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Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Is- NOTE: The President spoke at 10:13 a.m. in the lands lie at the heart of this region. We are North West Plenary Conference Room at the joined today by the Governor of the Virgin Sherbourne Center. A tape was not available for Islands, Governor Roy Schneider; the con- verification of the content of these remarks. gressional delegate from Puerto Rico and former Governor, Carlos Romero-Barcelo´. The President’s News Conference Last night the delegate from the Virgin Is- With Caribbean Leaders in lands, Donna Christian-Green, was here with us, and we also have Congresswoman Maxine May 10, 1997 Waters from California here. The is very much aware that Prime Minister Arthur. Mr. Chairman, millions of our fellow citizens trace their her- President of the United States of America, itage to these islands and that we have bene- fellow Caribbean heads of state and govern- fited immeasurably from them. More than ment, Secretary General of CARICOM, dis- ever before, we are linked economically and tinguished delegates, members of the press. politically. Every nation but one in the Carib- First, I should like to say that my wife and bean has chosen free elections and free mar- I are pleased that you could find it possible kets. I am proud that the United States has to come to share the residence with us. It long been a beacon for freedom in this hemi- is my pleasure to inform you that the just sphere. But I am proud that so many of the concluded Caribbean-United States summit other nations represented around this table has been a great success. have also been long beacons for freedom. The signing of the—[inaudible]—declara- And like all the rest of you, we are espe- tion of principles is tangible expression of the cially gratified to be joined by the second new partnership between the Caribbean democratically elected President of Haiti States and the government and the people and, President Preval, we’re glad you’re here of the United States of America. Equally im- portant is a plan of action which gives con- and we wish you well and we’re with you crete expression to the commitment of the all the way. Caribbean States and the United States of We have a lot of work to do today, and America to cooperate on trade, development, I will try to be brief. We have to work on finance, the environment, as well as on jus- means to expand the quality of our lives by tice and security. expanding trade, by helping small economies The summit has afforded our region the compete in a global economy, by strengthen- opportunity to present as one its perspectives ing the education of our children, and deep- on several concerns which we share with the ening our cooperation against crime and United States of America. History and shared drugs. If we work together we can bring the traditions already unite us. As technology and benefits of change to our citizens and beat globalization bring us closer together, it is back the darker aspects of it. We can meet inevitable that meetings of this type will be the new threats to our security and enhance necessary to share perspectives, coordinate our prosperity. actions, and to find solutions to common I want this summit to be the start of an problems. ongoing and deeper process of Caribbean co- On this historic occasion, we have been operation. We have worked very hard, all of able to undertake a detailed review and anal- us have, to make this summit productive. We ysis of critical aspects of the relationship be- have a rich and full document to which we tween the Caribbean nations and the United are all going to commit ourselves. But still, States of America. We have also been able we must be committed to working over the to lay the foundations for future cooperation months and years ahead for our people and and consultation. our , and that is my This summit is but the first step in a proc- commitment to you. This summit should be ess of reaffirming and redefining a partner- the beginning, not the end of this process. ship between our two societies. We have Thank you. come a long way in a short time from our

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first meeting at Sam Lord’s castle through all the nations that are a part of the Carib- the meeting of the working groups and sub- bean, including the United States, we have committee in Tobago and St. Lucia, to a just agreed to chart a course that will enable us concluded summit at Sherbourne and here to move forward and together in the days at . ahead. We have discussed matters relating Through these discussions, Mr. President, to democracy, development, and security, your Special Envoy, Mr. Richard Clark, has recognizing the considerable interlinkages been a valuable and critical advocate in ad- which necessarily exist between all these im- vancing our discussions. The need for an ac- portant subjects. cessible contact between us cannot be over- Today we have signed the Bridgetown dec- stated. It is my hope that any arrangement laration and a plan of action which charts a of this type will not end with the summit course for progress and for unity and for inte- activities but will continue to allow future grated development within our region. We consultations between the Governments of were very pleased at the firm and unequivo- the Caribbean and United States to prosper. cal commitment given by the President of In the preparatory stages for the summit, the United States and his administration of the States of the Caribbean have been ably the priority which is to be attached to the represented by the Foreign Minister Ralph question of NAFTA parity. And we are Maraj of Trinidad and Tobago; Foreign Min- pleased at the