Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, January 26, 1998 Volume 34ÐNumber 4 Pages 85±126 1 VerDate 28-OCT-97 09:10 Jan 28, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P04JA4.000 p04ja4 Contents Addresses and Remarks Joint Statements See also Meetings With Foreign Leaders Charter of Partnership Among the United Baltic-U.S. charter, signing ceremonyÐ85 States of America and the Republic of Cardozo High School volunteersÐ94 Estonia, Republic of Latvia, and Republic Congressional Medal of Honor, of LithuaniaÐ87 presentationÐ96 Democratic National Committee dinnerÐ98 Letters and Messages Middle East peace processÐ123 Lunar New Year, messageÐ95 Radio addressÐ91 Roe v. Wade, 25th anniversaryÐ124 Meetings With Foreign Leaders White House Endowment dinnerÐ122 Estonia, President MeriÐ85, 87 Israel, Prime Minister NetanyahuÐ95 Appointments and Nominations Latvia, President UlmanisÐ85, 87 Lithuania, President BrazauskasÐ85, 87 National Bipartisan Commission on the Palestinian Authority, Chairman ArafatÐ123 Future of Medicare, Chairman, statementÐ 91 Notices Continuation of Emergency Regarding Communications to Congress Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Albania, letter transmitting reportÐ122 Middle East ProcessÐ121 Middle East peace process, continuation of Statements by the President emergency regarding terrorists, letter transmitting noticeÐ122 See also Appointments and Nominations Mongolia, letter transmitting reportÐ104 Apprehension of Goran JelisicÐ125 Representative Louis Stokes' decision not to seek reelectionÐ92 Interviews With the News Media Special Advisory Committee to the Secretary Exchanges with reporters of State on Religious Freedom Abroad, Cardozo High SchoolÐ93 interim reportÐ125 Oval OfficeÐ95, 123 Interviews Supplementary Materials Jim Lehrer of the PBS ``News Hour''Ð104 Acts approved by the PresidentÐ126 Mara Liasson and Robert Siegel of National Checklist of White House press releasesÐ126 Public RadioÐ116 Digest of other White House Morton Kondrake and Ed Henry of Roll announcementsÐ125 Call, excerptÐ115 Nominations submitted to the SenateÐ126 WEEKLY COMPILATION OF regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10). PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Reg- The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents will be ister, National Archives and Records Administration, Washing- furnished by mail to domestic subscribers for $80.00 per year ton, DC 20408, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign subscribers for ments contains statements, messages, and other Presidential $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of Documents, materials released by the White House during the preceding Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The week. charge for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing). The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is pub- There are no restrictions on the republication of material lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under ments. 2 VerDate 28-OCT-97 09:10 Jan 28, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 W:\DISC\P04JA4.000 p04ja4 Week Ending Friday, January 23, 1998 Remarks at the Signing Ceremony moting harmony and human dignity within for the Baltic Nations-United States our societies; it stresses our interest in close Charter of Partnership cooperation among the Baltic States and with January 16, 1998 all their neighbors; it launches new working groups on economic development to spur The President. President Meri; President greater trade, investment, and growth, com- Brazauskas; President Ulmanis; members of plementing the efforts of our European the Estonian, Lithuanian, and Latvian dele- friends; and it furthers America's commit- gations; Secretary Albright; Mr. Berger; ment to help Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia Members of Congress; Senator Dole; Mr. to deepen their integration and prepare for Brzezinski; and all friends of the Baltic na- membership in the European Union and tions who are here. NATO. The Vice President and I and our adminis- Of course, there can be no guarantees of tration were honored to welcome President admission to the alliance. Only NATO's lead- Meri, President Brazauskas, and President ers, operating by consensus, can offer mem- Ulmanis to Washington to reaffirm our com- bership to an aspiring state. But America's mon vision of a Europe whole and free, security is tied to Europe, and Europe will where Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia play never be fully secure if Baltic security is in their full and rightful roles, and to sign a doubt. NATO's door is and will remain open charter of partnership to build that Europe to every partner nation, and America is deter- together. mined to create the conditions under which To the three Presidents, let me say