Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Monday, March 27, 2000 Volume 36—Number 12 Pages 577–631

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Addresses and Remarks Communications to Congress—Continued Bangladesh Bangladesh-U.S. peaceful nuclear cooperation Joypura, visitors in Dhaka—586 agreement, message transmitting report— State dinner hosted by President Ahmed in 588 Dhaka—589 Gun control legislation, letter—589 India International Plant Protection Convention Business community in Hyderabad—619 Business reception in Mumbai—625 with documentation, message Dairy cooperative in Nayla village—615 transmitting—615 Indo-U.S. Joint Statement on Energy and National Endowment for the Humanities, the Environment, signing ceremony in message transmitting report—614 Agra—611 National Science Foundation, message Mahavir Trust Hospital in Hyderabad—617 transmitting reports—615 Parliament, joint session in New Delhi— Social Security reform legislation, letter—599 605 State dinner hosted by President Narayanan Communications to Federal Agencies in New Delhi—599 Village council in Nayla village—616 Sanctions on India, memorandum—582 Radio address—581 Interviews With the News Media Saint Patrick’s Day—577, 580 Exchange with reporters in Agra, India—611 Bill Signings Interview with Peter Jennings of ABC’s Open-market Reorganization for the ‘‘World News Tonight’’ in New Delhi—600 Betterment of International News conferences Telecommunications Act, statement—578 March 20 (No. 187) with Prime Minister Communications to Congress Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh in Dhaka— Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, letter on non- 583 implementation of memorandum of March 21 (No. 188) with Prime Minister understanding—579 Vajpayee of India in New Dehli—590

(Continued on the inside of the back cover.)

Editor’s Note: The President was in Hyderabad, India, on March 24, the closing date of this issue. Releases and announcements issued by the Office of the Press Secretary but not received in time for inclusion in this issue will be printed next week.

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.

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Joint Statements Statements by the President Agreed Principles: Institutional Dialogue See also Bill Signings Between the United States and India—596 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operations Joint Statement on U.S.-India Relations: A in Southeast Europe—623 Vision for the 21st Century—594 Nowruz observance—587 Senate action on Social Security reform Meetings With Foreign Leaders legislation—614 Bangladesh Supreme Court’s decision on tobacco President Ahmed—589 regulation—598 Prime Minister Hasina—583, 586 Taiwan, election of Chen Shui-bian as India President—582 President Narayanan—599 Prime Minister Vajpayee—590, 594, 596, Supplementary Materials 605 Acts approved by the President—631 Ireland, Prime Minister Ahern—577, 580 Checklist of White House press releases—630 Digest of other White House Proclamations announcements—628 Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A.—624 Nominations submitted to the Senate—629

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Remarks at a Saint Patrick’s Day the Good Friday accord, made fundamental Ceremony With Prime Minister and principled compromises in the effort to Bertie Ahern of Ireland secure a lasting peace. That agreement re- March 17, 2000 mains the very best hope we have ever had for achieving peace, and I still believe it will Thank you very much. Thank you, succeed. Taoiseach, for your words and your leader- And the model of the Good Friday accord ship, for the shamrocks, and the beautiful represents not just hope for Northern Ire- Irish crystal. Upstairs in our Residence, there land but hope for so many stricken areas all is so much Irish crystal now that sometimes across the Earth now suffering from sectarian I have guests from other countries that ask violence. As extraordinary as Ireland’s record me if I’ve ever been anywhere but Ireland. is in exporting peace and peacekeepers to [Laughter] But I will treasure this always. troubled areas of the Earth, nothing will I don’t suppose the saints in Heaven spend compare to the gift Ireland gives the world time boasting about their earthly achieve- if you can make your own peace permanent ments, but if they do, I imagine the other and meet the urgent need of the world for saints can bear no more bragging from Saint proof that a path to peace can be found. Patrick, for no nation has ever lived up more In the sixth year of Saint Patrick’s enslave- fully to the virtues of its patron saint than ment he was awakened by a mysterious voice has Ireland. that said: ‘‘Your hungers are rewarded. You Saint Patrick has been described as one are going home. Look, your ship is ready.’’ of the great saints of the downtrodden and His fateful response to depart immediately the excluded. And the legendary, large-heart- and seek his destiny set in motion his voca- ed Irish people are famous for reaching out tion to study, to learn, and then return to to the world’s less fortunate. Ireland to bring faith and peace. By the per- Whenever the troubled places of the Earth suasive force of the spirit, he began to change have called out for help, the Irish have an- the warring traditions of the Irish tribes. But swered the call. Always among the first in his accomplishments, great as they are, re- economic assistance, disaster relief, peace- main, after all these centuries, incomplete. keeping. Indeed, in the past four decades, And so, I say to you, Taoiseach, your ship there has never been a day, not a single day, is ready. In the smiling eyes of the Irish child, that Irish troops have not stood watch for you have all the cause you will ever need peace on some distant shore. to intensify the search for peace. I hope all All of you have paid a price for this, like the leaders and people of Ireland will follow all of Ireland. I was saddened by the recent your lead. I hope all those in Northern Ire- deaths of four young Irish soldiers serving land, especially, will heed this call. We must with the United Nations in Lebanon. As Ire- fulfill the pastoral mission of Saint Patrick. land has committed itself to the cause of Nothing is more fitting on this Saint Patrick’s peace around the world, it is right that the Day. world, and especially the United States, Thank you very much. should commit ourselves to the cause of NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 4:15 peace in Ireland. p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. I repeat today the promise I made in Dub- The transcript released by the Office of the Press lin 4 years ago: America will be with you as Secretary also included the remarks of Prime Min- you walk the road to peace. We are conscious ister Ahern. This item was not received in time that Ireland, along with the other parties to for publication in the appropriate issue. 577

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Statement on Signing the Open- viders (its current role). That means allowing market Reorganization for the INTELSAT to compete robustly against all Betterment of International other service providers in this rapidly grow- Telecommunications Act ing industry. March 17, 2000 My Administration intends to pursue INTELSAT’s privatization in a manner that Today I have signed into law S. 376, the is compatible with this Nation’s international ‘‘Open-market Reorganization for the Better- obligations and with our interests in a com- ment of International Telecommunications petitive global international telecommuni- Act.’’ S. 376 amends the Communications cations environment. Accordingly, the Satellite Act of 1962 to establish a statutory United States will continue to engage the framework for the privatization of the Inter- other 142 member countries of INTELSAT national Telecommunications Satellite Orga- in cooperative multilateral negotiations to nization (INTELSAT) and the International achieve these goals. Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat). Several provisions of S. 376 could interfere In partnership with the Congress, my Ad- with the President’s constitutional authority ministration has worked aggressively over the to conduct the Nation’s foreign affairs by di- last 6 years to promote the pro-competitive recting or burdening the President’s negotia- privatization of these intergovernmental sat- tions with foreign governments and inter- ellite organizations. As a result of our efforts national organizations. Specifically, new sec- and changing commercial conditions, in tions 621 and 661 of the Communications 1995, Inmarsat spun off new business activi- Satellite Act of 1962 purport to direct the ties into a private United Kingdom (U.K.) executive branch on how to proceed in for- corporation, ICO Global Communications eign negotiations, and new sections 625(c), Ltd., and, in 1999, Inmarsat privatized its re- 644(b), and 647 purport to require the execu- maining business activities as a U.K. corpora- tive branch to take particular positions in tion. In 1998, INTELSAT spun off five sat- international organizations. The President’s ellites into a private Netherlands corporation, New Skies Satellites, N.V. And last October, constitutional authority over foreign affairs INTELSAT’s 143 member governments necessarily entails discretion over these mat- agreed to fully privatize by early 2001. ters, and I will therefore construe these pro- My Administration’s goal is to ensure that visions as advisory. To avoid similar constitu- a privatized INTELSAT will compete fairly tional difficulties, I will construe section and fully with other international tele- 602(b) as not requiring the United States to communications companies, thus benefiting take particular positions in international or- consumers through greater innovation, lower ganizations. prices, and more service options. Fair com- The President has the authority to conduct petition requires a level playing field; U.S. international trade policy and to inter- INTELSAT must not retain advantages that pret international treaty obligations, such as result from its former intergovernmental sta- those arising under the World Trade Organi- tus or that are unavailable to other satellite zation (WTO). In this regard and in further- competitors, including any preferential ac- ance of new section 601(c) of the Commu- cess to orbital slots or foreign markets. But nications Satellite Act of 1962, the appro- neither should INTELSAT (or the already priate Federal agencies will advise the Fed- privatized Inmarsat and New Skies) have to eral Communications Commission on all face barriers to the U.S. market erected by matters raised by S. 376 concerning interpre- competitors who want to limit competition tation of and compliance with WTO commit- here. Full competition means that ments of the United States. INTELSAT should be privatized in a way I appreciate the changes that the Congress that allows it to provide the full range of tele- made to section 3 of this bill, with respect communications services, including value- to new section 601(b)(1)(C) of the Commu- added services to end users, as well as whole- nications Satellite Act of 1962. These changes sale satellite capacity to communications pro- ensure, among other things, continued access

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by the Department of Defense, other na- competition. We will participate aggressively tional security agencies, and law enforcement in negotiations to ensure that decisions on and public health and safety agencies to exist- privatization promote robust competition ing and future Inmarsat and INTELSAT and comply with the United States’ inter- services. To effectively implement that sec- national treaty obligations. tion, the appropriate Federal agency or agen- cies will provide the Federal Communica- William J. Clinton tions Commission with comments on the ap- plication of S. 376 to matters related to na- The White House, tional security, law enforcement, and protec- March 17, 2000. tion of public health and safety. New section 601(a) of the Communica- NOTE: S. 376, approved March 17, was assigned tions Satellite Act of 1962 deals with the Fed- Public Law No. 106-180. This item was not re- eral Communications Commission’s licensing ceived in time for publication in the appropriate of ‘‘separated entities,’’ i.e., privatized enti- issue. ties to which a portion of INTELSAT’s or Inmarsat’s assets are transferred before full privatization. In approving S. 376, I state my Letter to Congressional Leaders on understanding that section 601(a) will be ap- the Non-Implementation of the plied as setting forth only one determination Memorandum of Understanding that the Commission must make in issuing a license or other authority to a separated Relating to the Anti-Ballistic Missile entity. The Commission will continue to be Treaty required to make the other findings required March 17, 2000 by the Communications Act of 1934, includ- ing that the Commission apply its public in- Dear Mr. Chairman: terest review to all those who operate, or In accordance with section 629 of the De- wish to operate, as telecommunications car- partments of Commerce, Justice, and State, riers. By interpreting section 601(a) in this the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appro- way, we ensure that this provision is har- priations Act, 2000, as contained in the Om- monized with the Communications Act. We nibus Appropriations Act for 2000 (Public further ensure that in deciding to issue a li- Law 106–113), I hereby certify that the cense or other authority to a separated entity, United States Government is not imple- the Commission will take into account factors menting the Memorandum of Understanding in addition to the impact on competition of Relating to the Treaty Between the United the issuance of a license or other authority, States of America and the Union of Soviet such as considerations relating to national se- Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti- curity, law enforcement, foreign policy, Ballistic Missile Systems of May 26, 1972, trade, and public safety. entered into in New York on September 26, In addition, in approving S. 376, I state 1997, by the United States, Russia, my understanding that section 647 does not Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine. limit the Federal Communications Commis- Attached is a report to the Congress relat- sion from assigning, via competitive bidding, ing to this certification. domestic satellite service licenses intended Sincerely, to cover only the United States. As it has done for the last 6 years, my Ad- William J. Clinton ministration will consult closely with the Congress as we negotiate with other coun- NOTE: Identical letters were sent to C.W. Bill tries on how INTELSAT should be Young, chairman, House Committee on Appro- privatized. My Administration has a clear vi- priations, and Ted Stevens, chairman, Senate sion for INTELSAT privatization, one Committee on Appropriations. This item was not shaped by our overriding concern with bene- received in time for publication in the appropriate fiting U.S. consumers through increased issue.

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Remarks at a Saint Patrick’s Day ly the mark of a life well lived, if someone Reception you really loved would kneel at your grave March 17, 2000 and tell you that they loved you. And so I thank you, sir, for that gift tonight. The President. Thank you. Welcome to And I was thinking—just one other thing. the White House. I want to join Hillary in I have nothing to add to what I said last night, thanking our entertainers. I welcome you, and most of you were at the American Ire- Taoiseach, and all the members of your gov- land Fund dinner. But the lines from ‘‘The ernment and your entourage and all of our Cure at Troy’’ which Seamus read are far guests from Ireland and Northern Ireland, more remarkable when you fully understand the Members of Congress who are here. I their context. The man who is saying that— want to thank the members of the British the chorus is singing this chant: Government who are here, Peter Mandelson Hope for a great sea change on the far and British Ambassador Christopher Meyer; side of revenge, Sean O’hUiginn, your Ambassador here, and Believe in cures and miracles and healing Brian Cowen, the Irish Foreign Minister; and wells. all the Government. And I want to thank our Ambassadors to They’re saying that about Philoctetes, who Ireland, Governor Mike Sullivan, and to was a Greek in the Trojan Wars, who was Great Britain, Phil Lader. And our former very important to the military efforts of Irish Ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith, is Ulysses because he had a magic bow. And here with a fair measure of her family we legend had it that the gods always blessed welcome here. Philoctetes, and whenever he brought his I want to say that I do love Seamus magic bow into play, the Greeks always won. Heaney’s poetry, and I love what he quoted, But after a battle in which he was badly that I quoted. I actually wrote a book in 1996 wounded in the leg, he was dumped and cribbed his words, ‘‘of hope and history.’’ unceremoniously on a god-forsaken piece of But you know, he’s done better than having rock in the Aegean and abandoned for a dec- me quote his lines. He’s done better than ade, where his foot rotted into a stump. He winning the Nobel Prize. He’s actually man- never saw another living human being. He aged to make ‘‘Beowulf’’ interesting. [Laugh- turned into a virtual feral beast. ter] And in honor of that, if we don’t get And then, Ulysses came up with this great this mess straightened out pretty soon, I may idea that they could finally win the Trojan appoint you to succeed George Mitchell. War if they made this big horse and filled [Laughter] Anybody that can make ‘‘Beo- it full of soldiers and made it look like an wulf’’ interesting is my guy. [Laughter] act of friendship, and then they would trick I also want to join others in thanking my the Trojans and win the war. But he was sent great friend Senator George Mitchell for the the message that he couldn’t win without magnificent work he has done. I want to Philoctetes. So he said, ‘‘After I stuffed this thank all those who met with me today from guy on this island and left him to die, and the various parties in Northern Ireland for I thought he was dead, and now I know he’s saying that you would continue the search living, how in the wide world will I ever get for peace. him to come and do anything for me again?’’ I was thinking, when Hillary said that I So he takes a young guy and he goes to was singing ‘‘Danny Boy’’—which was rude, the island, and the young guy goes up and I realize, but I couldn’t control myself. starts talking to Philoctetes. That’s what this [Laughter] I’m one of the few Americans whole play is about. And he basically pre- that knows all the words to the second verse. tends to be someone else. And finally, Ulys- [Laughter] ses realizes he’s never going to get the guy First Lady Hillary Clinton. Shall we sing off until he goes out and fesses up. So he it? goes up and tells him who he is, what he The President. And I believe the second did, and he just says, ‘‘I have to ask you to verse is more beautiful than the first and real- come with me. I cannot do this without you.’’