prospect of that legislation ister, Mr. Rohee of Guyana; Attorney Gen- being presented to the consideration of the eral David Simmons of ; and Am- Congress of the United States and will do bassador Richard Bernal of Jamaica. I wish everything in our power to make representa- to place on record as well our appreciation tions that will ensure its favorable consider- for the magnificent contribution of the Sec- ation and early passage. retary General of CARICOM and his staff Not surprisingly, we spent some time on and the advisors. the issue of bananas. And I have the authority Barbados is proud and honored to host this of the Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr. summit, the first of its kind between the Car- Vaughn Lewis, to quote something he said ibbean States and the Government of the to us today, ‘‘For many of our countries, ba- United States of America. I am confident that nanas is to us what cars are to Detroit.’’ history will recall this summit as having Here in Bridgetown, we have reaffirmed forged a new and a lasting bond between the our resolve to fight crime, violence, corrup- people of our nations and those of the United tion, trafficking in drugs and illegal weapons States of America. It is in this spirit, there- by a seamless alliance between the United fore, that I now have the greatest pleasure States of America and the sovereign nations in introducing the Prime Minister of Jamaica, of the Caribbean. We cannot allow the drug the Right Honorable P.J. Patterson, Chair- cartels and international criminal organiza- man of the Conference of Heads of Govern- tions operating in or across our borders to ments of the Caribbean Community to ad- threaten our democratic institutions to per- dress you. I thank you. vert our system of justice and destroy the Prime Minister Patterson. Presidents of health and well-being of our citizens, young the United States of America, Haiti, or old. Suriname, and Guyana, colleague heads of We have also raised the need, if we are government, ladies and gentlemen. In the to be engaged in partnership, for there to closest of families, difficulties are bound to be a process of collective evaluation and deci- arise from time to time in their relationships. sionmaking, rather than unilateral assess- For those relationships to endure, it is essen- ments. And we have established some ma- tial that they must have the capacity from chinery that will enable us to facilitate this. time to time to meet within the bosom of We are committed to the notion of a trans- the family and to sort out whatever difficul- Caribbean community which would embrace ties may have arisen. all the countries washed by the Caribbean Today is one such occasion. And as a result Sea. This we see as a major plank in the new of the family meeting we have had among partnership which today’s summit is intended

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to forge between the sovereign nations of the in our hemisphere is fair to our Caribbean Caribbean and the United States. partners. We see here in Bridgetown the opening When I return to Washington, I will sub- of a new chapter, the start of a meaningful mit a Caribbean Basin trade enhancement dialog. It was good for us to be here, and act to Congress. When passed, this legislation together, we intend to do it the Caribbean will increase trade for all the Caribbean na- way. tions and help them to prepare to take part President Clinton. Good afternoon. in a free-trade area of the Americas. Prime Minister Arthur, Prime Minister Pat- We’re also committed to help the Carib- terson, fellow Caribbean leaders, let me bean nations diversify their economies and begin by thanking our Barbadian hosts for become more competitive. I discussed with their hospitality and all the leaders for their my fellow leaders their concern for the Car- hard work in making this summit a success. ibbean banana industry. In pursuing and win- I’m honored to be here with the Secretary ning our case at the World Trade Organiza- of State and several members of my Cabinet, tion, our target was a discriminatory Euro- as well as a distinguished delegation inter- pean system, not the Caribbean nations. I ested in the Caribbeans from the Congress: made it clear that as we work toward a solu- Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the Chair- tion with our European partners, we will con- man of the Congressional Black Caucus; tinue to support duty-free access for Carib- Congressman Carlos Romero-Barcelo´, the bean bananas in the European market, and delegate from Puerto Rico; and Governor we will seek ways to promote diversification Roy Schneider from the Virgin Islands. of the Caribbean economies. The partnership for prosperity and secu- When economies are strong, they can bet- rity in the Caribbean that we signed today ter resist the pressures of organized crime, is a broad and ambitious plan of action. It the drugpushers, the gunrunners, the alien can make a real difference for our people’s smugglers, the criminal gangs. But to truly lives and livelihoods, promoting open and fair conquer them, we must work together. trade, protecting the environment, strength- That’s why I’m pleased we’ve been able to ening education, spreading telecommuni- conclude agreements for maritime law en- cations, extending loans to small businesses, forcement cooperation with more countries and combating international crime and drug in the region, including most recently Ja- trafficking. maica and Barbados. Today, the United Just as important as the commitments States committed to help our Caribbean we’ve made is our determination to see them partners strengthen their fight against drug through with an ongoing, intensified process trafficking, providing aircraft and Coast