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Home , Gary McMichael, John Hume

2500 Dec. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

Executive Order 13143—Amending statement about Ireland, but before I do, just Executive Order 10173, as Amended, to illustrate the depth of support here, I’d Prescribing Regulations Relating to like to ask all the Members of Congress who the Safeguarding of Vessels, are here to stand and be recognized, and Harbors, Ports, and Waterfront thank them for their help. Thank you. Facilities of the United States Peace Process December 1, 1999 Before I make my statement about this im- portant convention, I’d like to say a few By the authority vested in me as President words about the truly remarkable and his- by the Constitution and the laws of the toric events taking place today in Northern United States of America, including 50 Ireland. Eighteen months ago today the U.S.C. 191, I hereby prescribe the following was signed with the amendment to the regulations prescribed by promise of a future of peace and hope. Today Executive Order 10173 of October 18, 1950, the promise is being realized. The people of as amended, which regulations constitute Northern Ireland now have the power to Part 6, Subchapter A, Chapter I, Title 33 of shape their own destiny and choose their own the Code of Federal Regulations: future. Democratic government by and for Section 6.01–4 is amended to read as fol- all the people of Northern Ireland is now lows: replacing suspicion, fear, and violence. It is § 6.01–4 Waterfront facility. ‘‘Waterfront now possible to believe that the day of the facility,’’ as used in this part, means all piers, gun and the bomb are, in fact, over. wharves, docks, or similar structures to which There are many leaders who deserve spe- vessels may be secured and naval yards, sta- cial tribute for their contributions, but I tions, and installations, including ranges; would like to mention especially David areas of land, water, or land and water under Trimble and John Taylor, John Hume and and in immediate proximity to them; build- , and Martin ings on them or contiguous to them and McGuinness, John Alderdice, Monica equipment and materials on or in them. McWilliams, and Gary William J. Clinton McMichael and so many others. The White House, I would also like to thank Prime Minister December 1, 1999. Blair, Prime Minister Ahern, their prede- cessors, , John Bruton, Albert [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, Reynolds. I thank Sir John de Chastelain for 10:42 a.m., December 3, 1999] his work. I thank the special envoys to North- NOTE: This Executive order was released by the ern Ireland, Ms. Mowlam and Mr. Office of the Press Secretary on December 2, and Mandelson, for the work they have done. it was published in the Federal Register on De- And especially I thank our great American cember 6. leader there, George Mitchell, whose pa- tience, commitment, and conviction were es- sential to making this day happen. Remarks on Signing the The Good Friday agreement must con- International Labor Organization tinue to be implemented in full, in word and Convention on the Prohibition and in spirit. The United States must continue Elimination of the Worst Forms of and will continue to stand with all those who Child Labor in Seattle are unequivocally committed to the pursuit December 2, 1999 of peace and justice and democracy in North- ern Ireland. This is our common responsi- Thank you, Secretary Herman; Mr. bility to the children there, whose future is Samovia, thank you for your leadership; John the best reason for all that has been done. Sweeney, Ambassador Tom Niles; all the Let me say that the United States is the Members of Congress here; Governor Locke; home of the largest Irish diaspora in the I would like to begin—I have to make a brief world. Many of us claim Irish heritage. For Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 2 2501 all the years and all the bloodshed, to have The step we take today affirms funda- the promise of being over today, this is an mental human rights. Ultimately, that’s what especially meaningful day for Irish-Ameri- core labor standards are all about, not an in- cans, and I thank you very much. strument of protectionism or a vehicle to im- pose one nation’s values on another but ILO Child Labor Convention about our shared values, about the dignity of work, the decency of life, the fragility and I’d like to begin this day by thanking all importance of childhood. the Members of the Senate. Thank you, Sen- In my State of the Union Address almost ator Murray, for being here. And I want to 2 years ago, I asked Congress to help make thank the Republicans, as well as the Demo- the United States a world leader in this cause crats, who voted on this together. But I and to start by working to end abusive child would be remiss if I did not say that the first labor. We are making good on that effort. person who ever discussed this issue with me Together—again, across party lines—we se- in 1992 when we were both running for the cured the largest investment in American his- office I am privileged to hold was Senator tory to end abusive child labor around the Tom Harkin of Iowa. And for more than 7 globe. years now, at every occasion, he has talked We’re establishing the first-ever United to me about this issue. It has been truly one States Government purchasing ban on goods of the driving passions of his life, and without made by forced or indentured child labor, him we would not be here doing this today. and we’ve beefed up enforcement to stop the And I