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And against all the odds, Philoctetes for- ator George Mitchell, who chaired the multiparty gives him, limps down to the boat with his talks in Northern Ireland; and former President bow, sails off into the Aegean, and the rest Nelson Mandela and Ambassador Sheila Sisulu of is history. But the important thing you need South Africa. The transcript released by the Office to know is, after this beautiful chorus which of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Prime Minister Ahern. This item was not re- Seamus read, as he is sailing away from this ceived in time for publication in the appropriate island where he spent 10 years all alone, find- issue. A tape was not available for verification of ing within himself not hatred but the the content of these remarks. strength to love a man who had abandoned him, he looks back at the island and says, ‘‘It was a fortunate wind that blew me here.’’ The President’s Radio Address When Nelson Mandela—we have the Am- March 18, 2000 bassador from South Africa here—when he took me to Robben Island, that’s all I could Good morning. In recent months, we’ve think of. After 27 God-forsaken years, it was seen a rapid increase in the price of oil, and a fortunate wind that blew him there. And many are concerned about the effect on our to all of you on this, my last Saint Patrick’s economy. It’s important to remember that Day, it was a fortunate wind that blew me while prices are higher now than they have into your presence. been for some time, our overall economy is But for all of that, I kept thinking to myself still the strongest it’s ever been. Inflation and as the children were up here playing their unemployment remain at historically low lev- bells so beautifully, that this whole thing real- els. But high oil prices are causing hardship ly has to be about them. And we can com- for many Americans—Americans on modest pliment each other from now until the end incomes that have to drive a long way to of our lives, with all of our beautiful words work, independent truckers that have big fuel and all of our warm memories. But unless costs. the wind blows all of us toward final peace, We need to take action now for both the we will have let them down, and all of our short and the long term, to protect con- poetry will have fallen on deaf ears. sumers and strengthen America’s energy se- So on this Saint Patrick’s Day, let us re- curity. In the short term, I’ll continue to work member, if we have the eloquence of Seamus with foreign countries to help close the gap and the heart of Philoctetes and the goodness between production and consumption. Sev- of Saint Patrick, we can do what we were eral important oil-producing countries al- meant to do in this fleeting life. ready have expressed their support for a pro- Thank you, and God bless you all. duction increase. But we also need to take Now, I want to ask our most distinguished a longer view, one that rejects environ- guest to say a few words, but before I bring mentally damaging alternatives like drilling the Taoiseach up, let me tell you this: I have in the protected and treasured natural habi- worked with two of his predecessors. I liked tats of Alaska. them both very much. They wanted very Today I am announcing important new much to make peace. They did everything steps to reduce our reliance on foreign oil that could reasonably have been expected of and fossil fuels, to protect our environment, them. But this man is very special. And ev- and to keep our economy strong. First, to erybody involved in this process knows it. reduce the likelihood that future heating oil And if we make it, it will be in no small meas- shortages will harm consumers as they did ure due to the heroic and wise efforts of this winter, I am proposing the creation of Bertie Ahern. an environmentally sound home heating oil Taoiseach. reserve in the Northeast that could supply NOTE: The President spoke at 8:50 p.m. in the additional heating oil to the market in the East Room at the White House. In his remarks, event of a future shortage. he referred to Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Second, to ensure that we have all avail- Ireland; Peter Mandelson, United Kingdom Sec- able tools in the event of a crisis, I’m calling retary of State for Northern Ireland; former Sen- on Congress to immediately reauthorize the

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Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a critical part structive dialog with the People’s Republic of our Nation’s insurance against national of China. I believe the election provides a emergencies caused by interruptions in the fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out supply of oil. and resolve their differences peacefully Third, for over 2 years, Congress has re- through dialog. The United States strongly fused to pass commonsense tax credits I’ve supports such dialog and is committed to proposed to promote fuel-saving cars of the promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in future and energy-efficient homes, buildings, the region. and equipment. I’m proposing a comprehen- We will continue to conduct close unoffi- sive package of tax incentives to improve the cial ties with the people on Taiwan through energy efficiency of our society, to promote the American Institute in Taiwan in accord- the use of alternative fuels, and to support ance with the Taiwan Relations Act and our increased domestic oil production. I call on ‘‘one China’’ policy as embodied in our three Congress to act now and pass these critical communiques with the People’s Republic of measures without further delay. China. Finally, it’s long past time for Congress to fully fund the more than $1 billion I’ve re- quested to accelerate the research and devel- Memorandum on Sanctions on India opment of more efficient energy tech- nologies, including the use of alternative and March 16, 2000 more efficient fuels. We have to be clear: There’s no overnight solution to this prob- Presidential Determination No. 2000–18 lem. Instead of taking short sighted and risky steps now we might regret later, we should Memorandum for the Secretary of State use this opportunity to start down the right path toward real, long-term energy security. Subject: Sanctions on India At the dawn of the 20th century, Theodore Pursuant to the authority vested in me as Roosevelt defined America’s central task as President of the United States, including leaving this land even a better land for our under title IX of the Department of Defense descendants than it is for us. If we take re- Appropriations Act, 2000 (Public Law 106– sponsible action on energy security now, we 79), I hereby waive the sanctions contained can meet Roosevelt’s challenge. We can also in sections 101 and 102 of the Arms Export protect our environment and grow our econ- Control Act, section 620E(e) of the Foreign omy well into the 21st century. Assistance Act of 1961, and section 2(b)(4) Thanks for listening. of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945: NOTE: The address was recorded at 7:30 p.m. on With respect to India, insofar as such sanc- March 17 in the Oval Office at the White House tions would otherwise apply to assistance to for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 18. This the South Asia Regional Initiative/Energy; transcript was made available by the Office of the the Presidential Initiative on Internet for Press Secretary on March 17 but was embargoed Economic Development; the Financial Insti- for release until the broadcast. tution Reform and Expansion program; and the United States Educational Foundation in Statement on the Election of Chen India Environmental Exchange. Shui-bian as President of Taiwan You are hereby authorized and directed to report this determination to the Congress March 18, 2000 and to arrange for its publication in the I congratulate Mr. Chen Shui-bian on his Federal Register. victory in today’s elections in Taiwan. This election clearly demonstrates the strength William J. Clinton and vitality of Taiwan’s democracy. During the election, all the candidates NOTE: This determination was released by the Of- made clear their hope for restoration of con- fice of the Press Secretary on March 20.

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The President’s News Conference We also discussed our bilateral trade with With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the U.S., which is our number one export of Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh market. Nearly $2 billion worth of goods were exported to the U.S. in 1998 and ’99. March 20, 2000 In this context, we explained to President Clinton the liberal economic policies and Prime Minister Hasina. Distinguished programs of the Government, and also dis- members of the press, on behalf of the Gov- cussed our proposal for increase of Ban- ernment and the people of Bangladesh, I gladesh’s quota of Government exports, as would like to extend a very warm and special well as duty-free and quota-free access of welcome to the President of the United Bangladeshi products to U.S. States of America, His Excellency Mr. Bill Regarding cooperation in energy, both our Clinton, and distinguished members of his countries acknowledge the immense poten- delegation. This is the first-ever visit of a U.S. tial in this sector and have decided to inten- President to Bangladesh, and it reflects the sify our cooperation. We have initialed two warm and friendly ties between our two production-sharing agreements with Unocal countries, as well as the qualitative formation and Pangea. Bangladesh and the U.S. also that has been taking place in our relationship. signed a strategic objective agreement, under Let me also thank President Clinton for which the U.S. would provide an amount of his decision to begin his tour of South Asia U.S. dollar, $30 million grant to achieve in- from the soil of Bangladesh. We are truly creased institutional capacity to make deci- honored, Mr. President. sions in clean energy development, improve At this moment, I recall with gratitude the environment, and increase public support for warm hospitality that was extended to me by energy sector reform. the President and the First Lady during my In addition, we thank the President for the brief visit to the White House in 1997. I’m agreement signed between our two countries proud to say that the father of the nation, for reduction of debt and use of interest for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, im- local development activities under the Trop- bued by deep and abiding values of freedom, ical Forest Conservation Act of 1998. This democracy, and equality, achieved for us this is a good beginning, and we requested the nation. He laid the foundation of Ban- President for further action for cancellation gladesh-U.S. relationship. of our debt under P.L. 480. A number of We value the relationship. It is a matter other agreements have also been finalized of satisfaction that these ties have grown sub- where U.S. aid would be funding for this in stantially. It was, therefore, a singular honor Bangladesh. for me today to meet President Clinton. He’s On the question of export of gas, our posi- an outstanding leader and statesman of our tion remains that after fully meeting our do- times. We discussed our bilateral relations mestic requirements and ensuring gas for 50 and issues of common concern, and I am years for use of future generations, the re- happy to say that our meeting was fruitful maining surplus gas will be available for ex- and productive. port. Similarly, on the question of export of We reiterated to the President that the power, we maintain that with new gas fields Government of Bangladesh shares the U.S. being discovered and developed, we must commitment to democracy, rule of law, find good use for the gas. We will, therefore, human rights, and free-market policy. Like welcome proposals that are commercially via- the U.S., Bangladesh also believes in peace, ble for the export of power, based on our security, and in proactive efforts to defuse natural gas. tension everywhere. We also apprised President Clinton that We appreciate the President’s efforts and Bangladesh could emerge as an important initiative to bring the Middle East closer to center of IT industry in South Asia. a lasting peace and realize the important role Bangladeshi programmers, computer engi- played by the U.S. in achieving peace in neers, and IT professionals could provide IT Bosnia, Kosovo, and other regions. product services, taking advantages of the

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time difference between Bangladesh and the Rahman, whose passion and commitment U.S. The U.S. could also provide necessary united a people. technical assistance and institutional support Despite many challenges since then, you to Bangladesh for development of IT indus- have come together to build a nation that try. This could help create employment op- has won the respect of the world. The United portunities for the educated youth of the States admires Bangladesh as a nation proud country. of its Islamic heritage, proud of its unique We requested the President to expedite culture, proud of its commitment to toler- the deportation of the killers of the father ance and democracy, and proud of its partici- of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur pation in the world community. We are Rahman. We stressed that the killers have grateful for your leadership in the United terrorist links and that they should not be States and your courageous example in send- given refuge in the greatest democracy of the ing peacekeepers to end the conflict in Bos- world, a country that upholds the rule of law. nia and Kosovo. We particularly honor Ban- I am touched by President Clinton’s sympa- gladesh as the first nation in South Asia to thetic response. ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We requested President Clinton to take Finally, we are grateful for the Bangladeshi- steps to regulate the status of Bangladeshi Americans who are doing so much to enrich nationals living in the U.S. without proper and to enliven both our nations. documents. I’d like to thank President Clin- Today is only the beginning of a stronger ton for the deep personal interest he has partnership. The Prime Minister and I dis- taken in the welfare and well-being of the cussed ways to strengthen our economic ties, people of Bangladesh. I am sure that the while ensuring that future prosperity is built President’s visit will be a milestone in our upon respect for decent labor practices, the relationship and serve to highlight the many magnificent natural environment of Ban- achievements of Bangladesh and enhance its gladesh, and a sense of responsibility toward the children who will inherit the future. stature and standing in the world community. Today I am pleased to announce that our President Clinton extended an invitation Agency for International Development will to me to visit his great country, which I gladly provide $50 million to Bangladesh and other accepted. A date in October this year will nations in South Asia to harness clean energy be worked out for this visit. resources, reduce air pollution, and fight cli- May I now request His Excellency William mate change. Bangladesh also will be the Jefferson, President of the U.S.A., to say a very first nation to receive funding under a few words now. United States program that converts old debt Thank you, and the floor is yours. to new funding to protect tropical forests. President Clinton. Thank you very much. I’m also happy to announce that our Agen- Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I am cy for International Development and De- proud today to be the first American Presi- partment of Agriculture will provide $97 mil- dent to visit Bangladesh. But I am quite sure lion in food assistance here. And today I’m I will not be the last. Though far apart geo- sending to our Congress the renewal of our graphically, our nations grow closer every agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation day, through expanding trade, through the with Bangladesh. Internet revolution, and through our shared Anyone who looks at the map can see that interest in building a world more peaceful, this is a nation of great rivers from many more tolerant, more prosperous, and more sources merging together as they approach free. the Bay of Bengal. Today, from many sources Twenty-nine years ago this month, against of our different national traditions, we meet extraordinary obstacles, Bangladesh began a in Dhaka to build our common future. lonely fight for existence that did not receive Thank you very much, Prime Minister. the support it deserved from many countries Prime Minister Hasina. Thank you. around the world. That struggle was led by President Clinton. Would you like to call the Prime Minister’s father, Sheikh Mujibur on a journalist, and then I will? Should we

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go to the Americans first or the Bangladeshis I think that this is an appropriate thing for first? It’s your call. me to do, to try to get this back on track, so that our objectives of having a comprehen- Visit to Bangladesh sive peace can go forward. Q. Mr. President, what political and eco- Q. My question is, how do you look at the nomic factors have convinced you to under- Bangladesh politics? Thank you. take your first visit to Bangladesh? And would the United States consider favored na- Bangladesh Politics/Bangladeshis in tion to Bangladesh as a favored nation, when America India, Pakistan, and South Asia are engaged Q. Mr. President, do you think that—this in nuclear arms threats? is your first visit to Bangladesh, where people President Clinton. Well, first of all, you are hard-working and sincere. Do you want ask what political and economic factors en- to make your visit memorable by declaring couraged me to come here. I think this is a general amnesty for undocumented citizens a nation with a very big future. This is a na- of Bangladesh who are living in your country? tion that chose to sign and to ratify the Com- President Clinton. I think you asked prehensive Test Ban Treaty; a nation that has about the Bangladeshis living in the United used its soldiers to go around the world to States. And I think one of you asked about help others make peace; a nation that, I be- what I thought about your local politics. I lieve, is committed to democracy, with a vig- think that the less I say about it, the better, orous level of political debate inside this except it certainly seems to be vigorous. And country, as nearly as I can see, and a real I hope it will be peaceful, because—you may commitment to the long-term welfare of its know that I have a few opponents back in children, and one in which we feel a great the United States. We have vigorous political deal of common interest. So to me, this was systems; that’s what democracies are about. an easy decision to come here. I wanted to But in the end you have to find constructive come here. And I look forward to a longer ways to resolve your differences and go on. and richer future between the United States Now, on the Bangladeshis in America, I and Bangladesh. have done what I could to make sure that Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press]. none were unfairly treated. We have laws that govern this. And it is true that we have Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad allowed significant populations from places Q. Mr. President, there has been a lot of where there were virulent civil wars, and they speculation that you’ll conclude this trip by were driven into our country because they going to Geneva to meet with President Asad could not safely remain at home. And then of Syria. What is the likelihood of that? And they stayed in our country and began to es- would it be your expectation, if that happens, tablish families and earn a living. And there that your meeting would lead to a resumption were—the Congress passed blanket provi- of the Syrian-Israeli talks that were sus- sions to allow them to stay. pended in January? Other people who come to our country in President Clinton. Well, I do intend to large numbers are basically governed by our do that. When I leave, when I conclude my more general immigration laws. And there’s visits in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, I a limit to what I can do. I have already taken do intend to go to Switzerland to meet with some steps there. But I said in my opening President Asad. And we’ll just have to see statement, and I will say again, I think our what comes out of the talks. country has been greatly enriched by the But we have, now, we’ve worked very hard presence of Bangladeshis, and we have many with the parties to get the Palestinian and Bangladeshi-American citizens. One of them Israeli track back going, and they’re doing is here with me today, Osman Siddique, very, very well indeed. And I think they have who’s our Ambassador to Fiji. And so I feel a lot of energy and a real plan for the future. very good about the presence of And I think this is the next logical step. I Bangladeshis within the United States. But don’t want to unduly raise expectations, but I have to observe the laws that we have.

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Lori [Lori Santos, United Press Inter- not available for verification of the content of this national]. news conference.