of Caribbean cooperation. The followup Guard cutters to patrol the sky and the sea. structures we’ve put in place, including an We will participate in international negotia- annual meeting among our foreign ministers tions to outlaw and prevent traffic in illegal and high-level working groups on justice and arms, and we will help to establish a Carib- security and on development, finance, and bean institute to train investigators and pros- the environment, will help us to turn our ac- ecutors to combat money laundering, so that tion plan into actions. criminals will no longer be able to scrub the I want to highlight two areas where our fingerprints off their profits. cooperation is especially important: helping Working together, we can build a future our people to thrive in the global economy of prosperity and security for our people. But and fighting crime and drugs. The move to- the scope is broad, and a commitment is ward open and competitive trade around the deep as the waters that link our shores. world and in our hemisphere is bringing new Thank you very much. opportunities for people to prosper. But rapid change is disruptive as well, as people and Discussions With the struggle to acquire new skills and nations Caribbean Leaders strive to compete. The United States is work- Q. Mr. President, I wonder, first of all, ing to ensure that the transition to free trade if you could comment on the tone of your

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discussions and your reception here today, tunity to indicate to the President over lunch given the admitted lack of U.S. attention to the steps which we think would be possible the region in the past. And specifically, given to secure that objective. the political baggage that accompanies U.S. Prime Minister Arthur. If I may, quickly. policy toward Cuba, were the Caribbean It should not escape your attention that this leaders able to offer you any constructive is the first-ever summit between the Govern- suggestions on how you could shift your han- ment of the United States of America and dling of Havana more from the negative to the Caribbean that has ever been held on the positive? And I’d also like to extend that Caribbean soil. And that, in and of itself, question to any Caribbean leader who would should represent the sense of partnership like to take it. that we are trying to build on matters of cru- President Clinton. Well, first of all, we cial importance to the two sets of societies. did not discuss Cuba. We talked about what This spirit has not only been parlayed in the those who are represented here could do to- diplomatic sense of the word but has been gether. And secondly, I believe that I have constructive to the extent that it has sought demonstrated my good faith and the good to address matters of immediate con- faith of this administration toward the Carib- sequence, as well as to lay a framework for bean in many ways. We have already been the long-term development of the relation- together in Washington, right before our op- ships between the two sets of societies. eration to restore democracy in Haiti. Most We have approached this summit with a of us were gathered in Haiti when we cele- sense of pragmatic optimism. We do not be- brated that restoration. And I think it is well- lieve that all of the concerns between our known that at the time we fought for and two sets of societies will be dealt with in one succeeded in passing NAFTA in Congress, swoop. But we feel that the putting in place I made a strong plea that we make sure that of a partnership and a mechanism for the the Caribbean nations not be discriminated followup of actions will allow us to be able against. to redress some of the imbalances in the rela- I think we have now found a formula that tionship of the past and chart new directions will permit us to do that, that I believe has for the future. a good chance of passing in the Congress, and it is included in my budget. And so I Haiti feel quite good about the legislation I’m Q. In the just-signed document, partner going to introduce, and I’m going to work for prosperity, the chief of states and govern- hard to pass it and to establish a closer, more ment at the summit pledged to give priority ongoing relations with all these nations. consideration to technologies such as the Do you want one of them to reply? Internet. President Clinton, if asked by Presi- Prime Minister Patterson. Our working dent Preval, will your administration tangibly sessions included a business session this support a plan to link all public schools in morning, which we have just concluded, and Haiti to the Internet by the year 2004, on a working lunch, to which we will now em- the 200-year anniversary of Haiti’s independ- bark. There are a number of matters that ence? could not be covered in the business session, President Clinton. Well, this is the first and the opportunity of a working lunch I have heard about this specific proposal, so among the heads will afford us an oppor- I hate to answer a question ‘‘yes’’ when I tunity of discussing those subjects in the inti- don’t know whether I can do it or not. But macy of that setting. let me say, you may know that we are at- The views of the Caribbean leaders are tempting to link all of our classrooms and well known, insofar as Cuba is concerned. libraries to the Internet in the United States Cuba is a Caribbean territory. We would like by the year 2000, and then we want to move to see steps taken that would integrate Cuba aggressively to try to establish those kinds of fully not only in the Caribbean family but interconnections with our allies elsewhere. into the hemispheric family of nations. And And I believe that with Haiti struggling to we would certainly want to use the oppor- both preserve democracy and overcome eco-