would like to ask him to stand. importation of goods made by such labor. Thank you, Senator Harkin. Thank you. Just last week, the Customs Service banned I also want to thank Secretary Herman and the importation of certain hand-rolled ciga- Gene Sperling and Karen Tramontano for rettes, known as bidis, because of evidence what they did in our administration to spear- that one firm was making them with bonded head the effort. Perhaps there is no better child labor. way to conclude my visit here, because what Today we build on our achievements and we celebrate this morning symbolizes in our common commitment. This convention many ways what we’re seeking in the launch is truly a victory for labor, for business, and of a new round of trade talks, not just to for Government—for all those who worked lower barriers but to raise living standards, long and hard for 2 year to reach a consensus; to help ensure that people everywhere feel a victory for the nations of the world who they have a positive stake in global trade that joined together in the ILO this summer to gives them and their children a chance for adopt this convention on a unanimous vote. a better life. Today we say with one clear voice: Abusive We are here in Seattle to continue our ef- child labor is wrong and must end. forts to help establish a new consensus on Above all, of course, this is a victory for international trade that leads to jobs that are the children of the world, and especially for secure, development that is sustainable, pros- the tens of millions of them who are still perity that is broadly shared. We seek to forced to work in conditions that shock the widen the circle of opportunity, deepen our conscience and haunt the soul; children bru- commitments to human rights and human talized by the nightmare of prostitution; chil- freedom, and put a human face on the global dren indentured to manufacturers working economy. against debt for wages so low they will never Some day that it is not possible, that the be repaid; children who must handle dan- interests of nations, businesses, and labor, gerous chemicals or who are forced to sell within and across national borders, are too illegal drugs; children who crawl deep into divergent. This child labor convention proves unsafe mines; children who are forcibly re- that, at least on this profoundly important cruited into armed conflicts and then spend issue, it is possible. It is a living example of the rest of their entire lives bearing the scars how we can together come to level up global of committing murder when they were 8 or standards and lift up core labor values. 9 or 10 years old. 2502 Dec. 2 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999

For the first time, this convention calls on with the agenda of the ILO. That is key to the international community to take imme- making sure that the issues of child labor and diate and effective steps to stop the worst core labor standards, more generally, are on forms of child labor. This convention enables the international economic agenda, and they the world to say, no more. We recognize, of don’t become either/or conflicts. That’s why course, that no treaty or convention is ensuring the rights, the basic rights of labor, enough and that to end abusive child labor is central to our mission here in Seattle. once and for all we must untangle the pathol- This is a good day for the children of the ogy of grinding poverty and hopelessness world, but we can make tomorrow even a than lies at its root. If we want to slam the better day. We can do it by seeing that other door shut on abusive child labor, we must nations also ratify this treaty and join in our open the door wide to education and oppor- cause, and we can do it by building on the tunity. After all, nations can only reach their solid foundation of this convention and the potential when their children can fulfill common ground forged by leaders here in theirs. the work of the WTO, the IMF, the World John Sweeney put it best when he said Bank, and other international institutions. economic development is based in education, We have to harness the spirit of progress and and school is the best place for children. the sense of possibility that this noble docu- That’s why this convention places a priority ment embodies. We can light the way out on basic education, and we are trying to of the darkness of abusive child labor into honor that priority. the dawn of a new century of promise for Around the world, we are investing in cre- all the children of the world. ative solutions to get children out of abusive Thank you very much. workrooms and into classrooms. We are giv- They’ve elected me to say this. I would ing them a way out of the soccer ball industry like to ask Mr. Sweeney and Ambassador in Pakistan, the shoe industry in Brazil, the Niles and all of the Members of the Con- fireworks industry in Guatemala. We are giv- gress, the Governor and Secretary Daley, ing them back the most precious gift of all, Secretary Slater, to come up and join us as their childhood. we do this signing, please. And as we work to provide both boys and NOTE: The President spoke at 9:10 a.m. at the girls access to schools, we are also working Bell Harbor International Conference Center. In to provide their parents with viable economic his remarks, he referred to Juan Samovia, director alternatives and access to jobs. In Pakistan, general, International Labor Organization; John for example, when 7,000 children moved out J. Sweeney, president, AFL–CIO; former U.S. of the soccer ball manufacturing plant into Ambassador to Greece