Cancellation of Joypura Visit Remarks to Visitors From Joypura Q. Sir, can you tell us what security con- in Dhaka cerns prompted you to cancel your trip to March 20, 2000 the village today? And are you confident it will not happen again on this trip, particularly Thank you very much. First let me say to in Pakistan? the Prime Minister how delighted I am to President Clinton. The answer to the first be here in Bangladesh, and how much I have part of your question is, no I won’t, because enjoyed meeting today with all the people I don’t think I can. I should. But let me— from Joypura. I thank you, Asia, for your that I thought it was very, very important for teaching. I thank Hasan Abed and the other me to come here. And I think it’s important people who are involved in the BRAC move- for the United States to see its friends and ment. I thank my longtime friend to work for a future. I regret that I could Muhammad Yunus for bringing his people not go to the village. And I’m delighted that here today who are associated with the the villagers are coming to see me because Grameen Bank. And I’d also like to thank it will give me a chance to highlight some- the people who came with the Asrayon thing the American press has heard me talk project that the Prime Minister has founded. about many times, which is that the whole Thank you all for making me feel welcome microcredit movement in the world basically today. began here in Bangladesh with the Grameen Bangladesh is a country that, by traditional Bank nearly 20 years ago—maybe more than economic measurement, is still poor. But as that now. And the Prime Minister and I I saw today, in terms of the spirit and the talked about this. ability of the people, it is full of riches. And I am honored that I will have a chance the challenge we all face is how to unlock to see Muhammad Yunus again, to see some the ability—the brains, the heart, the spirit of the villagers, and to try to highlight the of the people of Bangladesh—beginning with important role that, I believe, microcredit the wonderful children that I have seen, but should have not only here in Bangladesh but also including the people that I met with the throughout all developing countries in the Asrayon project and the people who have world. The United States, through AID, sup- participated in the Grameen Bank. ports about 2 million microcredit loans a year I want my fellow Americans and people in other places. So I’m delighted I’m going throughout the world to know that the peo- to be able to see the people from the village ple of Bangladesh are a good investment in and to support this very, very important ini- the future. If you look only at the Grameen tiative in which Bangladesh is truly the Bank, it has 2.4 million borrowers in 39,000 world’s leader. villages. Ninety-four percent of the bor- Q. Sir, and about the security on the rest rowers are women; 98 percent of the loans of the trip? are repaid. And now, with loans for people Prime Minister Hasina. I think we can— to buy cell phones, entire villages are being we can stop here. Four questions already brought into the information age. I want peo- have been asked. And thank you very much. ple throughout the world to know this story. Thank you very much. And, President, thank I want to thank the Prime Minister and you very much. the people involved in the Asrayon move- President Clinton. Thank you. ment for setting a goal that no person in this country should be homeless. That should be NOTE: The President’s 187th news conference every nation’s goal. And I want to thank the began at 1:40 p.m. on the front steps outside the teachers and the supporters of the BRAC Prime Minister’s Office. In his remarks, the Presi- School for showing us that all our children dent referred to Muhammad Yunus, founder and can learn, and they all deserve the chance managing director, Grameen Bank. A tape was to learn.

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I also want to thank your Government and be given the chance to dream and to live industry for working with the International those dreams. Labor Organization and the United States to Because I have been privileged to be take some 9,000 children out of garment fac- President of the United States, I have trav- tories and put them in classrooms. There are eled all over the world. I have met with the children here today, including a group from wealthiest and most powerful people in the a special ILO-supported school that our world. I have been in the most successful United States Senator, Tom Harkin, told me communities in the world. I have also been about, that he visited 2 years ago. I thank in the poorest villages of Africa, of Asia, of you for doing that, as well. Latin America. And I believe, more strongly I want to continue to support all these today than ever, that intelligence and ability projects. I am pleased to announce today that and a human spirit are evenly distributed the United States will commit several million across the rich and the poor, in every con- dollars to help another 30,000 Bangladeshi tinent on Earth. children move from work in hazardous indus- And everyone must have a chance. Every tries into schools that will give them safer, little boy and every little girl must have a better futures. chance. I will do what I can to be a good We will work with the ILO and Grameen partner and a good friend in that endeavor to help 3 million women in rural areas gain in Bangladesh. access to micro-health insurance. And we will Thank you very much. commit several million dollars to help women get new skills, improve working conditions, and secure fair representation in trade orga- NOTE: The President spoke at 3:50 p.m. at the nizations. U.S. Embassy. In his remarks, he referred to We will also provide several million dollars Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh; to support another Grameen program, a solar Fazle Hasan Abed, executive director, Bangladesh cell program to use the clean energy of the Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC); and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing direc- Sun to generate power in villages throughout tor, Grameen Bank. The President’s visit to Bangladesh, cheap power, clean power, Joypura was cancelled, and the people of Joypura power that will empower all kinds of people visited the President at the Embassy. A tape was to raise their incomes in different ways in not available for verification of the content of the next few years. these remarks. I would like to make just two points in closing. First of all, I want to bring greetings from my wife who preceded me to Ban- Statement on the Observance gladesh. She and our daughter came here a of Nowruz few years ago. And she told me of all the good things that were going on here, and she March 20, 2000 urged me to have the United States do more to support the Grameen Bank, to support This week people of Iranian heritage your Government, to support efforts to un- around the world will celebrate Nowruz, the leash the ability of your children and your Persian New Year. Nowruz is a tradition as families to build a better future. old as the land of Persia, but at the same And finally, I would like to thank all of time it celebrates change and renewal: the you who shared your stories with me today. changing season from winter to spring, a new Many of you have overcome great obstacles year and a new beginning. It is a time to in your lives. Many of you still face great chal- gather with family and friends and to look lenges. But you convinced me again that no toward the future. I extend my best wishes one—no one—should believe that poverty is for the new year to Americans of Iranian ori- destiny, that people have to remain poor, that gin and to the people of Iran. I hope this their children cannot learn and do better. season will bring the start of a new era of You have made me believe more strongly better relations between our two countries. than ever that every child in this world should Nowruz Mubarak.

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Message to the Congress operation for an additional period of 20 years Transmitting the Proposed from the date of the original Agreement’s ex- Extension of the Bangladesh-United piration (i.e., to extend it until June 24, 2012) States Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation should stand, and that the Extension Agree- Agreement ment should be brought into force as soon as each Party has notified the other in writing March 20, 2000 that it has completed its legal requirements To the Congress of the United States: for doing so. I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, Section 123 of the Act, as amended by pursuant to sections 123 b. and 123 d. of the Title XII of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 Restructuring Act of 1998 (Public Law 105– U.S.C. 2153 (b), (d)) (the Act), the text of 277) now also provides that each Nuclear a proposed Agreement Between the United Proliferation Assessment Statement pre- States of America and the People’s Republic pared pursuant to the Act shall be accom- of Bangladesh to extend the Agreement for panied by a classified annex prepared by the Cooperation Between the United States of Secretary of State in consultation with the America and the People’s Republic of Ban- Director of Central Intelligence, summa- gladesh Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nu- rizing relevant classified information. The clear Energy signed at Dhaka, September 17, Secretary of State is submitting to the Con- 1981 (the Agreement for Cooperation). gress under separate cover such a classified The proposed Agreement to extend the annex. It contains, inter alia, the Secretary Agreement for Cooperation (the ‘‘Extension of State’s reaffirmation of the conclusions Agreement’’) was originally approved and its reached in the original unclassified Nuclear execution authorized by President Bush Proliferation Assessment Statement (a) that based on his written determination that the continued implementation of the Agreement performance of the Agreement for Coopera- for Cooperation is consistent with all require- tion for an additional period of 20 years ments of the Act, and (b) that the safeguards would promote, and would not constitute an and other control mechanisms and the unreasonable risk to, the common defense peaceful-use assurances contained in the and security. A copy of President Bush’s writ- Agreement for Cooperation are adequate to ten approval, authorization, and determina- ensure that any assistance furnished under tion is enclosed. Also enclosed is a copy of it will not be used to further any military the unclassified Nuclear Proliferation Assess- or nuclear explosive purpose. ment Statement (NPAS) prepared at that I am pleased to reconfirm President time by the Director, United States Arms Bush’s approval of the Extension Agreement Control and Disarmament Agency. and authorization of its execution and imple- The proposed Extension Agreement was mentation. Bangladesh is a party to the Trea- effected by an exchange of diplomatic notes ty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear at Dhaka on January 5, 1993, and February Weapons (NPT) and is fully in compliance 6, 1993. The terms of the Extension Agree- with its nuclear nonproliferation commit- ment condition its entry into force on each ments under that Treaty. In my judgment, State notifying the other of the completion continued performance of the Agreement for of its respective legal requirements for entry Cooperation between the United States of into force. However, before the proposed America and the People’s Republic of Ban- Extension Agreement could be submitted to gladesh Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nu- the Congress in 1993 for review pursuant to clear Energy will promote, and not constitute section 123 of the Act, the Government of an unreasonable risk to, the common defense Bangladesh asked to consult with the United and security. Apart from the proposed exten- States regarding a possible modification of sion, the Agreement for Cooperation will re- the term of extension. These discussions main in all other respects the same as that proved to be very protracted, but both Gov- which was favorably reviewed by the Con- ernments have now agreed that their original gress in 1982. The Department of State, the intention to extend the Agreement for Co- Department of Energy, and the Nuclear

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Regulatory Commission have reconfirmed can help save lives and should be enacted their favorable views regarding the original without further delay. NPAS as well as the conclusions contained Last week, my Administration, joined by herein. many cities and states, reached a landmark This transmission shall constitute a sub- agreement with Smith and Wesson under mittal for purposes of both sections 123 b. which the company will change the way it and 123 d. of the Act. My Administration is designs, distributes, and markets its products. prepared to begin immediately the consulta- That pact—which includes important provi- tions with the Senate Foreign Relations sions on gun shows, child safety locks, and Committee and the House International Re- large ammunition clips—is proof that when lations Committee as provided in section 123 reasonable people choose to sit down and ne- b. Upon completion of the period of 30 days gotiate, they can find common ground and of continuous session provided for in section protect the public interest. I hope Congress 123 b., the period of 60 days of continuous can now build on that example. session provided for in section 123 d. shall Nearly a year has passed since the tragedy commence. at Columbine High School, and gunfire con- tinues to take the lives of nearly a dozen William J. Clinton young people a day. That is why I urge you The White House, once again to finish the job you started last March 20, 2000. year and send me a comprehensive juvenile crime bill that contains the Senate-passed gun safety measures. No task could be more Letter to the Chairman of the urgent. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Sincerely, on Gun Control Legislation William J. Clinton March 20, 2000 NOTE: This letter was sent to Orrin G. Hatch, Dear Mr. Chairman: chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary. An Since last summer, I have repeatedly original was not available for verification of the content of this letter. urged the Congress to finish its work on juve- nile crime legislation and pass a balanced, bipartisan bill with strong gun measures to Remarks at a State Dinner Hosted keep guns out of the hands of children and by President Justice Shahabuddin criminals. However, I am troubled by your Ahmed of Bangladesh in Dhaka recent comments that you are considering March 20, 2000 stripping the Senate-passed commonsense gun provisions out of the final conference re- Mr. President, Prime Minister, distin- port. Legislation intended to address the guished guests, this has been a day of extraor- problem of youth violence simply cannot ig- dinary hospitality, insight, and discovery for nore the most devastating problem facing our us. On behalf of the American delegation, youth—gun violence. I thank you for all you have done to make Let me be clear: I will not sign juvenile us feel at home. crime legislation that fails to move forward For 5 years now, my wife and daughter in our efforts to make guns safer, and to keep have been singing the glories of Bangladesh. them out of the hands of children and Finally, I am glad to see for myself. This day criminals. has been a watershed for both our nations. Last summer, the Senate passed reason- Americans admire Bangladesh as a proud able gun provisions that would help do just Muslim nation, devoted to peace with its this, by closing the gun show loophole, re- neighbors, to peacekeeping around the quiring child safety locks for handguns, bar- world, to tolerance and diversity within its ring violent juveniles from owning guns as borders. When the great Bengali writer adults, and banning the importation of large Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel capacity ammunition clips. These measures Prize for literature, he said this: ‘‘I am glad

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I have done some work to give expression The President’s News Conference to this great age when the East and the West With Prime Minister Atal Behari are coming together.’’ Vajpayee of India in New Delhi, Although he did not live to see the creation India of Bangladesh, Tagore would doubtless be March 21, 2000 proud of all you have done to lead your peo- ple into a new century. I believe he would Prime Minister Vajpayee. I am delighted also approve of what we did today to bring to welcome President Clinton to India. His the East and the West closer together. visit provides us a unique opportunity for his- I was deeply gratified this morning to be toric confirmation in our relations. We have the first American President to arrive in Ban- just concluded a very productive meeting. gladesh, and I am proud of the kind of part- President Clinton and I have had an indepth nership we are forging. It is about more than exchange of views on many subjects. Our two the ceremony of a state visit. It is about pro- delegations have also held extensive discus- moting democracy and the values that give sions. Our discussions have been warm, meaning to our lives. It is about helping chil- friendly, and candid, reflecting our common desire to build a new relationship of mutual dren stay in school and have a better future, trust and respect. about investing in people who have never Our objective is to forge a durable, politi- been given a chance to succeed before, and cally constructive and economically produc- investing in a nation that now has a chance tive partnership between the world’s two to succeed as never before. largest democracies. I think with President Tomorrow the Sun will rise on a deeper Clinton’s visit and our meeting today, we friendship between America and Bangladesh. have laid a firm foundation for the future. Through our ceremonies and our conversa- President Clinton and I have just signed tions, we have hastened the arrival of a more a vision statement. The statement outlines peaceful new day, the kind of day that Tagore the contours of and defines the agenda of spent his life imagining. A new day compre- our partnership in the 21st century. We both hending not only the absence of war and suf- agreed that our commitment to the prin- fering but the presence of mutual under- ciples and practice of democracy constitutes standing and common endeavors. the bedrock of our relations and for our co- On behalf of all Americans, I pledge that operative efforts internationally for peace, we will work with you to build on this good prosperity, and democrative freedom. day, to soften the hard facts of daily hardship, We have also concluded agreements and to make real the poetry of our finest aspira- understandings on the establishment of very tions. wide-ranging dialog architecture. Closer con- tacts between our business and scientific I ask you now to join me in a toast to the communities will be encouraged. Both coun- President, the Prime Minister, the people of tries will endeavor to enhance trade and in- Bangladesh, and the friendship between our vestment, cooperate in energy and environ- two nations. May it grow. May it deepen. ment, and to draw upon the vast array of May it affect the lives of our people in ways talent, especially in the area of information that are truly good. technology and frontier sciences for the bet- Thank you very much. terment of the lives of their peoples. We share a common concern at the grow- NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 8:30 ing threat of terrorist violence and its links p.m. in the Banquet Hall of the Bangabhawan. with religious extremism and illegal trade in In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister narcotics. Both of us expressed our firm op- Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. The transcript re- position to the use of any form of violence, leased by the Office of the Press Secretary also whether as an instrument of terror against included the remarks of President Ahmed. democratic society or as a means of realizing

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territorial ambition. Nothing justifies the use In that end, I would like to make some of such matters against innocent people. We remarks on the tragic events in Jammu and expressed our determination to intensify our Kashmir yesterday. The brutal massacre of cooperation in this area. 36 Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir last night President Clinton and I had a frank discus- is further evidence of the ethnic cleansing sion on the issues of disarmament and non- that has been underway for a decade and is proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. part of a pattern that we have experienced The dialog, which is in progress between our earlier, including during my visit to Lahore two countries on these issues, has enhanced last year. The nation and the entire civilized the mutual understanding of our respective community is outraged at this premeditated concerns. I’ve explained to President Clinton act of barbarism and joins us in condemning the reasons that compel us to maintain a min- this act. imum nuclear deterrent. I have reiterated The attempt at cloaking ethnic terrorism our firm commitment not to conduct further in the guise of jihad carries no conviction. nuclear explosive tests, not to engage in a We and the international community reject nuclear arms race, and not to be the first the notion that jihad can be a part of any to use nuclear weapons against any country. civilized country’s foreign policy. None We have resolved to continue a dialog and should doubt the determination of the peo- to work together in cooperation with other ple of India to safeguard the secular unity of our society. countries to help bring about a peaceful and Together we have defeated all of the chal- secure world completely free of the threat lenges in the past, and we shall do so again. of all weapons of mass destruction. We have the means and the will to eliminate In our discussion of regional issues, I reit- this menace. erated our policy of developing friendly and Thank you. cooperative relations with all our neighbors President Clinton. Thank you, Prime in accordance with established principles of Minister, for your remarks and for the warm good neighborly relations, respect for each welcome that you, your delegation, and the of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, people of India have given to me and my and on the basis of agreements solemnly en- family and the Americans who have come tered into. India remains committed to re- with me. solving its difference with its neighbors It has been 22 years since a United States through peaceful bilateral dialog and in an President has visited this country. Of course, atmosphere free from the thought of force that is not much time in the grand sweep and violence. of India’s civilization, but it is close to half We agreed that problems between coun- your history since becoming independent. tries of the region should be resolved peace- That is far too long, and this day is, therefore, fully by the concerned countries themselves. long overdue. I am glad to be here. As a means of implementing our agenda, a As the world’s two largest democracies, we partnership in the 21st century, we have are united in believing that every person’s agreed to regular summit meetings. Presi- dignity should be respected, and every per- dent Clinton has invited me to Washington; son’s potential fulfilled. There is no better I am delighted to accept. example of the power of freedom and oppor- The President will have the opportunity tunity to liberate human potential than the over the next few days to see the rich cul- success that Americans of Indian heritage tural, linguistic, and religious diversity of our have enjoyed in our Nation. country, to experience the warmth and I have come to India because I want us friendship of our people, to witness the deli- to build a dynamic and lasting partnership, cate blend of tradition and modernity in our based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. society, and to feel the democratic pulse of India and America should be better friends our large nation. I wish the President and and stronger partners. In a world of increas- the members of his delegation a very pleasant ing globalization, our futures plainly are stay in India. intertwined. Today we have agreed to hold