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nomic adversity, the nation and the children to be the main supplier or someone else to would benefit immensely if that could be be the main supplier. done. We have no interest in doing this for pure- So I would certainly be willing to try to ly economic reasons, and we have no interest help. If I know I can do it, I will tell you, in promoting an arms race in Latin America. yes, I can do it. But I haven’t had time to So the judgment that I’m trying to make— be briefed on it. But I am very open to the and I haven’t received a final recommenda- suggestion, trying to help. tion on it from my administration top person- nel—is whether or not, given the facts in the U.S. Arms Embargo Against Latin various countries, it would be better for them America and Whitewater and better for us and better for peace over the long run in Latin America for these air- Q. Thank you very much, Prime Minister planes essentially to be supplied by the Unit- Arthur—Wolf Blitzer from CNN. I wonder ed States as opposed to someone else. if all of you would be interested in reacting Now, on the other issue, I think that Mr. to the open letter from Oscar Arias that was Starr must be—I haven’t seen the speech, written to President Clinton while he was in but I think he must be referring to the 8th Costa Rica, appealing to him not to lift the Circuit case, the facts of which have now U.S. arms embargo to sell sophisticated war- been made public, and I don’t have anything planes to countries in Latin America, which to add to what my counsel said. I think that is on the agenda right now. it’s obvious that for several years now we’ve And President Clinton, I wonder if you’ve been quite cooperative, and we’ll continue made up your mind whether or not you’re to be. The White House Counsel made his going to sell F–16’s and other sophisticated statement, and I think it’s clear and self-evi- warplanes and hardware to these countries, dent what he said and why. at a time when he says—former President Would you like to say anything about the Arias—that they need their money for more arms issue, either one of you? productive purposes as opposed to weaponry. Prime Minister Patterson. I would say And with the indulgence of your host, I won- very simply that I have participated in a gath- der if I could ask you a parochial question. ering at the conference center a few weeks Kenneth Starr, the Whitewater independent ago at which the proposal conveyed by counsel, at this hour is scheduled to be deliv- former President Arias to President Clinton ering a speech in which he says the White was fully discussed and endorsed. Jamaica as House is an impediment to his investigation, a government supports the appeal. and I wonder if you have any reaction to his comment. Thank you. Immigration President Clinton. I don’t object to the Q. President Clinton, what guarantees can Prime Ministers commenting on—is this on? you give us here in the Caribbean that your Now can you hear? I’ll just speak up. I don’t new immigration laws won’t lead to mass re- object to the Prime Ministers commenting patriation of illegal Caribbean immigrants in on the arms decision, but on that I can tell the United States? you that no decision has been made yet. And my second question is for Mr. Patter- The United States will not knowingly do son. Can you tell us if you’ve got any assur- anything that will spark a new arms race or ance from the President that criminals in the divert funds from defense to—from non- United—Caribbean criminals in the United defense to defense areas in Latin America. States won’t be sent back home without any The real question is whether or not the ar- information being conveyed to you, without mies in question where the militaries have any mechanisms being put in place to deal discussed this with our country are going to with them when they arrive here? upgrade their militaries anyway and whether President Clinton. First of all, let me it would be better in fending off future con- point out that I believe the United States has flicts and controlling defense spending for the most generous immigration policy of any the United States, their hemispheric partner, large nation in the world. Last year, over

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900,000 legal immigrants were admitted to bean and no social contact to the commu- the United States. nities to which they are being returned. And In order to sustain a policy that generous, we, therefore, think if it is not to fuel the it also has to have some integrity. And looking criminal problem, it is a matter that we have at it, I suppose you could say we had two to address within the gambit of the coopera- choices. We could just lower the legal immi- tion to which we have pledged ourselves. gration target dramatically to take account of Prime Minister Arthur. I wish to add, all those who are entering illegally, or instead please, that on the matter of the possible ef- we could reward those who wait, play by the fects of U.S. law on Caribbean immigrants rules, and obey the law, and try to strengthen was a matter that was frankly discussed at our capacity to stop illegal immigrants from our summit today. We represented the con- coming into the country, which we propose cerns of our nationals, and we have im- to do by stiffening our controls primarily at pressed on the President the need for any the border, in the workplace, and when peo- legislation to be applied in a manner that is ple get into the criminal justice system. not discriminatory, nor is unfair and nor Now, having said that, I can assure you, that—and you put at risk the security and as I told the leaders of the Central American