Thomas M.T. Niles, presi- the schools, 7,000 parents moved into jobs dent, U.S. Council for Business; Gov. Gary Locke they didn’t have before, at better incomes. of Washington; , leader, and John Microcredit loans help people in devel- Taylor, member, ; Social Democratic and Labor Party members John oping countries, and women in particular, to Hume and Seamus Mallon; Gerry Adams, leader, start businesses, raise their standard of living, and Martin McGuinness, member, Sinn Fein; Al- build a better life for their children. I am liance Party leader Lord John Alderdice; Monica proud that through the Agency for Inter- McWilliams of the Northern Ireland Women’s national Development, the United States fi- Coalition; Progressive Unionist Party spokesman nanced 2 million such loans last year. So we David Ervine; leader have here not only the Secretary of Labor Gary McMichael; Prime Minister and but the Secretary of Commerce. We see this former Prime Minister John Major of the United not only as a labor issue but a business and Kingdom; Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and an economic issue. We believe that everyone former Prime Ministers John Bruton and of Ireland; Gen. John de Chastelain, Ca- will be better off when children are given nadian Defense Forces, chair, Independent Inter- back their childhoods. national Commission on Decommissioning; We are working to integrate the agenda, former United Kingdom Secretary of State for also, as all of you know, of the World Trade Northern Ireland Marjorie Mowlam and her suc- Organization, the IMF, and the World Bank cessor, Peter Mandelson; and former Senator Administration of William J. Clinton, 1999 / Dec. 2 2503

George J. Mitchell, who chaired the multiparty accord, and it has to be achieved in the over- talks in Northern Ireland. The convention was en- all implementation of the agreement. All par- titled the International Labor Organization Con- ties have a collective responsibility here, and vention No. 182, Convention Concerning the Pro- hibition and Immediate Action for Elimination of I think what we should do is to give the the Worst Forms of Child Labor. agreed-upon process the chance to work. I have great confidence in General de Chastelain. I believe the parties have great Telephone Interview With Mark confidence in him. And I don’t think you can Little of RTE and Steve Grimason of underestimate the terrific importance of the the BBC From Seattle IRA naming its representative to General de December 2, 1999 Chastelain’s commission, and I hope they do that today. And the Loyalists should do the President’s Possible Visit to same. Mr. Grimason. First of all, Mr. President, And all of us on the outside, rather than thank you very much for joining us. There speculating on this day about what might has been some speculation that with things happen bad, I think we’ve got a roadmap for again moving in the peace process, you may the future. We’ve got a process, and we’ve actually be considering making a return trip got a commission with a leader that the par- to Belfast—and we could say that it’s safer ties respect, and I think we ought to give than Seattle. it a chance to work. The President. [Laughter] Yes, Seattle, the new home of . Well, let me say this. First of all, I am elated about today’s events. They are truly historic. Now the people in Northern Ireland Ulster Unionists Deadline have the authority and the power to work together and to shape their own future, and Mr. Grimason. The problem that we have it’s wonderful. And you know how much I had with last weekend’s events, although to- love to come there, and I would come at the day’s events are genuinely historic, is that the drop of a hat if there is some contribution Ulster Unionists under David Trimble do— I can make to the ongoing peace process and have set effectively a deadline. And if by Feb- the work still to be done. I’ve told George ruary there is no decommissioning, they will Mitchell that. I’ve told Bertie Ahern that, and return and all the signs are that they could I’ve told Tony Blair that. And obviously, the bring all of this work down. parties know that. All the others know that The President. Well, let me say first of I would do that. But I have not made a deci- all, you know, I’ve always tried to help. I’ve sion to come right now. done everything I could to help, and I’ve Decommissioning of Arms worked with David Trimble and his people and with Gerry Adams and the Sinn Fein Mr. Little. If I could ask you, it seems and with John Hume and Seamus Mallon. unfortunately, with every victory in the peace process, there are sometimes the seeds of the And I think on this day the most important next crisis, and we have the Ulster Unionist thing I should say is to ask people to focus Council coming back in February to consider on what they have all agreed on. And what progress on decommissioning. Are you con- they have all agreed on is to give the de cerned that the historic development we see Chastelain commission a chance to work and today could be collapsed in February? And to participate in that. As long as that is out do you agree with the Republicans who say, there, I think it would be a mistake for me, this is Unionists setting a new deadline which as a friend of the peace process and the peo- is not in the Good Friday agreement? ple of Ireland and as the President, to do The President. Well, I agree with George anything that could in any way complicate Mitchell’s assessment that decommissioning that. Let’s give it a chance to work and find is an essential element of the Good Friday a way forward.