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regular meetings between our heads of gov- I also stressed that at a time when most ernment and top officials. I thank the Prime nations, including the United States and Rus- Minister for accepting my invitation to visit sia, are making real progress in moving away the United States later this year. We have from nuclear weapons, the world needs India just signed, as you know, a joint vision state- to lead in the same direction. ment that outlines the goal we share and the While I am here, I will have the oppor- challenges we face. tunity to speak with Indians about these The world has become a better place as issues and listen, as I have today, to the con- more nations have joined us on the unfolding cerns of India’s leaders and its people. Then path of democracy. We want democracy to our discussions will continue after I leave. spread and deepen, to protect human rights, I say again, we have neglected this relation- including the rights of women and minorities. ship for more than two decades. It is too im- This June our two countries will convene portant to ever fall into disrepair again. I am the Community of Democracies meeting in committed to building a stronger partner- Warsaw. I thank the Prime Minister for the ship. And we are committed to building a leadership of India in this important endeav- better world. or. And I’m pleased that our National En- I look forward to spending the next 4 days dowment for Democracy, the Confederation here, meeting with your people, learning of Indian Industry, and the Bureau of Par- more about a rich history and culture I have liamentary Studies here will organize the long admired, and strengthening a friendship Asian Center for Democratic Governance, that, indeed, is critical to the future of the based here in New Delhi, to share our com- entire planet. mon experience with the hope of advancing Thank you very much. freedom across Asia. Q. [Inaudible] Both our nations now enjoy strong eco- President Clinton. Thank you. I’ll come nomic growth. Both are pioneering the infor- get it when we finish the questions, how’s mation revolution. Today we’ve reached that? agreement to bring more jobs and opportuni- ties to our people, to accelerate trade be- India-U.S. Relations tween us, to help India’s financial markets Q. This question is addressed to the Prime and assist its small businesses, to institute Minister. How did your one-to-one talks go, a regular economic dialog between our and what are your expectations of the future governments. of India-U.S. relations? We both face, still, the challenges of better Prime Minister Vajpayee. I’m glad you educating our children, lifting them from asked that question. As you can see, our talks poverty, protecting them from disease and have gone very well. We discussed sub- environmental peril. Today, these are global stantive issues relating to bilateral relations. challenges; what happens in one nation af- We discussed the situation in South Asia in fects others across their borders. We have a very frank and candid manner. I’m sure, agreed to face these challenges together. And as a result of this visit, and as a result of together we can succeed. the discussion, a new chapter is being added Finally, both our nations want a peaceful into our bilateral relations. future. I recognize that India has real secu- rity concerns. We certainly share your out- Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty rage and heartbreak over last night’s brutal Q. Mr. President, did you make any attack in Kashmir. We offer our profoundest progress, did you achieve any progress today sympathies to the people, especially to the in persuading Prime Minister Vajpayee to families of the victims. It reminds us of what take any of the specific steps that you have tremendous suffering this conflict has caused urged to restrain India’s nuclear program, India. The violence must end. This should specifically, signing the CTBT, banning the be a time for restraint, for respect for production of fissile materials, and tightening the Line of Control, for renewed lines of export controls? If you didn’t make any communication. progress today and if you don’t in the future,

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how close can this new relationship that you And did this question come up just in terms both have spoken of become? of the violence? President Clinton. Well, first of all, on The President. Well, first of all, we dis- this whole nonproliferation issue, we have cussed it at some length, and I expressed pri- had a dialog that has gone on for some time vately to the Prime Minister my outrage now under the leadership of Mr. Singh and about it—apparently the first targeting of the Mr. Talbott. And I would like to thank the Sikhs in Kashmir. I don’t think—the answer Indian Government for that work. to your question is, I don’t suppose it came Secondly, I felt today that there was a pos- up in the context of overall terrorism in the sibility that we could reach more common sense that it just happened last night. We ground on the issues of testing, on the pro- have to know who did it before there could duction of fissile material, on export controls, be a conclusion about that. and on restraint, generally. But I think that the targeting of innocent With regard to the Comprehensive Test civilians is the worst thing about modern con- Ban Treaty, you heard the Prime Minister’s flicts today. And the extent to which more statement about his position on testing. I and more people seem to believe it is legiti- would hope that the democratic process will mate to target innocent civilians to reach produce a signing and, ultimately, a ratifica- their larger political goals, I think that’s tion of the Comprehensive Test Ban in India, something that has to be resisted at every just like I hope the democratic process will turn. There should be less violence in Kash- ultimately produce a ratification of the Test mir, not more. And when people take on oth- Ban Treaty in America that I signed. These ers, they ought to be those that have the re- are contentious issues. But I’m actually quite sponsibility for defending—if somebody optimistic about our ability to make progress wants to fight, at least they ought to leave on them. the civilians alone. And again, I thank the Prime Minister for I think this is a horrible development in sanctioning what I think has been a very hon- Kashmir, but unfortunately, it’s becoming all est and thoroughgoing dialog. We’ve been too common around the world. And one of working on this for some time, and we will the things that I hope we’ll be able to do continue to do it. And I believe we will wind together is to reduce the incidence of vio- up in a common position. lence against innocent civilians, not only here but in other parts of the world as well. Situation in Kashmir Q. Mr. Prime Minister, if you’d like? Q. This question is addressed to both Prime Minister Vajpayee. I have nothing President Clinton and Prime Minister more to add. Vajpayee. Thirty-five people were massacred Q. Thank you. Mr. President, you said in in the valley yesterday, and both of you have February that South Asia was perhaps the expressed outrage at the incident. In the con- most dangerous place in the world today. text of ongoing India-U.S. cooperation on Given the massacre yesterday and the in- counterterrorism, what are your reactions to creasing nuclear tensions, do you think that this, and did this come up during your discus- the risk of another war is increasing? sions on terrorism? And to the Prime Minister, sir, who do President Clinton. Would you like to go you hold responsible for the massacre yester- first, Prime Minister? day, and what do you mean when you say, Let me ask you this, could you just repeat ‘‘We have the will and the means to eliminate just the question you asked? Did this come this menace’’? up in our discussions—yes, it did. Ask me President Clinton. Your turn. [Laughter] the previous question you asked. I want to Prime Minister Vajpayee. I’ll take my make sure I understood it. turn. [Laughter] I’m sure after visiting this Q. In the context of ongoing India-U.S. part of the world, the President will come cooperation on counterterrorism, did you to the conclusion that the situation is not so discuss this issue in terms of—did you discuss bad as it is made out to be. There are dif- this in the context of international terrorism? ferences; there have been clashes; there is

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the problem of cross-country terrorism; inno- portant—not just over this but other issues cent people are being killed. But there is no as well. threat of any war. India is committed to And the Prime Minister said he hoped I peaceful means. We are prepared to solve would say that in Islamabad, and I will. I all our problems, discuss all problems on the don’t believe—one of the nice things about table. We do not think in terms of war, and having you folks with us all the time is that nobody should think in those terms in this we can’t get away with saying one thing in subcontinent. one place and a different thing in another. So far as the massacre is concerned, it’s We almost have to say the same thing every- a brutal act, an outrage. This is not for the where, or you’ll find us out. So I can tell first time; it has been going on. And when- you that this is my same message: Respect ever there are chances of both countries the Line of Control; show restraint; stand coming together—and at the people-to- against violence; restore the dialog. people level our relations are very good, as Thank you. I realized when I visited Lahore—but there NOTE: The President’s 188th news conference is a deliberate design to foment trouble, to began at 1:03 p.m. in the garden at the Hyderabad encourage killing, mass murders, to sabotage House. In his remarks, the President referred to any attempt to bring about normalcy in this Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh; U.S. Dep- part of the world. This policy is not going uty Secretary of State Strobe Talbott. A tape was to pay. And I hope this question will be dis- not available for verification of the content of this cussed by the President in Islamabad. news conference. Q. Mr. President? President Clinton. Terry [Terence Hunt, Joint Statement on United States- Associated Press], to go back to the questions India Relations: A Vision for the 21st you asked me. First of all, I was encouraged Century by what the Prime Minister said to me in private, which was just what he said to you March 21, 2000 in public, that he did not want any of the At the dawn of a new century, President difficulties that we have been discussing Clinton and Prime Minister Vajpayee resolve today to become the occasion for war. to create a closer and qualitatively new rela- I have basically four beliefs about this tionship between the United States and whole thing, and I can state them very con- India. cisely. First, I think that that sort of restraint We are two of the world’s largest democ- is something that everyone on the subconti- racies. We are nations forged from many tra- nent should practice. Second, I think there ditions and faiths, proving year after year that must be a respect for the Line of Control. diversity is our strength. From vastly dif- Third, I think some way must be found to ferent origins and experiences, we have come renew the dialog. to the same conclusions: that freedom and The Prime Minister did, I thought, a brave democracy are the strongest bases for both thing in participating in the Lahore process. peace and prosperity, and that they are uni- He took some risks to do it. He’d always said versal aspirations, constrained neither by cul- that just the facts of geography and shared ture nor levels of economic development. history called upon him to do that. But you There have been times in the past when cannot expect a dialog to go forward unless our relationship drifted without a steady there is an absence of violence and a respect course. As we now look towards the future, for the Line of Control. we are convinced that it is time to chart a And the last thing that I would say is, I new and purposeful direction in our relation- doubt very seriously that there is a military ship. solution to the difficulties that the Kashmiris Globalization is erasing boundaries and face, and that makes the death of these Sikhs building networks between nations and peo- all the more tragic, and the importance of ples, economies and cultures. The world is trying to restart the dialog all the more im- increasingly coming together around the

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democratic ideals India and the United materials for nuclear weapons. We have both States have long championed and lived by. shown strong commitments to export con- Together, we represent a fifth of the trols, and will continue to strengthen them. world’s people, more than a quarter of the We will work together to prevent the spread world’s economy. We have built creative, en- of dangerous technologies. We are com- trepreneurial societies. We are leaders in the mitted to build confidence and reduce the information age. The currents of commerce chances of miscalculation. We will pursue and culture that link our societies run strong our security needs in a restrained and re- and deep. In many ways, the character of sponsible manner, and will not engage in the 21st century world will depend on the nuclear and missile arms races. We will seek success of our cooperation for peace, pros- to narrow our differences and increase mu- perity, democracy and freedom. tual understanding on non-proliferation and That presents us with an opportunity, but security issues. This will help us to realize also a profound responsibility to work to- the full potential of Indo-U.S. relations and gether. Our partnership of shared ideals contribute significantly to regional and global leads us to seek a natural partnership of security. shared endeavors. The true measure of our strength lies in In the new century, India and the United the ability of our people to shape their des- States will be partners in peace, with a com- tiny and to realize their aspirations for a bet- mon interest in and complementary responsi- ter life. That is why the United States and bility for ensuring regional and international India are and will be allies in the cause of security. We will engage in regular consulta- democracy. We will share our experience in tions on, and work together for, strategic sta- nurturing and strengthening democratic in- bility in Asia and beyond. We will bolster stitutions the world over and fighting the joint efforts to counter terrorism and meet challenge to democratic order from forces other challenges to regional peace. We will such as terrorism. We will cooperate with strengthen the international security system, others to launch an international Community including in the United Nations, and support of Democracies this year. the United Nations in its peacekeeping ef- forts. We acknowledge that tensions in South The United States applauds India’s success Asia can only be resolved by the nations of in opening its economy, its achievements in South Asia. India is committed to enhancing science and technology, its commitment to cooperation, peace and stability in the region. a new wave of economic expansion and re- India and the United States share a com- form, and its determination to bring the ben- mitment to reducing and ultimately elimi- efits of economic growth to all its people. nating nuclear weapons, but we have not al- Our nations pledge to reduce impediments ways agreed on how to reach this common to bilateral trade and investment and to ex- goal. The United States believes India should pand commerce between us, especially in the forgo nuclear weapons. India believes that emerging knowledge-based industries and it needs to maintain a credible minimum nu- high-technology areas. clear deterrent in keeping with its own as- We will work together to preserve stability sessment of its security needs. Nonetheless, and growth in the global economy as well. India and the U.S. are prepared to work to- And we will join in an unrelenting battle gether to prevent the proliferation of nuclear against poverty in the world, so that the weapons and their means of delivery. To this promise of a new economy is felt everywhere end, we will persist with and build upon the and no nation is left behind. That is among productive bilateral dialogue already under- the fundamental challenges of our time. way. Opening trade and resisting protectionism We reaffirm our respective voluntary com- are the best means for meeting it. We sup- mitments to forgo further nuclear explosive port an open, equitable and transparent rule- tests. We will work together and with others based multilateral trading system, and we will for an early commencement of negotiations work together to strengthen it. We agree that on a treaty to end the production of fissile developed countries should embrace policies

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that offer developing countries the oppor- Prime Minister has accepted that invitation. tunity to grow, because growth is the key to Henceforth, the President of the United rising incomes and rising standards. At the States and the Prime Minister of India same time, we share the conviction that should meet regularly to institutionalize our human development also requires empower- dialogue. We have also agreed on and sepa- ment of people and availability of basic free- rately outlined an architecture of additional doms. high-level consultations, and of joint working As leaders in the forefront of the new high- groups, across the broad spectrum of areas technology economy, we recognize that in which we are determined to institu- countries can achieve robust economic tionalize our enhanced cooperation. And we growth while protecting the environment and will encourage even stronger people-to- taking action to combat climate change. We people ties. will do our part to meet the global environ- For India and the United States, this is mental challenges, including climate change a day of new beginnings. We have before us and the impacts of air and water pollution for the first time in 50 years the possibility on human health. We also pledge a common effort to battle to realize the full potential of our relation- the infectious diseases that kill people and ship. We will work to seize that chance, for retard progress in so many countries. India our benefit and all those with whom we share is at the forefront of the global effort that this increasingly interdependent world. has brought us to the threshold of the eradi- William Jefferson Clinton Atal Behari Vajpayee President Prime Minister cation of polio. With leadership, joint re- United States of America India search, and application of modern science, we can and will do the same for the leading Done on March 21, 2000 at New Delhi killers of our time, including AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. NOTE: An original was not available for We are proud of the cooperation between verification of the content of this joint statement. Indians and Americans in advancing frontiers of knowledge. But even as we unravel the mysteries of time and space, we must con- tinue to apply our knowledge to older chal- Agreed Principles: Institutional lenges: eradicating human suffering, disease Dialogue Between the United States and poverty. In the past, our cooperation and India helped ease mass hunger in the world. In March 21, 2000 the future, it will focus as well on the devel- opment of clean energy, health, and edu- 1. During the visit of President Clinton to cation. Delhi in March 2000, President Clinton and Our partnership is not an end in itself, but Prime Minister Vajpayee agreed as part of a means to all these ends. And it is reinforced their vision for the future relationship that by the ties of scholarship, commerce, and in- a regular, wide-ranging dialogue is important creasingly of kinship among our people. The for achieving the goal of establishing closer industry, enterprise and cultural contribu- and multifaceted relations between India and tions of Americans of Indian heritage have enriched and enlivened both our societies. the United States and for the two countries Today, we pledge to deepen the Indian- to work jointly for promotion of peace and American partnership in tangible ways, al- prosperity in the 21st century. The two lead- ways seeking to reconcile our differences ers agreed on a number of steps to intensify through dialogue and engagement, always and institutionalize the dialogue between seizing opportunities to advance the count- India and the United States. less interests we have in common. As a first 2. The President of the United States and step, President Clinton has invited Prime Prime Minister of India will hold regular bi- Minister Vajpayee to visit Washington at a lateral ‘Summits’ in alternating capitals or mutually convenient opportunity, and the