prosperity of legal immigrants in the United countries, no one nation or region will be States of America. targeted, and there will be no mass deporta- And I just want to add on the second mat- tions. We are increasing our capacity to deal ter that as regards the matter of deportees, with people we find in the workplace, at the Barbados has managed to work out a com- borders, in the criminal justice system. prehensive framework with United States of Finally—Prime Minister Patterson and America on all matters pertaining to the fight Prime Minister Arthur might want to com- against drugs. And I’m pleased to say that ment on this—I do not believe it is right for I’m advised by my Attorney General that in- the United States to send people back to cluded in that comprehensive framework is their native lands, who have been in our a protocol establishing the rules that will be criminal justice system, without appropriate applied in the return of Barbadians to Bar- advance warning and notice. And I pledged bados. And we regard this as a substantial to them that I would set up such a system. advance. And I’m also pleased that our plan It is not right for us to do it otherwise. of action sets out a multilateral approach to Would you like to say something? dealing with this potentially—[inaudible]— Prime Minister Patterson. By recogniz- issue. ing the right of each State to determine its policies on deportation, subject to inter- national law, the plan of action to which we Immigration and Trade agreed set out a number of specific measures Q. You promised—on every stop of this that should be put in place. The President trip, including today, you have promised to has referred to one of them, the provision try to soften the new immigration law and of adequate advance notice to designated au- try to extend trade preferences. But you can’t thorities prior to the deportation of anyone. get any of that done without congressional We also think that adequate information approval and, in the case of bananas, without should be provided regarding the persons to cooperation with the . What be deported and, of course, it must be estab- happens to these relationships here in lished that the person being deported is a Central America and in Mexico if you can’t national of the receiving State. deliver on your rhetoric? Let me say very frankly why the problem President Clinton. Well, first of all, with is so acute. We have found in several cases regard to the immigration law, the only thing people being deported who have lived in the that I was attempting to change in the immi- United States not only for all their adult life, gration law, the congressional leadership has but have gone there from the days of early agreed to change. They’ve agreed to restore childhood with their entire families, and they benefits to legal immigrants, which I thought have no family connection back in the Carib- was important.

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We can under the existing law have the that overthrew the first democratically elect- kind of protocols that Prime Minister dis- ed President of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. cussed where we pledge not to violate the And following that, there were a lot of prom- human rights of any particular group of peo- ises that gave hope to the Haitian people. ple, we pledge not to target any particular But since then, except for some very limited group, we pledge not to engage in mass de- contributions, there is a sense that the Amer- portations. That is not required under our ican administration, under your leadership, law, nor was it contemplated. has not done enough to help meet the expec- To say that a country should and must have tations and the most crucial needs of the Hai- the capacity to enforce its immigration law tian people. My question is, what are the next is not the same thing as saying that there’s steps that the United States intends to take going to be some huge roundup here. We to show that democracy can bring prosperity just want to be able to enforce the law when as promised in Haiti? we come in contact with people who have President Clinton. Well, first of all, that plainly violated it. So I don’t agree that we is a complicated question because it requires need congressional cooperation there, al- significant actions on behalf of the Haitian though I believe it’s consistent with what people as well as those around the world who Congress intended when they passed the law. wish to support Haiti. Now, on this trade issue and on the ques- I am going to have a meeting with Presi- tion of getting fast-track authority from Con- dent Preval later this afternoon, after lunch, gress, generally, I think that everyone under- and we are going to discuss that, and I will stands, and I made it clear in our meetings, have some other examples of specific things that all I could do was ask the Congress for the United States intends to do. But I can its support, that there was opposition in both tell you that I believe that we should be in- parties to expanded trade, but there was volved, over the long run, in trying to help strong support in both parties to expanded to restore the economy and to restore the trade. We’ve been through these arguments environment of Haiti—without which the before in the last few years, but I would say economy cannot be sustained—and to main- the last time we had the debate back in ’93, tain the integrity of the democracy. So we the American economy was not in nearly the will be working hard on all those issues with- shape it’s in now and the Congress did the in the limits of our ability to do it. We will right thing for the future of America and the do as much as we can. It’s very important future of the Americas, and I