt with a lot of the specific issues, and 
I feel good about that.
    Prime Minister Simitis. Let me add two words for my part. During the 
meeting ahead with Mr. Ecevit and during Mr. Papandreou's meeting with 
Mr. Cem, we emphasized the need of certain movements and initiatives on 
the part of Turkey. And I believe that President Clinton's visit was 
important because he referred to that question, and it has helped, as 
well as the talks we had with the Turkish side on increasing awareness 
on the part of Turkey that things are not that easy. We cannot just 
expect for something to happen without doing or contributing anything 
for our part. You help yourself, and God will help you, as we say. We 
have to do something for our part, as well.

Greek Protests of President's Visit

    Q. Sir, the demonstrations last night included extensive arson and 
damage. I want to know if you're concerned by the protests, and what you 
say to the Greeks who oppose your visit here?
    President Clinton. What was the last part of your question?
    Q. What's your message to the Greeks who are protesting, who oppose 
your visit here?

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    President Clinton. Well, first of all, I think that we have to--
especially in Greece--reaffirm the right of people to protest in a 
democracy. Secondly, I strongly believe the protests should be peaceful, 
and therefore, I deeply regret the Greeks who had their property injured 
and who suffered losses through these demonstrations.
    But I think that the important thing is that we reaffirm the value 
of the relationship between our two countries. I think that--I know most 
Americans deeply value the relationship with Greece, notwithstanding the 
fact that almost all of the people of Greece disagree with our policy in 
Kosovo and, before that, in Bosnia. I believe I did the right thing, and 
I think most Americans believe that we did the right thing to stand 
against ethnic cleansing.
    But that doesn't affect our affection for and our support for the 
people of Greece and the Government of Greece. And I would hope that 
most Greek citizens would, like the Greek Government, believe that there 
is value in our relationship and our partnership; and that even if we 
have a disagreement, we can't allow that to undermine our relationship 
or our partnership.
    I would just say, looking toward the future, I, personally, admire 
very much and support very strongly the leadership that Greece is 
exercising in the U.N. operations in Bosnia and in Kosovo and generally 
in the Balkans and throughout southeastern Europe. And I believe that if 
we can, the rest of us, do our part to help the economy grow there and 
provide a magnet that enables these nations to pull together, that 
Greece will lead them into a very different future in the new century.
    Prime Minister Simitis. May I also point--Greece is a country, a 
democratic country where everyone can freely express his views and 
opinions. But as we had emphasized before President Clinton's arrival, 
our Constitution provides that these expressions of opinions and views 
should be made in a peaceful way and within the context of legality. And 
I'm sorry for the fact that certain people did not observe and respect 
this fundamental principle of law, the fundamental principle that allows 
our states to operate and function.
    The friendship, however, between the two people and the partnership, 
our partnership with the United States, will not be determined by these 
protests, but by our common goals, our common objectives and pursuits, 
our efforts to handle and face problems together. And the meeting today 
has shown that we share common goals and common pursuits, and we're 
trying together. This is the foundation of a friendship.

Turkey's Candidacy for European Union Membership

    Q. Mr. President, I followed your trip in Ankara, and you seemed to 
be mostly the strongest supporter of Turkey's candidacy in the European 
Union. So do you think that the permanent conditionality of Turkey's 
candidacy should be, first, the solution of the Cyprus problem and, 
second, the acceptance of the jurisdiction of Turkey, as far as the 
Court of Hague is concerned?
    President Clinton. I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understood the 
question. Could you repeat both questions again?
    Q. Yes, one question actually. You seem to be the strongest 
supporter of Turkey's accession in the European Union. So the question 
is, do you believe or think that the permanent conditionality for 
Turkey's candidacy in the European Union should be, first, the solution 
of the Cyprus problem and, second, the acceptance of the jurisdiction of 
a Hague Court from Turkey?
    President Clinton. Well, first of all, I believe--I have said this 
already--I believe that the disputes in the Aegean between Greece and 
Turkey should be referred to the International Court of Justice in The 
Hague or to some other mutually agreed on and generally recognized 
international dispute resolution mechanism. It seems to me that that is 
the only way that either side can have a resolution of this without 
appearing to cave in rather than just to let a neutral party, respected, 
decide it.
    Secondly, I strongly support a resolution of the Cyprus issue. 
You're right. I am probably the strongest supporter in the West of 
Turkey's membership in the EU. I think I've also been the most vocal 
consistent supporter for 7 years of a resolution of Cyprus. I have