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elsewhere, including on the occasions of mul- the Knowledge Age. They decided to institu- tilateral meetings, to review bilateral rela- tionalize bilateral economic dialogue. They tions and consult on international develop- will keep themselves informed and follow de- ments and issues. They will remain in fre- velopments in the bilateral economic dia- quent contact by telephone and through let- logue closely through a high-level coordi- ters. nating group. The coordinating group will be 3. The two countries will also hold an An- led on the US side by the White House with nual Foreign Policy Dialogue at the level of the support of the State Department, and on the Secretary of State of the United States the Indian side by the Prime Minister’s Of- and External Affairs Minister of India. This fice with the support of the Ministry of Exter- dialogue will be broad-based and touch upon nal Affairs. all aspects of US-India relations, including The Coordinating Group will develop a considering the work of other groups as ap- common economic agenda for and un- propriate. dertake preparations for the Heads of 4. The two countries also consider the on- Government meetings. With broad going Dialogue on Security and Non-pro- inter-agency and inter-ministerial rep- liferation between the Deputy Secretary of resentations at senior official levels, it State of the United States and External Af- would convene regularly to facilitate fairs Minister of India important for improv- close coordination on the various issues ing mutual understanding on bilateral, re- raised in the ministerial dialogues and gional and international security matters. ensure that discussions therein com- They agreed that this dialogue should con- plement and reinforce broad economic tinue and take place semi-annually or as and foreign policy objectives, including often as considered desirable by both sides. the deepening of bilateral cooperation The Principals of this dialogue will establish on high technology and information Expert Groups on specific issues as consid- technology issues. ered desirable and appropriate. 5. Foreign Office Consultations between US-India Financial and Economic Forum: the Under Secretary of State for Political Af- The US Secretary of the Treasury and fairs of the United States and Foreign Sec- the Indian Minister of Finance will host retary of India will continue. The two leaders a forum on finance and investment believe that close cooperation between the issues, macroeconomic policy and inter- two countries is a factor of stability in the national economic developments at reg- politically and culturally diverse and rapidly ular intervals. Their meetings at the transforming Asia. A Dialogue on Asian Se- ministerial level would be supplemented curity will also be conducted as part of the by sub-Cabinet meetings and involve, as Foreign Office Consultations. The two sides appropriate, the participation of the Se- will also stay in close touch and consult on curities and Exchange Commission, international democracy initiatives. Federal Reserve, Council of Economic 6. The two leaders consider combating Advisors, and other officials of the US international terrorism as one of the most im- Government and the Securities and Ex- portant global challenges. They expressed change Board of India, Reserve Bank of satisfaction at the establishment of the Joint India, and other officials of the Govern- Working Group on Counter-terrorism and its ment of India. productive first meeting in February 2000. US-India Commercial Dialogue: The US They agree that the Joint Working Group Secretary of Commerce and Minister of should continue to meet regularly and be- Commerce and Industry of India will come an effective mechanism for the two lead a dialogue to deepen ties between countries to share information and intensify the Indian and American Business com- their cooperation in combating terrorism. munities. The dialogue will encompass 7. The two leaders see an enormous poten- regular government-to-government tial for enhancement of economic and busi- meetings to be held in conjunction with ness relations between the two countries in private sector meetings. Its aim will be

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to (a) facilitate trade, and (b) maximize vide excellent opportunities for scientific col- investment opportunities across a broad laboration between them. They agree to set range of economic sectors, including in- up a US-India Science and Technology formation technology, infrastructure, Forum. The Forum shall promote research biotechnology, and services. Participa- and development, the transfer of technology, tion will include, as appropriate, rep- the creation of a comprehensive electronic resentatives of other Cabinet agencies reference source for US-India science and and ministries on both sides. Close con- technology cooperation, and the electronic tact will be maintained with business as- exchange and dissemination of information sociations, and activities will be planned on US-India science and technology coopera- with the benefit of such private sector tion, and other programs consistent with the input, including the establishment of previous practice of the US-India Founda- subcommittees to pursue specific tion. projects or sectoral issues of mutual in- 10. Institutional dialogue in other areas terest. will be considered as mutually agreed.

US-India Working Group on Trade: The NOTE: An original was not available for United States Trade Representative and verification of the content of this joint statement. the Ministry of Commerce and other concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India will engage in Statement on the Supreme Court’s regular discussion to enhance coopera- Decision on Tobacco Regulation tion on trade policy. As appropriate, in- March 21, 2000 dividual trade issues could be examined Since we took office, Vice President Gore in greater depth with the participation and I have worked hard to protect our chil- of other agencies with corresponding re- dren from the dangers of tobacco. Five years sponsibilities and through creation of ago, the FDA put forward an important pro- sub-groups. The Group will serve as a posal to protect children from tobacco by locus of consultation on a broad range eliminating advertising aimed at children and of trade-related issues, including those curbing minors’ access to tobacco products. pertaining to the World Trade Organiza- Today’s Supreme Court opinion, while hold- tion. The Group will receive inputs from ing that Congress has not given FDA the au- the private sector (including trade policy thority to regulate tobacco products, does af- issues identified in the US-India Com- firm our view that tobacco use by young peo- mercial Dialogue) as appropriate. ple ‘‘poses perhaps the single most significant 8. The two leaders consider cooperation threat to public health in the United States.’’ between the two countries in energy and en- If we are to protect our children from the vironment an important part of their vision harms of tobacco, Congress must now enact for the future. They have agreed to set up the provisions of the FDA rule. Fortunately, a Joint Consultative Group on Clean Energy those protections have strong bipartisan sup- and Environment. The Group will hold peri- port: in 1998, 57 Senators supported a bill odic ministerial/high level meetings as desir- negotiated by Senators Bill Frist and John able and appropriate and will lay emphasis McCain containing provisions comparable to on collaborative projects, developing and de- those included in the FDA regulation. ploying clean energy technologies, public and So today, I call upon the leadership of private sector investment and cooperation, Congress to take up the bipartisan Frist- and climate change and other environmental McCain legislation. Nearly 4 million children issues. The Co-conveners of the Group will under the age of 18 smoke cigarettes, 3,000 be the Department of State of the United more start each day, and 1,000 will have their States and the Ministry of External Affairs lives cut short as a result. Every year, more of India. than 400,000 Americans die of tobacco- 9. The two leaders believe that the strong related diseases; nearly 80 percent of them scientific resources of the two countries pro- started smoking as children. Even some in

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the tobacco industry—after fighting the FDA term Social Security challenge. I hope we can rule in court—now say they support regula- continue to work together on this issue. tion of tobacco. I believe that by working to- Sincerely, gether across party lines, we can protect our children and save lives. Bill Clinton

NOTE: Letters were sent to Trent Lott, Senate majority leader, and Thomas A. Daschle, Senate Letter to Senate Leaders on Social minority leader. Security Reform Legislation March 21, 2000 Remarks at a State Dinner Hosted by Dear Mr. Leader: President Kircheril Narayanan of I am pleased that the Senate is moving India in New Delhi forward with consideration of H.R. 5, a bill March 21, 2000 that would eliminate the retirement earnings test above the normal retirement age. On Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, distin- March 1, 2000, with strong Administration guished guests. First, on behalf of the Amer- support, the House passed H.R. 5 by a vote ican delegation, let me thank you for your of 422–0. I now urge the Senate to follow warm hospitality, and, indeed, I thank all of you for making us feel so welcome. suit and quickly pass H.R. 5. This will ensure As you pointed out, Mr. President, it was enactment of a clean, straightforward bill to 5 years ago next week when my wife and eliminate the retirement earnings test above daughter first came to New Delhi. I confess the normal retirement age, which I will I was a little jealous of them then because promptly sign into law. I wanted to come. And I am delighted finally I called for the elimination of the earnings to be here today. test for seniors in my State of the Union ad- One of my country’s most beloved writers, dress in 1999. I believe that the test is con- Mark Twain, once wrote that India, and I fusing and outdated. As the baby boomers quote, ‘‘is the sole country under the Sun begin to retire, it is more important than ever that all desire to see, and having seen once, that older Americans who are willing and would not trade that glimpse for the shows able to work should not have their Social Se- of all the rest of globe combined.’’ curity benefits deferred when they do. India has given profound gifts to the world Our work together on eliminating the re- for thousands of years now. Nearly half of tirement earnings test can help establish bi- humanity practices the four great religions partisan momentum toward Social Security that were born here, Hinduism, Sikhism, reform. We should build on this foundation Buddhism, Jainism. The whole world has to pass legislation that would extend the sol- been influenced by Indian culture. Indian vency of Social Security to about 2050 while thinkers have enriched every science known taking significant actions to reduce poverty to humanity. And I welcome the presence among elderly women. Last year, I trans- of so many of your scientists here tonight. mitted legislation to Congress that would However, I must confess there are many have used the interest savings earned by pay- American high school students who wish that ing down the debt to make Social Security ‘‘Aryabhatiya’’ had kept his work on trigo- stronger. If we agree to this simple step, we nometry to himself. [Laughter] The computer age would hardly be pos- can extend the life of Social Security to the sible at all without the decimal system in- middle of the next century while also mod- vented in India. And appropriately enough, ernizing Social Security to reduce poverty 30 percent of the world’s software engineers among elderly women. today are Indian. Every American who has These simple measures would be a sub- been moved by the universal philosophy of stantial down payment on meeting the long- nonviolence, every American whose life was

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transformed by the civil rights movement, we share. May we work together to make owes a debt to India. the difficult choices and the necessary invest- Today I had the great honor of visiting the ments, as Nehru once instructed, ‘‘to advance Gandhi Memorial. Two weeks ago, in my the larger cause of humanity.’’ In the spirit own country, I visited Selma, Alabama, which of that partnership and that vision, I ask you is one of the sacred sites of our civil rights all to join me in raising a glass to the Presi- movement, where the words of Martin dent, the Prime Minister, and the people of Luther King and the marches of ordinary citi- this wonderful nation which has welcomed zens both echoed the ideas of Gandhi. us. My country has been enriched by the con- tributions of more than a million Indian- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:55 p.m. in the Americans, from Vinod Dahm, the father of Banquet Hall at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In his re- marks, he referred to Prime Minister Atal Behari the Pentium chip, to Deepak Chopra, pio- Vajpayee of India. The transcript released by the neer of alternative medicine, to Sabeer Office of the Press Secretary also included the Bhatia, creator of the free-mail system, remarks of President Narayanan. A tape was not hotmail, the E-mail system. available for verification of the content of these Now, next Sunday, when the Academy remarks. Awards are given out in Los Angeles, more than a few people not only in India but in America, will be rooting for director M. Interview With Peter Jennings of Night Shyamalan and his remarkable movie, ABC’s ‘‘World News Tonight’’ in ‘‘The Sixth Sense,’’ nominated for best pic- New Delhi ture. March 21, 2000 So we have gotten a lot from India, and we have neglected our friendship for too India-Pakistan Dispute long. Today we are proud to be your part- Mr. Jennings. Prime Minister Vajpayee ners, your allies, your friends in freedom. As said that you will conclude, now that you’re a President who has the good fortune to have here, that the situation—Kashmir, between been selected by an electorate that casts India and Pakistan, is not as bad as they say about 100 million votes, I can hardly imagine it is. Is that what you conclude? a nation with over 600 million eligible voters. The President. Well, I think that I’ve con- I don’t know how you please them all. Or cluded that he is going to do everything he should I say, 60 crore. can to avoid having it escalate into a war with I didn’t know what a crore was until I got Pakistan. And that is encouraging. But I still here this time. Now I can go home and sug- think it’s a difficult situation, to say the least. gest to my Vice President that he have a new I think it’s important that they both show re- slogan: Four crore for Al Gore! [Laughter] straint. I think it’s important that they respect We have a lot to give the world in the rich- the Line of Control, both sides do. ness of democracy. One of the great things And then, over the long run, I think what about a democracy is it is a system which really matters, in terms of an ultimate resolu- allows us to resolve our differences through tion, is that the people of Kashmir feel that conversation, not confrontation. I’ve enjoyed their legitimate interests are being addressed the conversation that we began here today. in some formal fashion. But I do feel better I am grateful that we found common ground. about his determination to avoid a war, at I am convinced we have laid the foundation least what you might call a full-scale war. But for a new respectful partnership, based on I don’t—I’m still very troubled by the fact our oldest and most enduring values. there’s so much violence there. A lot of it In the days to come, may our two nations obviously is propagated beyond the borders always remain examples of tolerance and the of Kashmir, and I don’t think the Line of power of diversity. May we build societies Control is adequately respected. that draw upon the talents and energies of And I think—you know, what happened all our people. May we preserve the beauty at Kargil was very troubling to me, because and natural richness of this small planet that I supported strongly the dialog between

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India and Pakistan in the Lahore process. I But I think the United States does have still think it’s a difficult situation, and I don’t an interest in trying to avert a larger conflict think they should take it lightly, either side. and trying to reduce the tensions between Mr. Jennings. Moreover, Prime Minister the two countries. I think we do have a clear Vajpayee is much more militant with the In- interest there. dian press than he was with you today. Mr. Jennings. So? The President. That’s good, though. That The President. We’ve worked with the means that—maybe that means my trip here Pakistanis for years. We want it—and obvi- has a beneficial impact. And I hope I can ously we’ve got a big interest in India’s fu- have some impact on the Pakistanis when I ture. So therefore, I think anything I can do go there. to get them to focus on what it would take Mr. Jennings. What do you mean by ‘‘im- to reduce the tensions is important. And I pact,’’ Mr. President? think right now the important thing is re- The President. You know, I spent last July specting the Line of Control, reducing vio- 4th trying to persuade former Prime Minister lence, and find a way to resume the dialog. Sharif to withdraw back behind the Line of Now, beyond that, it’s up to them. Control. He did. I think it weakened him when he did, frankly, but it was the right Discussions in Pakistan thing to do. Mr. Jennings. You’ll tell the Pakistanis I think that they—these countries need to they should respect the Line of Control, the be thinking about reducing violence and in- de facto cease-fire line? creasing cooperation and dialog and freeing The President. Absolutely. up their immensely talented people for dif- Mr. Jennings. And what will you tell those ferent pursuits. If you look at how well the Kashmiris, or Pakistanis, who believe they’re Indians and the Pakistani-Americans have fighting to free the Muslim Kashmiris from done, how well they’re doing in the informa- Indian control? tion economy in the United States, how well The President. First of all, I think that— they’re beginning to do here, it’s truly a trag- the same thing I said to the Indians. I don’t edy that they’re basically trapped in this posi- think there can be a military solution to Kash- tion which, even if it doesn’t lead to war, mir. And the tangled history of it does not leads to big expenses on defense, which admit of a simple solution. I think that the could be spent on education and health care best chance that the Pakistanis have, if they or the development of a modern economy. want to have a positive impact on what they So I hope that my trip here and the long- believe the legitimate concerns of people term rekindling of the relationship with India who live in that part of Kashmir that’s in that I’m committed to for our country can India, is through a dialog, not through acts basically, slowly, over time, take this in a dif- of violence and supporting acts of violence. ferent direction. And I think for many years they thought that might get us involved, and it won’t. I’m U.S. Role in the Dispute not going to be dragged into something Mr. Jennings. Forgive me for being more that—first of all, that India doesn’t want us pointed. You know as well as I do that you’re to be part of and, secondly, that I got dragged talking, to a very large extent, in generalities. into from deliberate acts of violence. I just What do you think the United States can don’t think that’s right. really do here, especially given the fact that the Indians say the United States has no role? U.S. Policy in Kashmir The President. Well, I think that what Mr. Jennings. So what is America’s Kash- they say is that we have no role in Kashmir. mir policy? And they have every right to say that. Every The President. Our policy is: First, re- place in the world I’ve been involved in the spect the Line of Control; second, do not peace process—you know, it’s because we promote violence by third parties in Kashmir; have been able to inspire the confidence and third, negotiate; and fourth, with respect to have a relationship with both parties. India, that there’s not a military solution to

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Kashmir’s problems by India, either, that the Mr. Jennings. Do you believe the Pakistan Kashmiris deserve to have their own con- Intelligence Service facilitates the infiltration cerns addressed on the merits. But I don’t of fighters to Kashmir? think we ought to get in the position of saying The President. I believe that there are that we think that an ethnically diverse coun- elements within the Pakistani Government try like India can’t exist anymore. I don’t that have supported those who engaged in agree with that. violence in Kashmir.