thank Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia can one day you. Thank you for the key role you have walk through that door. played in making this moment possible; hold- The hopes that fuel the goals of this char- ing to the difficult path of political and eco- ter must be matched by our will to achieve nomic reform; leading Estonia, Latvia, and them. That's why we're forming a new part- Lithuania back to the community of free na- nership commission which Deputy Secretary tions where they belong. This charter of part- of State Strobe Talbott will chair. I'm pleased nership underscores how far your nations to report that the charter is making a dif- have come. Almost exactly 7 years ago today, ference already. Yesterday our nations signed Baltic citizens were facing down tanks in the treaties to eliminate double taxation, which struggle to reclaim their independence. will encourage American business to play an Today, your democracies have taken root. even greater role in Baltic prosperity. We're You stand among Europe's fastest growing also expanding our common efforts to com- economies. Your nations are a source of sta- bat organized crime with better information- bility within your region and beyond, through sharing and more joint operations. the Partnership For Peace, the Baltic Peace- And this year the United States, in a keeping Battalion, and your contributions in unique public-private partnership with the Bosnia. Soros Open Society Institute, will be creating America has been proud to support this a Baltic-American partnership fund to pro- progress through our SEED assistance pro- mote the development of civic organizations. gram, more than 500 Peace Corps volun- Nothing is more crucial to democracy's suc- teers, and in many other ways. We share a cess than a vibrant network of local groups stake in your success. And with this charter, committed to their communities and their we set out a framework to achieve our com- nation. I want to thank George Soros for his mon goals. It affirms our commitment to pro- visionary generosity. 85 VerDate 28-OCT-97 09:13 Jan 28, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 W:\DISC\P04JA4.020 p04ja4 86 Jan. 16 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 I also want to say a special thanks to the framework that promotes the furtherance of Baltic-American communities. For 50 years, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, recip- Lithuanian-, Latvian-, and Estonian-Ameri- rocal support to the Euro-Atlantic integra- cans kept alive the dream of Baltic freedom. tion, and common efforts designed for the Now, on the verge of a new century, they consolidation of security, prosperity, and sta- are working here at home and with their Bal- bility within the region and Euro-Atlantic tic brothers and sisters to make sure the area as the whole. hard-won blessings of liberty will never be The U.S.-Baltic charter confirms repeat- lost again. edly that Lithuania is a serious candidate for President Meri, President Brazauskas, accession to NATO, as well as that the Unit- President Ulmanis, we recall the August day ed States support the Baltic States' aspira- in 1989 when hundreds of thousands of peo- tions and their efforts to become members ple linked hands from Tallinn to Riga to of the alliance. Vilnius, forming a human chain as strong as Lithuania values the charter first and fore- the values for which it stood. Today, that Bal- most as the commitment to its further role tic chain extends across the Atlantic Ocean. as the promoter of stability within our region America's hands and hearts and hopes are and Europe as a whole, its commitment to joined as one with yours. Working together, progress, economic reforms, and further en- we can build a new Europe of democracy, hancement of defense system effectiveness prosperity, and peace, where security is the and interoperability with the North Atlantic province of every nation and the future be- alliance. We appreciate and are supportive longs to the free. of President Clinton's and the U.S. role of Thank you very much. leadership in opening up to Central Euro- President Guntis Ulmanis of Latvia. pean democracies the doors to history's most Dear President, ladies and gentlemen, today successful alliance. It is our hope that this is a happy day as we are signing the U.S.A.- openness to new members will enhance the Baltic charter. This charter will serve as a security and stability for all the present and key for the next century. It makes us allies. aspiring members, as well as other European Our signatures write the strategic philosophy nations. for the next century. They mark strong Thank you. Atlanticism and also the formation of a new President Lennart Meri of Estonia. Mr. Europe. The Baltic region is a success story President, Excellencies, ladies and gentle- for all who shape it by their everyday work.