[[Page 2416]]

worked as hard as I could on it and will continue to do so.
    Now, when the parties meet in Helsinki, the members of the European 
Union--the United States is not a member--they will decide the 
conditions of Turkish candidacy if, in fact, they decide to grant Turkey 
candidacy.
    But let me say, on the larger issue, my feeling is that the more 
Turkey is integrated into Europe and has the kind of dialog that we've 
seen recently with Greece, the more the climate improves, the more you 
can resolve these issues, the brighter the future for both countries 
will be. And as I told the Turks--I'm not saying anything to you I 
didn't say there--I do not think that bright future is achievable until 
there is a resolution of the Cyprus issue. These two countries need to 
go hand-in-hand into the future. And the festering disputes have to be 
resolved in order for that to happen.
    Prime Minister Simitis. As I have indicated already, the Greek 
Government and I, personally, had a series of contacts. I have met and 
talked with all the Prime Ministers of the European Union member states 
on that issue. I have talked with them in order to determine what would 
be the best way that would allow us to overcome problems in the future. 
It would be counterproductive, I believe, if today, whilst these talks 
are ongoing, we were to focus on one or the other point or issue. This 
would not facilitate the discussion.
    I believe that in the future the time will come for us to determine 
all these aspects. But at present, restriction to one or two or three 
issues is not helpful. We must have a global approach and look at the 
final aim of this overall effort.
    Thank you.

U.S. Trade Policy and Gov. George W. Bush of Texas

    Q. Mr. President, yesterday George W. Bush laid out his foreign 
policy priorities. Specifically on China and Russia, he said they should 
be viewed as competitors of the United States rather than as strategic 
partners. I'm wondering what your view is on that, and also, do you feel 
reassured that he has a view of the world that would make him an 
effective President?
    President Clinton.  You know, you guys keep trying to get me into 
this election. I am not a candidate. I'm not always happy about that, 
but I'm not.
    Let me say this. I think we did the right thing to negotiate the WTO 
agreement with China, and apparently, Governor Bush agrees with that. I 
think that, as with all great countries, we are both competitors and 
partners. I think there is a problem with characterizing a country as a 
competitor if that means we know for sure that for the next 20 years 
there will be an adversary relationship.
    We will have certain interests in common with China; we will have 
certain things we disagree with. We will support a lot of their domestic 
developments. We still have great trouble when people--free speech or 
religious rights are restrained.
    With regard to Russia, we have a difference, as you know, and the 
OSCE conference made clear over the present policy in Chechnya, but we 
have a common interest in working together where we can. We have served 
side by side with Russian soldiers in the Balkans; we have seen the 
Russians withdraw their troops from the Baltics; we have seen a dramatic 
reduction in the nuclear capacity, the nuclear threat there. The 
Congress just gave us the funds to continue to reduce the nuclear threat 
with Russia. And we have worked with them on economic reform.
    So I would say that in both cases there will be instances of 
competition, instances of partnership. But what we should be looking for 
is a world in which nations, including very large nations, define their 
greatness by the achievements of their people and by their ability to 
profit in their relations with other nations by bringing out the best in 
them, instead of by the traditional 19th and 20th century great power 
politics terms of defining their greatness in terms of their ability to 
dominate their neighbors or coerce certain people into certain kinds of 
behavior.
    So I think we have to imagine--I have a whole different view of 
this--we should imagine what would we like the world to look like 50 
year from now; what major countries

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will have an impact on that; how will we compete with them; how will we 
cooperate with them; what can we do that will most likely create the 
world we want for our grandchildren? That's the way I look at this. So I 
don't have an either/or view of Russia or China. I have a both view, I 
suppose.
    Prime Minister Simitis. May I make a philosophical comment on this? 
We should not be afraid of competitors. We should be afraid of ourselves 
when we are afraid of others.

Note: The President's 184th news conference began at 1:20 p.m. in the 
Foyer at Megaron Maximou. In his remarks, the President referred to 
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Prime Minister Simitis 
referred to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Ismail Cem of Turkey; and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yeoryios 
Papandreou of Greece. Prime Minister Simitis spoke in Greek, and his 
remarks were translated by an interpreter.