India-Pakistan Dispute India-Pakistan Dispute Mr. Jennings. Do you support the Mr. Jennings. And what will you tell Gen- Kashmiris’ right to a referendum on their eral Musharraf about that? own independence? Do you support the right The President. Just exactly what I said to as it was laid out by the United Nations in you. And I want to talk with him, as I did 1948, for them to have a plebiscite on their with Prime Minister Vajpayee, about the fu- future? ture. I think that in order to get out of a The President. Well, there’s been a lot fix—when you get into a fix like this and you of changes since 1948, including what hap- feel paralyzed by your past practices, the only pened in 1971 and a number of things since. way to change it is to have a vision of the What I support is—I support some process future which convinces you that if you want by which the Kashmiris’ legitimate griev- to achieve a certain goal, you’ve got to do ances are addressed, and I support respect- it in a different way. And I’ll do my best to ing the Line of Control. And I think the Paki- persuade him of that. stanis and the Indians have to have some way I just don’t think that this is the way to of talking about it. And the Indians have to deal with Kashmir, and I don’t think it’s a have some way of talking to their own good enough reason to drive, in effect, the Kashmiris about it that recognizes there’s not whole existence, the whole policy of the Paki- a military solution. stani Government. The Pakistanis are great But the most I can do right now is to op- people, too. They’ve been good allies of ours. pose violence, particularly oppose violence They’ve helped us even in my time, since propagated by third parties within Kashmir, the end of the cold war, to get terrorists, the and to support reaffirming the Line of Con- terrorists involved—one involved in the trol. And Prime Minister Vajpayee just said World Trade Center, one involved in the CIA today that if the Pakistanis would reaffirm killing. They’ve helped us in other contexts. the principles of the Lahore Declaration and I want to continue to be a good ally for them. not promote or support violence on the other But I think they have to have a plan for re- side of the Line of Control and respect the storing democracy, and they have to have a Line of Control, that he thought a dialog nonviolent plan for resolving their dif- could be resumed. ferences with India. I think that is the best hope, ultimately, Mr. Jennings. Just so I understand then, for resolving this. Mr. President, you want the United States on the sidelines in this, giving advice but not involved in any three-way attempt to settle Third-Party Operators in Kashmir the Kashmir issue? Mr. Jennings. Who are these third parties The President. I don’t think the United you’re referring to, involved in Kashmir? States can be involved in a three-way attempt The President. Well, we know that there to settle the Kashmir issue, unless and until have been instances of violence within Kash- they both want us. I think that that is the mir that were propagated by people who evidence—you know, if you look at, we’re were not from there, but they weren’t nec- in the Middle East because they both want essarily elements of the Pakistani Govern- us, not to say that either side agrees with ment. I don’t want to accuse Pakistan of everything I say and do, but we have a certain something it didn’t do. credibility there borne of years and years and

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years of labor and a welcoming into the proc- Non-Proliferation Treaty, the restriction of ess. The same thing is true in the Irish peace the distribution of fissile material. process. So I think India—it sounds great to say, So I think that right now what I need to ‘‘Well, the United States has nuclear weap- do is to try to convince both sides to avoid ons, and they’re a democracy. We ought to.’’ the worst, and there’s something to be said But if you look at the whole history of this for avoiding the worst here. And then to thing, what they’re saying is, ‘‘We want to adopt some common principles which will reverse the move toward reducing the nu- allow the resumption of the dialog. If we can clear threat because we say we ought to have get them to renounce violence as a way of nuclear weapons.’’ resolving this and to restore their dialog, re- Mr. Jennings. Well, they also say, sir, that spect the Line of Control so the dialog can these are weapons of self-esteem and this is be restored, then who knows what will hap- a U.S.—— pen and what they decide to do and how The President. Self-esteem, that’s right. they decide to do it. But if they stay sort If they’re weapons of self-esteem for India of hunkered down in unapproachable posi- then every nation in the entire world has the tions, then I think we’ll have to work very same right to self-esteem. So therefore, how- hard to avoid a more difficult situation. ever many countries there are in the world, everyone that can afford one ought to have Nuclear Proliferation in South Asia a nuclear weapon. I do not believe that that would make the world safer. I believe that Mr. Jennings. I have a nuclear question. that would make the world more dangerous. The United States tells people in the rest of So I respect what the Indians say. They the world to be like us. And the Indians say, say, ‘‘Look, it’s not just Pakistan. China has ‘‘Right. We’re just like you. We’re a democ- nuclear weapons. You know, it wasn’t so racy. We’re a free-market economy, and we many decades ago we had a border war with have nuclear weapons in order to protect our China. We have our problems there.’’ But national security.’’ What’s wrong with that? I think that most people believe, and have The President. Well, what’s wrong with studied this believe that all nations would be it is that we’re trying to lead the world away more secure if we reduce the overall nuclear from nuclear power and away from the threat threat and reduce the number of people that of nuclear war. And when the Indians took had access to nuclear weapons. this position, they basically said, ‘‘We don’t And also keep in mind, the more nuclear think we can be secure without nuclear weapons you have, the more nuclear material weapons, and it’s our right as a great nation you have, the more risk you have that that to have them.’’ nuclear material will be subject to pilfering. And we, first of all, don’t believe it does. So you have to worry about, not only about We don’t believe it enhances their security. other states becoming nuclear states but even We think countries like Brazil, Argentina, terrorists getting a hold of small-scale nuclear South Africa, South Korea, that walked away weapons. I just think that it takes the world from the prospect of nuclear programs, are in the wrong direction. It’s an honest dis- more secure and have more funds to support agreement we have with the Indians. their own national security and the develop- Mr. Jennings. Yes, because the Indians ment of their people and their economy. And say to you, ‘‘You Americans say well, you just we believe that it sends a bad signal when don’t trust us’’—— a great democracy like India, in effect, is tell- The President. That’s not true. ing the world that we ought to get into an- Mr. Jennings. ——‘‘It’s okay for you, but other arms race. you don’t trust us.’’ I’ve tried to reduce the arms of the United The President. No, that’s not true. Actu- States. I hope this year we’ll make another ally, I do trust them. I believe Prime Minister effort to reduce the arms of the United States Vajpayee when he says, ‘‘I will never be the and the arms of Russia. I’ve tried to support first to use nuclear weapons.’’ So it’s not a the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the question of trust.

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What I don’t agree with is that a country and it worked out just fine. We had a won- needs nuclear weapons to manifest its esteem derful trip. or its national greatness. Nor do I agree that Mr. Jennings. Do you ever have your way India is actually more secure with these nu- with the security people? clear weapons. I think that in some ways it The President. Do you mean do I ever reduces one’s security. disagree with them? Mr. Jennings. Trust the Pakistanis with Mr. Jennings. No. Do you ever have your control of nuclear weapons, too? way. The President. I feel the same way about The President. What do you mean? them. I think—they probably think they have Mr. Jennings. In other ways, do you ever a better argument since they know they have your—you can disagree with them; do couldn’t win a conventional war with India, you ever prevail? because India is so much bigger and because The President. Sometimes I do. I have Lahore, for example, one of the most impor- from time to time disagreed with them and tant places, is so close to the Indian border. actually done what I wanted to do. But when But it just seems to me—again, if you look that happens, I try to do it the way they want at—if you ask yourself, where is there greater to do it, because if I disagree with them, I security? In Brazil, in Argentina, or even in realize I’ve assumed a greater risk, and I South Africa, or even in South Korea, where should do it in the way they want to do it. they renounced nuclear weapons? Are those people less secure than the people of Paki- Middle East Peace Process stan and India? I think you would have to say they are not less secure. Mr. Jennings. Last question, sir. You’re So my argument is, any country can say going to see President Asad in Geneva on to us, any country, particularly another de- Sunday. That’s a pretty big meeting. Does mocracy, ‘‘Oh, you’re a hypocrite. You’ve got this mean a deal is close? nuclear weapons. You don’t want us to have The President. I wouldn’t say that. But any.’’ Well, I’m trying to reduce the store I will say this. Ever since they met in of nuclear weapons the United States has, Shephardstown the first of the year, and then the store Russia has. The Russians have sup- the talks sort of were stalled, I’ve been work- ported this. And we’re trying to make the ing very hard with both sides. I now think world more stable. I’m in a position to have a sense of what it I just think—I don’t think they’re more will take for both sides to get an agreement. secure by having nuclear weapons. So it’s an appropriate time for me to discuss this with President Asad, in the hope that Cancellation of Joypura Visit we can start the talks again. Mr. Jennings. On the subject of security, I’m encouraged by the decisions that have I’m really curious. You travel all the time in been made by the Israelis and the Palestin- this extraordinarily tight security envelope. ians. I think they are committed to going for- And yet, it wasn’t secure enough yesterday ward, and they have a pretty good timetable. to go to a small village in Bangladesh. Did They’re going to have to work hard to make you really feel a personal risk in Bangladesh? it. And I think that the only way we’ll ever Did you end up telling Chelsea, or, if you have this thing the way it ought to be in the talked to her, Mrs. Clinton, ‘‘I’m going off Middle East is to finish with the Syrians and on a trip in which I am at personal risk’’? then with the Lebanese, as well. The President. Well, I think it’s better for So I think this is time, whether it will lead me not to discuss it, except to say this. Insofar to a breakthrough, I don’t know. I hope it as there was a risk, it had nothing to do with will lead to a resumption of talks. the Bangladeshis, nothing to do with the Mr. Jennings. Is it safe to assume that Government or the people of Bangladesh, President Asad doesn’t leave the country eas- and they were not in any way at fault. I did ily and would not agree to go to Geneva to my best to take account of the analysis of see you were you not to have something pret- our security people and to act accordingly, ty good to offer?

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The President. I think it’s safe to assume I would also like to thank the people of that I wouldn’t waste his time, either. I think India for their kindness to my daughter and that we have—it’s time for us to talk about my mother-in-law and, on their previous trip, what we think it would take to resume these to my wife and my daughter. talks and move to a resolution. And I’m going I have looked forward to this day with to give him my honest opinion about where great anticipation. This whole trip has meant we are and where I think we can go. And a great deal to me, especially to this point, then we just need to make a decision, all of the opportunity I had to visit the Gandhi us, about whether to go forward. But prin- Memorial, to express on behalf of all the peo- cipally, it’s a decision for the Israelis and the ple of the United States our gratitude for the Syrians. life, the work, the thought of Gandhi, without Mr. Jennings. Does this involve a com- which the great civil rights revolution in the prehensive settlement, one that involves the United States would never have succeeded Syrian Golan Heights, the Israelis, and the on a peaceful plane. Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon? As Prime Minister Vajpayee has said, India The President. Well, I want to talk to and America are natural allies, two nations President Asad. There isn’t an agreement, conceived in liberty, each finding strength in yet. But if there is an agreement, I would its diversity, each seeing in the other a reflec- hope it would lead to a resolution of both tion of its own aspiration for a more humane the Syrian issues and the Lebanese issues, and just world. which is very important in Israel. The Israelis A poet once said the world’s inhabitants care a lot about that. And well they should. can be divided into ‘‘those that have seen the And of course, the Lebanese do. We’ll see. Taj Mahal and those that have not.’’ [Laugh- Keep your fingers crossed ter] Well, in a few hours I will have a chance Mr. Jennings. You’re enthusiastic. to cross over to the happier side of that di- The President. I’m hopeful. vide. But I hope, in a larger sense, that my visit will help the American people to see NOTE: The interview began at 4:20 p.m. at the the new India and to understand you better. Maurya Sheraton Hotel. In his remarks, the Presi- And I hope that the visit will help India to dent referred to Prime Minister Atal Behari understand America better and that by lis- Vajpayee of India; former Prime Minister Nawaz tening to each other we can build a true part- Sharif of Pakistan; Gen. Pervez Musharraf, army nership of mutual respect and common chief of staff, who led a coup d’etat in Pakistan on October 12, 1999; and President Hafiz al-Asad endeavor. of Syria. This interview was released by the Office From a distance, India often appears as of the Press Secretary on March 22. A tape was a kaleidoscope of competing, perhaps super- not available for verification of the content of this ficial, images. Is it atomic weapons or ahimsa; interview. a land struggling against poverty and inequal- ity or the world’s largest middle-class society? Is it still simmering with communal tensions, Remarks to a Joint Session of or history’s most successful melting pot? Is Parliament in New Delhi it Bollywood or Satyajit Ray; Swetta Chetty March 22, 2000 or Alla Rakha? Is it the handloom or the hyperlink? The truth is, no single image can Mr. Vice President, Mr. Prime Minister, possibly do justice to your great nation. But Mr. Speaker, Members of the Lok Sabha and beyond the complexities and the apparent Rajya Sabha, I am privileged to speak to you contradictions, I believe India teaches us and, through you, to the people of India. I some very basic lessons. am honored to be joined today by members The first is about democracy. There are of my Cabinet and staff at the White House, still those who deny that democracy is a uni- and a very large representation of Members versal aspiration, who say it works only for of our United States Congress from both po- people of a certain culture or a certain degree litical parties. We’re all honored to be here, of economic development. India has been and we thank you for your warm welcome. proving them wrong for 52 years now. Here

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is a country where more than 2 million peo- talking to an expert in Bangalore as one in ple hold elected office in local government, Seattle. a country that shows at every election that You decentralized authority, giving more those who possess the least cherish their vote individuals and communities the freedom to the most. Far from washing away the unique- succeed. In that way, you affirmed what ness of your culture, your democracy has every successful country is finding in its own brought out the richness of its tapestry and way: Globalization does not favor nations given you the knot that holds it together. with a licensing raj; it does favor nations with A second lesson India teaches is about di- a panchayat raj. And the world has been versity. You have already heard remarks beating a path to your door. about that this morning. But around the In the new millennium, every great coun- world there is a chorus of voices who say try must answer one overarching question: ethnic and religious diversity is a threat, who How shall we define our greatness? Every argue that the only way to keep different peo- country, America included, is tempted to ple from killing one another is to keep them cling to yesterday’s definition of economic as far apart as possible. But India has shown and military might. But true leadership for us a better way. For all the troubles you have the United States and India derives more seen, surely the subcontinent has seen more from the power of our example and the po- innocence hurt in the efforts to divide people tential of our people. by ethnicity and faith than by the efforts to I believe that the greatest of India’s many bring them together in peace and harmony. gifts to the world is the example its people Under trying circumstances, you have shown have set ‘‘from Midnight to Millennium.’’ the world how to live with difference. You Think of it: Virtually every challenge human- have shown that tolerance and mutual re- ity knows can be found here in India. And spect are in many ways the keys to our com- every solution to every challenge can be mon survival. That is something the whole found here as well: confidence in democracy; world needs to learn. tolerance for diversity; a willingness to em- A third lesson India teaches is about brace social change. That is why Americans globalization and what may be the central de- admire India, why we welcome India’s lead- bate of our time. Many people believe the ership in the region and the world, and why forces of globalization are inherently divisive, we want to take our partnership to a new that they can only widen the gap between level, to advance our common values and in- rich and poor. That is a valid fear, but I be- terests, and to resolve the differences that lieve wrong. still remain. As the distance between producers large There were long periods when that would and small and customers near and far be- not have been possible. Though our demo- comes less relevant, developing countries will cratic ideals gave us a starting point in com- have opportunities not only to succeed but mon and our dreams of peace and prosperity to lead in lifting more people out of poverty gave us a common destination, there was for more quickly than at any time in human his- too long too little common ground between tory. In the old economy, location was every- East and West, North and South. Now, thing. In the new economy, information, thankfully, the old barriers between nations education, and motivation are everything, and people, economies and cultures, are and India is proving it. being replaced by vast networks of coopera- You liberated your markets, and now you tion and commerce. With our open, entre- have one of the 10 fastest growing economies preneurial societies, India and America are in the world. At the rate of growth within at the center of those networks. We must your grasp, India’s standard of living could expand them and defeat the forces that rise by 500 percent in just 20 years. You em- threaten them. braced information technology, and now, To succeed, I believe there are four large when Americans and other big software com- challenges India and the United States must panies call for consumer and customer sup- meet together, challenges that should define port, they’re just as likely to find themselves our partnership in the years ahead.

