[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 48 (Monday, December 6, 1999)]
[Pages 2493-2494]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters in Seattle

December 1, 1999

Disruption of the Seattle Round

    Q. Mr. President, what message do the violence and protests send to 
the WTO officials and delegates here?
    The President. Let me say this, I think that the WTO officials are 
quite well aware that the violence is not representative of how the 
American people feel, that nearly 100 percent of our people abhor what 
was done and condemn it. We don't believe in violence. We don't believe 
in people who keep other people from meeting. We don't like that.
    I think that what the WTO people are here is to pay attention to the 
nonviolent protests and should open the process and find a way to 
legitimately consider the grievances of the poorest nations, as well as 
those of us who believe that we have to give greater concern to the 
environment and to labor standards and our trade measures. And I think--
that's what I think they should listen to. They should give no 
consideration to the violent

[[Page 2494]]

people because nobody supports them, nobody believes in it, and what 
they did was wrong. It was just vandalism.
    Q. Can a peaceful message go through?
    The President. I hope so. That's more up to you, than me. [Laughter]
    Thank you.

Note: The exchange began at 1:07 p.m. while the President greeted the 
crowd at the ropeline following his remarks at the Port of Seattle. A 
tape was not available for verification of the content of this exchange.