believe it will to me. be inclined to do so again. Whitewater Haiti Q. I know you answered Wolf’s [Wolf Q. My question is directed to President Blitzer, Cable News Network] question, but Clinton. To fight the high cost of living, the you didn’t go very far, and Ken Starr really Government of Haiti has put in place a pro- came out quite strongly today. I wonder if gram of agrarian reform to provide Haitian you have begun to take this a little bit person- farmers with technical means and rural credit ally. And also, today, he said very strongly to increase their capacity of production. I that he believes that White House lawyers would like to know if the United States is are paid by the Federal Government, they ready to help in realizing this agrarian reform represent the Federal Government, and as in Haiti, because it is important for agri- such, they are duty-bound to disclose rel- culture and for the people to find something evant information to a Federal grand jury. to eat. That’s number one. As President, do you agree with that? And But number two, I would like to mention again, as I asked before, do you feel that this that in Haiti, there is a sense of profound has become a little personal? gratitude toward you, personally, President President Clinton. Well, not on my part. Clinton, and toward the U.S.A. for the role Perhaps on—you know, you said he’s the one played in the restoration of constitutional that came out strongly. I’m just over here order in Haiti after the military coup d’etat doing my job in the Caribbean. [Laughter]

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I can only say what I have said before. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Chuck Ruff, whom I believe has a reputation (IDEA). I am hopeful that the Senate will as a lawyer of impeccable integrity and who do the same shortly. is an expert in these kinds of processes, came Over the last 20 years, the IDEA has made to me and said that the effect of the decision it possible for young people with disabilities would be not confined to the President, the to reach their full potential. This legislation First Lady, the Chief of Staff at the White strengthens and reaffirms our commitment House—any group of people, that the posi- to these children and their parents, and I tion that the Special Counsel was arguing for look forward to signing it into law. would, in effect, abolish the lawyer-client This legislation is the result of a bipartisan privilege between a Federal Government process that involved hard work not only by lawyer and a Federal employee at any level both Democrats and Republicans in the Con- under any circumstances. gress but also by the Department of Edu- Now, the law firms in America might be cation and representatives of the education ecstatic about that because it would certainly and disability communities. I hope that we make a lot more private business for lawyers. can continue in this bipartisan spirit and But he came to me and said, ‘‘I cannot tell move forward on the rest of our agenda to you how emphatically I believe that this case improve education and prepare America for must be appealed.’’ He said, ‘‘I’m your law- the 21st century. yer; I know you haven’t done anything wrong, I know you’ve made all the evidence available Message to the Congress on Iran to them. This is a major constitutional ques- tion, and Mr. President, you do not have the May 13, 1997 right to go along with saying that every Fed- eral employee in America should lose the at- To the Congress of the United States: torney-client privilege under these cir- I hereby report to the Congress on devel- cumstances if the Federal employee has a opments since the last Presidential report of lawyer in the Federal Government.’’ Now, November 14, 1996, concerning the national that’s what he said to me. I cannot enlighten emergency with respect to Iran that was de- you any more. If you want to know any more clared in Executive Order 12170 of Novem- about it, you’ve got to ask him. ber 14, 1979. This report is submitted pursu- ant to section 204(c) of the International NOTE: The President’s 145th news conference Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. began at 1:33 p.m. at the Prime Minister’s resi- 1703(c) (IEEPA). This report covers events dence, following the signing of the Bridgetown through March 31, 1997. My last report, Declaration of Principles. The Caribbean leaders dated November 14, 1996, covered events were Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados and Prime Minister Percival James (P.J.) Patter- through September 16, 1996. son of Jamaica. In his remarks, the President re- 1. The Iranian Assets Control Regulations, ferred to Counsel to the President Charles F. Ruff 31 CFR Part 535 (IACR), were amended on and President Rene Preval of Haiti. Prime Min- October 21, 1996 (61 Fed. Reg. 54936, Octo- ister Patterson referred to former President Oscar ber 23, 1996), to implement section 4 of the Arias of Costa Rica. Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collec- tion Improvement Act of 1996, by adjusting Statement on House Passage of the for inflation the amount of the civil monetary Individuals With Disabilities penalties that may be assessed under the Education Act Amendments of 1997 Regulations. The amendment increases the May 13, 1997 maximum civil monetary penalty provided in the Regulations from $10,000 to $11,000 per I am pleased that the House today took violation. a major step toward ensuring high quality The amended Regulations also reflect an educational opportunities for all students amendment to 18 U.S.C. 1001 contained in with disabilities by voting to reauthorize the section 330016(1)(L) of Public Law 103–322,

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