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The first of these challenges is to get our the achievements of India’s State of Kerala— own economic relationship right. Americans I knew there would be somebody here from have applauded your efforts to open your Kerala. [Laughter] Thank you. economy, your commitment to a new wave To promote development, we know we of economic reform, your determination to must conquer the diseases that kill people bring the fruits of growth to all your people. and progress. Last December India immu- We are proud to support India’s growth as nized 140 million children against polio, the your largest partner in trade and investment. biggest public health effort in human history. And we want to see more Indians and more I congratulate you on that. Americans benefit from our economic ties, I have launched an initiative in the United especially in the cutting edge fields of infor- States to speed the development of vaccines mation technology, biotechnology, and clean for malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS, the big- energy. The private sector will drive this gest infectious killers of our time. This July, progress, but our job as governments is to when our partners in the G–8 meet in Japan, create the conditions that will allow them to I will urge them to join us. succeed in doing so and to reduce the re- But that is not enough, for at best, effec- maining impediments to trade and invest- tive vaccines are years away. Especially for ment between us. AIDS, we need a commitment today to pre- Our second challenge is to sustain global vention, and that means straight talk and an economic growth in a way that lifts the lives end to stigmatizing. As Prime Minister of rich and poor alike, both across and within Vajpayee said, no one should ever speak of national borders. Part of the world today lives AIDS as someone else’s problem. This has at the cutting edge of change, while a big long been a big problem for the United part still exists at the bare edge of survival. States. It is now a big problem for you. I Part of the world lives in the information age. promise you America’s partnership in the Part of the world does not even reach the continued struggle. clean water age. And often the two live side To promote development, we know we by side. It is unacceptable. It is intolerable. must also stand with those struggling for Thankfully, it is unnecessary. And it is far human rights and freedom around the world more than a regional crisis. Whether around and in the region. For as the economist the corner or around the world, abject pov- Amartya Sen has said, no system of govern- erty in this new economy is an affront to our ment has done a better job in easing human common humanity and a threat to our com- want, in averting human catastrophes, than mon prosperity. democracy. I am proud America and India The problem is truly immense, as you will stand together on the right side of history know far better than I. But perhaps for the when we launch the Community of Democ- first time in all history, few would dispute racies in Warsaw this summer. that we know the solutions. We know we All of these steps are essential to lifting need to invest in education and literacy, so people’s lives. But there is yet another. With that children can have soaring dreams and greater trade and the growth it brings, we the tools to realize them. We know we need can multiply the gains of education, better to make a special commitment in developing health, and democratic empowerment. That nations to the education of young girls, as is why I hope we will work together to launch well as young boys. Everything we have a new global trade round that will promote learned about development tells us that, economic development for all. when women have access to knowledge, to One of the benefits of the World Trade health, to economic opportunity, and to civil Organization is that it has given developing rights, children thrive, families succeed, and countries a bigger voice in global trade pol- countries prosper. icy. Developing countries have used that Here again, we see how a problem and voice to urge richer nations to open their its answers can be found side by side in India, markets further so that all can have a chance for every economist who preaches the virtues to grow. That is something the opponents of of women’s empowerment points at first to the WTO don’t fully appreciate yet.

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We need to remind them that when Indi- We must also find ways to achieve robust ans and Brazilians and Indonesians speak up growth while protecting the environment and for open trade, they were not speaking for reversing climate change. I’m convinced we some narrow corporate interest but for a can do that as well. We will see in the next huge part of humanity that has no interest few years, for example, automobiles that are in being saved from development. Of course, 3, 4, perhaps 5 times as efficient as those trade should not be a race to the bottom in being driven today. Soon, scientists will make environmental and labor standards, but nei- alternative sources of energy more widely ther should fears about trade keep part of available and more affordable. Just for exam- our global community forever at the bottom. ple, before long, chemists almost certainly Yet we must also remember that those who will unlock the block that will allow us to are concerned about the impact of produce 8 or 9 gallons of fuel from biofuels, globalization in terms of inequality, in envi- farm fuels, using only 1 gallon of gasoline. ronmental degradation, do speak for a large Indian scientists are at the forefront of this part of humanity; those who believe that kind of research, pioneering the use of solar trade should contribute not just to the wealth energy to power rural communities, devel- but also to the fairness of societies; those who oping electric cars for use in crowded cities, share Nehru’s dream of a structure for living converting agricultural waste into electricity. that fulfills our material needs and at the If we can deepen our cooperation for clean same time sustains our mind and spirit. energy, we will strengthen our economies, We can advance these values without en- improve our people’s health, and fight global gaging in rich-country protectionism. In- warming. This should be a vital element of deed, to sustain a consensus for open trade, our new partnership. we must find a way to advance these values A fourth challenge we face is to protect as well. That is my motivation and my only the gains of democracy and development motivation in seeking a dialog about the con- from the forces which threaten to undermine nections between labor, the environment, them. There is the danger of organized crime and trade and development. and drugs. There is the evil of trafficking in I would remind you—and I want to em- human beings, a modern form of slavery. phasize this—the United States has the most And of course, there is the threat of ter- open markets of any wealthy country in the rorism. Both our nations know it all too well. world. We have the largest trade deficit. We Americans understood the pain and agony also have had a strong economy, because we you went through during the Indian Airlines have welcomed the products and the services hijacking. And I saw that pain firsthand when from the labor of people throughout the I met with the parents and the widow of the world. I am for an open global trading sys- young man who was killed on that airplane. tem. But we must do it in a way that advances We grieve with you for the Sikhs who were the cause of social justice around the world. killed in Kashmir, and our heart goes out to The third challenge we face is to see that their families. We will work with you to build the prosperity and growth of the information a system of justice, to strengthen our co- age require us to abandon some of the out- operation against terror. We must never relax dated truths of the industrial age, as the our vigilance or allow the perpetrators to in- economy grows faster today, for example, timidate us into retreating from our demo- when children are kept in school, not put cratic ideals. to work. Think about the industries that are Another danger we face is the spread of driving our growth today in India and in weapons of mass destruction to those who America. Just as oil enriched the nations who might have no reservations about using them. had it in the 20th century, clearly knowledge I still believe this is the greatest potential is doing the same for the nations who have threat to the security we all face in the 21st it in the 21st century. The difference is, century. It is why we must be vigilant in knowledge can be tapped by all people every- fighting the spread of chemical and biological where, and it will never run out. weapons. And it is why we must both keep

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working closely to resolve our remaining dif- ing more dangerous than believing there is ferences on nuclear proliferation. no danger. I am aware that I speak to you on behalf I can also repeat what I said at the outset: of a nation that has possessed nuclear weap- India is a leader, a great nation, which by ons for 55 years and more. But since 1988, virtue of its size, its achievements, and its the United States has dismantled more than example, has the ability to shape the char- 13,000 nuclear weapons. We have helped acter of our time. For any of us, to claim Russia to dismantle their nuclear weapons that mantle and assert that status is to accept and to safeguard the material that remains. first and foremost that our actions have con- We have agreed to an outline of a treaty with sequences for others beyond our borders. Russia that will reduce our remaining nuclear Great nations with broad horizons must con- arsenal by more than half. We are producing sider whether actions advance or hinder what no more fissile material, developing no new Nehru called the largest cause of humanity. land- or submarine-based missiles, engaging So India’s nuclear policies, inevitably, have in no new nuclear testing. consequences beyond your borders, eroding From South America to South Africa, na- the barriers against the spread of nuclear tions are foreswearing these weapons, real- weapons, discouraging nations that have cho- izing that a nuclear future is not a more se- sen to foreswear these weapons, encouraging cure future. Most of the world is moving to- others to keep their options open. But if In- dia’s nuclear test shook the world, India’s ward the elimination of nuclear weapons. leadership for nonproliferation can certainly That goal is not advanced if any country, in move the world. any region, it moves in the other direction. India and the United States have re- I say this with great respect. Only India affirmed our commitment to forgo nuclear can determine its own interests. Only India testing. And for that I thank the Prime Min- can know if it truly is safer today than before ister, the Government, and the people of the tests. Only India can determine if it will India. But in our own self-interest—and I benefit from expanding its nuclear and mis- say this again—in our own self-interest we sile capabilities, if its neighbors respond by can do more. I believe both nations should doing the same thing. Only India knows if join the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban it can afford a sustained investment in both Treaty, work to launch negotiations on a trea- conventional and nuclear forces while meet- ty to end the production of fissile materials ing its goals for human development. These for nuclear weapons, strengthen export con- are questions others may ask, but only you trols. And India can pursue defense policies can answer. in keeping with its commitment not to seek I can only speak to you as a friend about a nuclear or missile arms race, which the America’s own experience during the cold Prime Minister has forcefully reaffirmed just war. We were geographically distant from the in these last couple of days. Soviet Union. We were not engaged in direct Again, I do not presume to speak for you armed combat. Through the years of direct or to tell you what to decide. It is not my dialog with our adversary, we each had a very place. You are a great nation, and you must good idea of the other’s capabilities, doc- decide. But I ask you to continue our dialog trines, and intentions. We each spent billions on these issues, and let us turn our dialog of dollars on elaborate command and control into a genuine partnership against prolifera- systems, for nuclear weapons are not cheap. tion. If we make progress in narrowing our And yet, in spite of all of this—and as I differences, we will be both more secure, and sometimes say jokingly, in spite of the fact our relationship can reach its full potential. that both sides had very good spies, and that I hope progress can also be made in over- was a good thing—[laughter]—in spite of all coming a source of tension in this region, of this, we came far too close to nuclear war. including the tensions between India and We learned that deterrence alone cannot be Pakistan. I share many of your Government’s relied on to prevent accident or miscalcula- concerns about the course Pakistan is taking, tion. And in a nuclear standoff, there is noth- your disappointment that past overtures have

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not always met with success, your outrage partners and better friends and to remember over recent violence. I know it is difficult to that good friends, out of respect, are honest be a democracy bordered by nations whose with one another. And even when they do government rejects democracy. not agree, they always try to find common But I also believe—I also believe India has ground. a special opportunity, as a democracy, to I have read that one of the unique qualities show its neighbors that democracy is about of Indian classical music is its elasticity. The dialog. It does not have to be about friend- composer lays down a foundation, a structure ship, but is it about building working rela- of melodic and rhythmic arrangements, but tionships among people who differ. the player has to improvise within that struc- One of the wisest things anyone ever said ture to bring the raga to life. to me is that you don’t make peace with your Our relationship is like that. The com- friends. That is what the late Israeli Prime posers of our past have given us a foundation Minister Yitzhak Rabin told me before he of shared democratic ideals. It is up to us signed the Oslo accords with the Palestinians, to give life to those ideals in this time. The with whom he had been fighting for decades. melodies do not have to be the same to be It is well to remember—I remind myself of beautiful to both of us. But if we listen to it all the time, even when I have arguments each other and we strive to realize our vision with Members of the other party in my Con- together, we will write a symphony far great- gress—[laughter]—you don’t make peace er than the sum of our individual notes. with your friends. The key is to genuinely and respectfully Engagement with adversaries is not the listen to each other. If we do, Americans will same thing as endorsement. It does not re- better understand the scope of India’s quire setting aside legitimate grievances. In- achievements and the dangers India still deed, I strongly believe that what has hap- faces in this troubled part of the world. We pened since your Prime Minister made his will understand that India will not choose a courageous journey to Lahore only reinforces particular course simply because others wish the need for dialog. it to do so. It will choose only what I believes I can think of no enduring solution to this its interests clearly demand and what its peo- problem that can be achieved in any other ple democratically embrace. way. In the end, for the sake of the innocents If we listen to each other, I also believe who always suffer the most, someone must Indians will understand better that America end the contest of inflicting and absorbing very much wants you to succeed. Time and pain. again in my time as President, America has Let me also make clear, as I have repeat- found that it is the weakness of great nations, edly, I have certainly not come to South Asia not their strength, that threatens our vision to mediate the dispute over Kashmir. Only for tomorrow. India and Pakistan can work out the prob- So we want India to be strong, to be se- lems between them. And I will say the same cure, to be united, to be a force for a safer, thing to General Musharraf in Islamabad. more prosperous, more democratic world. But if outsiders cannot resolve this problem, Whatever we ask of you, we ask in that spirit I hope you will create the opportunity to do alone. After too long a period of estrange- it yourselves, calling on the support of others ment, India and the United States have who can help where possible, as American learned that being natural allies is a wonder- diplomacy did in urging the Pakistanis to go ful thing, but it is not enough. Our task is back behind the Line of Control in the Kargil to turn a common vision into common crisis. achievements so that partners in spirit can In the meantime, I will continue to stress be partners in fact. We have already come that this should be a time of restraint, for a long way to this day of new beginnings, respect for the Line of Control, for renewed but we still have promises to keep, challenges lines of communication. to meet, and hopes to redeem. Addressing this challenge and all the oth- So let us seize this moment with humility ers I mentioned will require us to be closer in the fragile and fleeting nature of this life

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but absolute confidence in the power of the Remarks at the Signing Ceremony human spirit. Let us seize it for India, for for the Indo-United States Joint America, for all those with whom we share Statement on Energy and the this small planet, and for all the children that Environment in Agra together we can give such bright tomorrows. Thank you very much. March 22, 2000 Thank you very much, Foreign Minister NOTE: The President spoke at 11:10 a.m. at the Singh, Chief Minister Gupta, Mayor Maurya, Parliament Building. In his remarks, he referred District Commissioner Chowdhury, and, es- to Vice President Krishan Kant, Prime Minister pecially, Professor Mishra. We admire you Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Speaker G.M.C. so much for your efforts to save the Ganges. Balayogi of India; and Gen. Pervez Musharraf, We admire you because for you it is a matter army chief of staff, who led a coup d’etat in Paki- of science and faith. stan on October 12, 1999. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks. I want to thank all of you for welcoming me and my daughter and my wife’s mother, many Members of the United States Con- gress, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, distinguished members of our Exchange With Reporters at the administration, and our Ambassador here Taj Mahal in Agra, India today. I want to thank all the environmental March 22, 2000 leaders from India who have come here today. One month from this day we will celebrate Visit to the Gandhi Memorial across the world the 30th anniversary of Q. Mr. President, what were your thoughts Earth Day, a day set aside each year to honor when you were at the Gandhi Memorial? our natural environment and to reaffirm our The President. I was thinking about responsibility to protect it. In a unique way, Gandhi’s life. I was thinking about his going in India the Earth has been celebrated for to South Africa, how he decided to come more than 30 centuries. This, after all, is a back here, how he completely gave his life nation named for a river, a place where the over to what he believed, and how if all of Earth and its waters are worshipped as us just had one fraction of that commitment, divine. we could make peace in the world. That’s With good reason, the people of India have what I was thinking. spent centuries worrying far less about what we might do to nature and far more about what nature can do to us through floods, hur- Visit to Agra ricanes, droughts, and other calamities. But Q. Mr. President, are you sort of sad that as the experience of the beautiful Taj Mahal Agra is sort of a ghost town? Would you have proves and as the struggle to save the Ganges liked to pump hands? proves, we can no longer ignore man’s impact on the environment. The President. Absolutely. I did see some Pollution has managed to do what 350 people—— years of wars, invasions, and natural disasters Q. Yes, but back there. They were have failed to do. It has begun to mar the peering—— magnificent walls of the Taj Mahal. Since The President. I know. I would have liked 1982, protection of the monument has been it if they were up front. I’d like that. I wanted a major priority, and the fight has yielded to see them. significant advances. But still, a constant ef- fort is required to save the Taj Mahal from NOTE: The exchange began at approximately 5 human environmental degradation, what p.m. A tape was not available for verification of some scientists call marble cancer. I can’t the content of this exchange. help wondering that if a stone can get cancer,

