May 24 / Administration of George Bush, 1991

help facilitate an end to the tragic war in the Mideast peace process. The Prime Min- Ethiopia. We hope at that time to see the ister expressed his appreciation for Sec- establishment of a provisional government retary Baker’s efforts in the Mideast and and agreement on a plan for a political tran- said he hoped the peace process will con- sition leading to peace and democracy. tinue. Israeli Prime Minister Shamir called President Bush at about 11 a.m. aboard Air aNote: The statement referred to former Sen- Force One to thank him for the American ator Rudy Boschwitz; Prime Minister role in release of the Falashas. The Prime Yitzhak Shamir of Israel; and Secretary of Minister and the President also discussed State James A. Baker III.

Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Multilateral Export Controls May 24, 1991

Last evening, the and six- partners concluded that an overhaul of the teen Western allies agreed in Paris to imple- lists was justified, based on a changing stra- ment a new system of export controls for tegic situation and rapid diffusion of some dual-use goods and technologies with sig- technologies that were making the existing nificant military applications. The agree- control lists obsolete. The Core List con- ment brings to a close a major review of tains only the most critical goods and tech- allied East-West export control policy initi- nologies, which are essential in maintaining ated in January 1990, in response to the the existing significant gaps between West- President’s call upon the member states of ern and Soviet-based military systems, gaps the Coordinating Committee for Multilat- that were demonstrated to be critical to eral Export Controls (COCOM) to adapt our national security in Operation Desert their export control regimes to the rapidly Storm. On the other hand, because of the changing international political and military broad diffusion of certain technologies, ex- environment. port controls have been eliminated, for ex- For over 40 years, COCOM, comprised ample, on most of the computers exported of NATO members (less Iceland) plus Japan from the United States today. COCOM and Australia, has maintained a system of member/states also agreed to significant re- export controls to keep key technologies ductions in controls on microprocessors, with both military and civilian uses from machine tools, aircraft, avionics, and propul- being used to enhance the military capa- sion systems. In addition, the United States bility of certain countries. Historically, these will continue a presumption of approval for have included the Soviet Union, former the export of Core List items to bona fide members of the Warsaw Pact, the People’s civil end-users for civilian purposes. Republic of China, and several other coun- The new agreement continues the trend tries. The changes to be implemented by toward reducing controls on items destined COCOM partners demonstrate the contin- for Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, ued relevance of COCOM and its ability reflecting the disintegration of the Warsaw to adapt quickly to changing world cir- Pact and the fact that these three countries cumstances. have entered into strategic trade agree- The agreement means a 50% reduction ments with Western nations to prevent di- in existing export controls to a ‘‘Core List’’ version of Western-supplied technology to of militarily strategic technologies and the Soviet Union. goods. That reduction is in addition to a COCOM partners agreed that individual 33% cut in the list agreed to by COCOM countries will continue controling goods in June 1990. The United States and its and technologies dropped from the

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COCOM list that could contribute to the Full implementation of the new lists is development of nuclear, chemical, and bio- planned for September 1, 1991, and a fact logical weapons, and the missiles to deliver sheet is available that provides additional them. details on the COCOM agreement.

Remarks at the Exports-Generating Jobs for Americans Luncheon in Boston, May 24, 1991

Thank you all very, very much for that has been through hell, and I am absolutely warm welcome. Secretary Mosbacher—and confident that under the State’s leadership let me single out the other man up here— of and under your leadership, it’s so good to see the Bay State’s own, Boston and Massachusetts has not lost its able, achieving Governor Bill Weld here, enterprise spirit. You’re caught up in a re- who is working hard also in his spare time gional problem with this recession, and I on this very important question of exports. am confident that you’ll come booming out I salute him and thank him for what he of it, particularly if your work on exports and the other New England Governors are is as successful as I’m sure it will be. doing when they come together to do this. You know, it feels a little strange to be I want to salute Lieutenant Governor talking about exports in front of the real , an old friend who is out here expert, my dear friend Bob Mosbacher. And somewhere; and another one, the treasurer I just can’t tell you how much he’s done of this State, Joe Malone, who are with on Fast Track and on all these regional us right over here. I’m going to get in trou- conferences and in so many other ways. ble on this, but I see, next to Joe, Pat Saiki, I’m glad to see him here. And I heard that the new head of the SBA; and Ron Roskens he dashed back to Washington from yester- of AID is over here. John Macomber, for- day’s lunch to give a last-minute push for merly one of you, one of the chief execu- the extension of Fast Track. tives of one of the largest companies in Bob, you and everyone associated with America, now ably heading the Ex-Im Bank our national export initiative have really over here. Another one so well-known who came out of private business, a big success, done a spectacular job promoting exports and now in Government, Fred Zeder, the from the United States. And, frankly, the able head of OPIC. And then—many oth- numbers tell the tale. This nation enjoyed ers—Priscilla Rabb-Ayres from the U.S. its greatest export month ever last October. Trade and Development Program; Ron And the latest monthly figures—and they’re Skates, head of Data General. Let me just for March—nearly equaled the record. We cut it off there. But I should have many, exported $34 billion in goods that month, many more to whom I pay my respects and we had the smallest, the smallest and my thanks. Let me just simply say thank monthly trade deficit that we’ve seen in you all for coming out, all of you in the 71⁄2 years. audience who are supporting American ex- As you all know, the world economy has ports. changed. It’s changed dramatically in recent Frankly, having gone to school outside years. If you want to succeed in business of Boston, it is nice to visit Boston, a place these days, you can’t worry just about com- known for its humility and intellectual mod- petition from U.S. companies; you have to esty. [Laughter] The old saying you remem- go head-on-head with firms from all over ber: If you hear an owl hoot to ‘‘whom’’ the world. The lesson is clear: If we want instead of ‘‘who,’’ you can be sure it was to remain the greatest economic power on born and educated in Boston. [Laughter] Earth, we must build a strong economy at But I am glad to be back here. This area home. But in my view just as important, we

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