[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 16 (Monday, April 24, 2000)]
[Pages 882-883]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With Chairman Yasser Arafat of the 
Palestinian Authority and an Exchange With Reporters

April 20, 2000

    The President.  Hello, everyone. Let me just briefly say that I am 
very, very glad to have Chairman Arafat back here at the White House. 
And I'm looking forward to our talks. We've reached a very serious time 
in the

[[Page 883]]

peace process. He and Prime Minister Barak have set for themselves an 
ambitious timetable to reach a framework agreement as soon as they can, 
and then a final agreement by the middle of September. So we're working 
hard on it, and I think we'll get some things done today.

Elian Gonzalez

    Q.  Mr. President, a short time ago, Juan Miguel Gonzalez came out 
and called on the American people to help him urge you and your Attorney 
General to reunite him with his son. Do you have a message for Juan 
Miguel Gonzalez? And also, what steps is your administration prepared to 
take if the boy's Miami relatives won't turn him----
    The President.  First of all, I think he should be reunited with his 
son. That is the law. And the main argument of the family in Miami for 
not doing so has now been removed. I mean, their main argument was, if 
we let him go back to his father before the court rules, he might go 
back to Cuba. The court has now said he shouldn't go back to Cuba. The 
Justice Department agrees with that, and he has agreed to that.
    So there is now no conceivable argument for his not being able to be 
reunited with his son. And that is what the lawful process has said. The 
immigration law is clear, and the determination of the INS and a Federal 
court are clear. So I think he should be united in as prompt and orderly 
way as possible.
    Q.  Well, what about the appeals court suggestion that a 6-year-old 
maybe has some rights to say where he wants to live and apply for asylum 
on his own behalf?
    The President.  Well, even if the appeals court were to say that, 
which would be a rather dramatic departure from the law, then there 
would have to be some setup at a trial level for determining that. And 
in the meanwhile, while all this legal process plays out, as a matter of 
law the INS determined, and a Federal court affirmed, that the father 
should have custody.
    So, clearly, he should be reunited. And the argument that he might 
go back to Cuba before this thing can be finally resolved in the courts 
is no longer there. That's not an argument anymore.

Israeli Nuclear Arsenal and Middle East Peace Process

    Q.  Mr. President, did you write a letter for former Prime Minister 
Netanyahu, promising him that Israel would keep its nuclear or mass 
destruction weapons in case they reach an agreement with the 
Palestinians?
    The President.  I don't believe that issue ever came up in 
connection with an agreement with the Palestinians, with Mr. Netanyahu, 
or any other Israeli Prime Minister. To the best of my memory, it did 
not.
    I think you all know what the issues are between the Israelis and 
the Palestinians. They are difficult, but I think they can be bridged. 
If the parties want to do this, we will do everything we can to help 
them and to minimize the difficulties and the risks involved. There are 
risks and difficulties involved for Chairman Arafat; there are risks and 
difficulties involved for Prime Minister Barak, for the Palestinian 
people, and for the Israeli people. I believe they are not nearly as 
great as the risks and difficulties of not making a peace agreement, so 
I hope they will do it. And if they want to do it, I'll do whatever I 
can to help them.

 Note:  The President spoke at 5:54 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Ehud Barak and 
former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of these remarks.