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what kind of damage can this pollution do mosquitos across more borders and at higher to children. and higher altitudes, threatening more and It took the United States a long time to more lives; that crop patterns will be severely face up to these serious environmental ques- disrupted, affecting food supplies; and the tions. Not so many years ago, one of our riv- sea level will rise so high that entire island ers was so polluted, it actually caught on fire. nations will be threatened and coastal areas Bad air has made breathing very difficult in around the world will be flooded. many of our cities. Acid rain from our cars Now, of course if that hit, it is the devel- and our factories made it unhealthy to eat oping nations that will be hurt the most. And the fish from many of our lakes and rivers. India, because of its geography, is one of the Over the last generation we have worked very most vulnerable. hard to restore our natural treasures and to Today, your Government is taking an his- find a way to grow our economy in a way toric step to move us further in the right di- that is in harmony with the environment. rection toward both clean energy and reduc- We know that India’s remarkable growth ing climate change. I applaud the leadership has put that same kind of pressure on your of Prime Minister Vajpayee for affirming environment. And the costs of growth are ris- today that India will embrace specific na- ing every year, even along with your pros- tional goals for energy efficiency and renew- perity. able energy. In so doing, India is exercising We also know that more and more, the leadership for the entire world. It will clean environmental problems of the United States the air; it will reduce greenhouse gas pollu- or India or any other nation are not just na- tion and global warming; and it will be good tional problems. They are global ones. More for your economy. than any time in history, the environmental As the world’s leading producer of green- challenges we face go beyond national bor- house gases today, the United States and the ders, and so must our solutions. We must rest of the developed world have a special work together to protect the environment. responsibility. With this historic agreement, That is the importance of the agreement Mr. our two nations will work hand-in-hand to Singh and Secretary Albright have signed help turn India’s environmental goals into a today. reality that also supports your economic There are few areas where that coopera- growth. There are a number of ways in which tion is needed more than on the issues of the U.S. will support these efforts. climate change and clean energy. Here in First, through the U.S. Agency for Inter- Agra, you have taken important strides since national Development, whose administrator the early 1980’s to protect the Taj Mahal by is here today, we are committing $45 million using cleaner energy and improving the qual- to promote more efficient energy production ity of the air. In particular, I commend the and use in India and $50 million to promote work of M.C. Mehta for working to establish clean energy throughout South Asia. Our De- a pollution-free zone around your national partments of Energy and Environmental treasure. This is local action with global con- Protection will resume their programs of sequences. technical assistance to India to develop The overwhelming consensus of the cleaner air and cleaner water. We will make world’s scientific community is that green- available $200 million for clean energy house gases from human activity are raising projects through the Import-Export Bank. the Earth’s temperatures in a rapid and And we will take special steps to work with unsustainable way. The 6 warmest years since private enterprise to address these chal- the 15th century—200 years before the Taj lenges. Mahal was built—the 6 warmest years in all I thank the United States Energy Associa- that time were all recorded in the 1990’s. tion and the Confederation of Indian Indus- Unless we change course, most scientists try for agreeing to work as partners to meet believe that the warming of the climate will these goals. bring us more storms and more droughts; All told, we believe this historic agreement that diseases like malaria will be borne by will help to reduce air pollution, to diminish

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health risks, to fight global warming, to pro- Protocol is some sort of plot to wreck our tect and preserve the natural beauty of India. economy and who, unfortunately, some of And while we work to cooperate between our them, have a good deal of influence. They nations, we must also remember our obliga- continue to deny that global warming is real. tion to realize the promise of the landmark All I know is, the overwhelming consensus Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. For if of scientists and the evident lessons of the we act wisely, this agreement can help both weather patterns of the last few years all say the developed and the developing nations to the climate is warming at an unsustainable harness the power of the market to build a rate. We know it takes at least 50 years to clean energy future. We must complete the turn it around. Why would we take a risk work begun in Kyoto so that the United in not doing it when we know we have the States and other nations can ratify the pro- technology today, with alternative energy tocol and it can enter into force. sources and conservation, to chart a different Now, let me say that there are some peo- future? I hope that in my country and yours ple who don’t believe anything can be done and throughout the world, we will have the about global warming because they don’t be- sort of partnership to which we have com- lieve the economy can grow unless energy mitted ourselves on this day. is used in the same way it has been used Finally, let me just say that we don’t have for 100 years in the industrialized countries. to choose. We don’t have to choose between They do not believe that India can grow economic opportunity and environmental wealthy unless you put more greenhouse protection. But we do have to choose be- gases into the atmosphere by burning more tween a future of sustainable development oil and coal, in the same way the United for all of our children with clean water and States and Europe and Japan did. And in the sanitary conditions and energy efficiency and industrial age that might have been true, but clean air, and a future in which we give it that is no longer true. up simply because we refuse to take the nec- Many members of our delegation today essary decisions to preserve them. rode over here in electric buses that you use On this Earth Day this year and on this here to keep from promoting air pollution. historic day today of partnership between our In no time at all we will have electric vehicles two nations, when we stand in the shadow or vehicles that use fuel from farm products of the Taj Mahal, we remember that it is or from simple grasses that will not pollute a monument built in love. All the most im- the atmosphere. In no time at all we will be portant monuments are built for love. The using solar power wherever it is feasible. We most important monument today we can give will be building buildings with materials that our children and our children’s children is keep heat and cold out and are far more effi- the preservation of the Earth that was given cient. to us. We should give that monument in the We can, in short, do something today that spirit of love. could not be done 50 years ago. We can pro- Thank you very much. mote more economic growth in India by using less energy and keeping the environ- NOTE: The President spoke at 5:55 p.m. at the ment cleaner. In other words, the economic Taj Khema overlooking the Taj Mahal. In his re- conditions today are precisely the reverse of marks, he referred to Foreign Minister Jaswant what they were 50 years ago. Singh and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee The United States will never ask India or of India; Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta of any other developing nation to give up its Uttar Pradesh; Mayor Baby Rani Maurya and economic growth in order to reduce pollu- Commissioner Nita Chowdhury of Agra; Verr tion. But we do ask you to give us a chance Bhadra Mishra, director, Ganges River Clean-Up NGO; the President’s mother-in-law, Dorothy to work with your scientists to prove that you Rodman; and M.C. Mehta, co-founder, Indian can achieve even greater economic growth Council for Enviro-Legal Action. Prior to the and make the environment even cleaner. President’s remarks, Secretary of State Madeleine I must say that we even have some people Albright and Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in the United States who believe the Kyoto signed the joint statement.

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Statement on Senate Action on Social In 1998, the NEH continued to exercise Security Reform Legislation leadership in applying technology to the hu- March 22, 2000 manities. The Endowment launched Schools for a New Millennium, a program that pro- I am pleased that the Senate has followed vides funding to schools to further human- the House in passing a measure to eliminate ities education through the creative use of the retirement earnings test for seniors. In new technologies. In Lawrence, Kansas, one my 1999 State of the Union Address, I asked Schools for a New Millennium project is Congress to work with me to end this con- digitizing photographs and historical docu- fusing and outdated policy that discourages ments for use in junior high classrooms. The healthy senior citizens from continuing to Endowment also extended its Internet strat- work past 65 if they choose to do so. I look egy by expanding its EDSITEment project forward to opening a new era of opportunity in partnership with the Council of Great City for older Americans by signing this measure Schools and MCI WorldCom, more than into law. doubling the number of high quality human- Eliminating the earnings limit is an impor- ities sites available to students and teachers. tant first step in undertaking comprehensive I am especially pleased by another of the Social Security reform this year. The work agency’s partnerships employing both the on the retirement earnings test shows that Internet and traditional broadcasting. The Congress can work together to further the Endowment is partnering with the White people’s business. We should build on this House Millennium Council on the presen- bipartisan spirit to make further progress on tation of ‘‘Millennium Evenings at the White Social Security. Last fall I sent Congress leg- House,’’ a series of showcase events that ex- islation that would use the benefits of debt plore the ideas and creativity of the American reduction to extend the life of Social Security people on the eve of a new millennium. to the middle of the next century. Today I These programs feature prominent scholars call on Congress to work with me on this and creative thinkers and are accessible to simple plan to extend the solvency of Social the public by satellite and cable broadcasts, Security while strengthening benefits to re- and many State humanities councils are co- duce poverty among elderly women. ordinating local downlink sites. With support from SUN Microsystems, these lectures and discussions are cybercast live from the East Message to the Congress Room in the White House. Viewers can sub- Transmitting the Report of the mit questions via the Internet to the guest National Endowment for the speaker or to the First Lady and me. Humanities The NEH is well-known for its support of March 22, 2000 documentary films based on a collaboration between filmmakers and humanities schol- To the Congress of the United States: ars. In 1998, the Endowment maintained this I am pleased to transmit the 1998 annual tradition of excellence with its support of report of the National Endowment for the Eleanor Roosevelt, which drew upon out- Humanities (NEH), the Federal agency standing new historical scholarship, archival charged with advancing knowledge and pub- films, photographs, and first-hand testi- lic education in the humanities. Throughout monies to paint a vivid portrait of one of 1998, the agency provided crucial support to America’s most outstanding women. hundreds of research and educational The Endowment’s grants also addressed projects throughout the United States and its the long-term needs of the Nation’s cultural territories. The Endowment also provided and academic institutions. In 1998, the NEH grants to innovative educational projects em- created a special program designed to aid the ploying the latest computer technologies, as Nation’s public libraries in serving the public well as to efforts to preserve library and ar- with humanities programming. Among the chival resources and make such resources institutions aided in 1998 by Challenge available to schools, scholars, and citizens. Grants was the African American Research

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Library and Cultural Center, a new facility Message to the Senate Transmitting created by the Broward County Public Li- the International Plant Protection brary to serve Broward County’s growing and Convention With Documentation diverse population. Through its Preservation Programs, the March 23, 2000 NEH is preserving the content of hundreds To the Senate of the United States: of thousands of brittle books, periodicals, and With a view to receiving the advice and American newspapers—priceless sources for consent of the Senate to acceptance, I trans- present and future historians and scholars. mit herewith the revised International Plant The Endowment’s initiative to save much Protection Convention (IPPC), adopted at materials is now entering its tenth year, and the Conference of the Food and Agriculture will preserve nearly a million books and peri- Organization (FAO) of the United Nations odicals by the time it is completed. The U.S. at Rome on November 17, 1997. In accord- Newspaper Project, an equally important ef- ance with Article XIII of the existing IPPC, fort to microfilm historic newspapers, is cre- the revised text will enter into force for all ating a comprehensive national database for contracting parties 30 days after acceptance scholars, students, and citizens who wish to by two-thirds of the contracting parties. research their community’s history. The revisions are designed to bring the In November 1998, the First lady and I IPPC into line with modern practices and joined the Endowment in honoring at the concepts, and to establish new mechanisms White House nine distinguished Americans to promote the development and adoption with the National Medal of the Humanities. of international phytosanitary standards. Through these awards and its grants pro- It is my hope that the Senate will give grams, the National Endowment for the Hu- prompt and favorable consideration to this manities recognizes and promotes out- Convention, and give its advice and consent standing efforts to deepen public awareness to acceptance by the United States, subject and understanding of the humanities. to the two proposed understandings set forth in the accompanying report, at the earliest William J. Clinton possible date. The White House, William J. Clinton March 22, 2000. The White House, March 23, 2000.

Message to the Congress Remarks in a Discussion With Transmitting Reports of the Members of a Dairy Cooperative in National Science Foundation Nayla Village, India March 22, 2000 March 23, 2000 To the Congress of the United States: The President. But one thing I think is As required by the provisions of section important to mention, though. You talked 3(f) of the National Science Foundation Act about with the dairy cooperatives, how you’ve of 1950, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1862(f)), I now computerized all your transactions. transmit herewith the combined annual re- Well, the computer can be anywhere. And ports of the National Science Foundation for that means that all kinds of jobs can now be fiscal years 1996–1997, and the annual report in small rural villages everywhere in the for fiscal year 1998. world which before could only be in cities. But in order to have them, people have to William J. Clinton have a certain level of education and a certain level of credit. The White House, And I think that people should think more March 22, 2000. about what other kinds of jobs computers

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make possible, as well as the successful dairy people from all over the world will know I cooperative. have come here, and I can tell them the story of what you are doing. [At this point, a young woman asked a ques- tion which was translated as follows.] NOTE: The President spoke at 11:55 a.m. in meet- The Interpreter. She feels that, yes, if a ing room A at Nayla Village, near Jaipur. A tape was not available for verification of the content greater number of children in the village can of these remarks. learn computers, definitely they can get bet- ter jobs, but they would have to be provided with greater opportunities there, which they Remarks in a Discussion With would have to struggle for or which the Gov- Members of Village Council in Nayla ernment would have to provide for. Village The President. Since I have been the March 23, 2000 President of the United States, I have trav- eled around the world and met in villages Q. I have a question to ask. There is a like this in Africa and Latin America, China, stereotypical image of Indians all over the and now here in India. And my wife has done world as backward people. You have been even more than I have. And we try to invest in India for a few days. How would you re- money in the education of girls to make sure spond to this? Do you think we are back- that girls and boys both have the same chance ward? [Laughter] to get an education. And this year we will The President. No. But what I hope my finance around the world about 2 million of trip will do is to help people all over the the kind of small loans you have been talking world see India in a more complete way. about. There are many people here who are poor, But we are looking more and more at try- but you are proving that democracy can be ing to make sure that every village has at least used to lift the poor, can be used to end dis- one computer hookup like this, and you have crimination against women and keep chil- given me a lot of ideas. And I just want to dren, girls and boys, in school, and can be congratulate you for your courage and your used to bring people of different tribes and persistence. And I hope my coming here will casts together. That is very important to me cause everyone in India to know about what and to my family, my wife, who has been you are doing, and maybe more women will in Indian villages, and to our whole adminis- follow your lead. tration. Q. My name is Chitra, and I wanted to What I think you should know is that the convey to you that, through the Women’s problems you have here are problems that Development Project, we are trying to create people have faced all over the world. My own awareness among young girls so that when country became independent from the Brit- they grow older and they become women, ish Empire in the 1780’s, and it was almost they do not have to face many of the prob- 150 years before women could even vote. It lems that we, as children, had to face, espe- was almost 100 years before the slaves were cially related to our bodies, our sexuality, and freed, and more than another 100 years be- our noneconomic empowerment. fore they acquired equal rights, African- I think it is time to wind up. I will now Americans, under our laws. request Kanta Guswami to give you a smart And today, all over the world, there are card, so that you can become a member of wars where people are being killed—in Afri- the daily cooperative here. [Laughter] ca because they’re of different tribes, in Bos- nia and Kosovo because they were of dif- At this point, Kanta Guswami presented the [ ferent tribes and religions. So if in India you smart card. ] can prove that people can lift themselves The President. I grew up in a place with from poverty and, at the same time, end dis- many dairy cows. And I know what hard work crimination against women and their girl it is. And I will always treasure this. And I children and learn to work together across will put this up in the White House so that tribal and cast lines because of democracy,

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you will give the world the greatest gift it Lundquist; by the Secretary of Commerce could have now. Bill Daley, and the Administrator of our The only other thing I would like to say Agency for International Development is I believe that the computer will make it Brady Anderson; and by six distinguished happen more quickly if it is used wisely and Members of our Congress: Congressman put in every village in this country. And I Gary Ackerman and Representative Nita think that those of us who would like to be Lowey from New York; Congressman Jim good partners and to help you must also lis- McDermott from Washington; Congressman ten to what you have said today. Ed Royce from California; Congressman The biggest public health problems I think Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas; and Rep- in India and many other countries through- resentative Jan Schakowsky from Illinois. We out the world are based on the fact that are delighted to be here, and we are very there’s not enough clean water and too much interested in what you are doing and im- of the soil is washing away or blowing away pressed. And we thank you. in the wind. We come today to celebrate a success story And the last thing I would like to say is and to join with you in meeting a new chal- I hope you will not lose your enthusiasm and lenge. As Dr. Aruna said, the success story your spirit when things don’t change as fast is the virtual complete eradication of polio as you would like. I know it is easy to get from the face of the Earth. In 1987, India discouraged. I know there is still injustice and reported 27,000 cases of this crippling dis- unfairness. But what you are doing is aston- ease. Today only 1,000 Indians are afflicted, ishing. And you have a chance to overcome and as you have just heard, there are no re- problems that are still crippling other places ported new cases this year. in the world more quickly because you have India has collaborated in this effort with these institutions of democracy. You must Rotary International, with the Gates Founda- believe in them and use them and not give tion, with UNICEF, the World Health Orga- up when you’re frustrated and cannot suc- nization, and with the U.S. Agency for Inter- ceed in a short time. national Development, or AID. Thank you very much. I would like to say just a special word of appreciation to our Agency for International NOTE: The President spoke at 12:45 p.m. in meet- Development. It has meant a great deal to ing room A at Nayla Village, near Jaipur. A tape America’s partnership on a very human level was not available for verification of the content of these remarks. with people all across the world and espe- cially here in India. It has guided our efforts to fight diseases that threaten children, to Remarks at the Mahavir Trust launch the Green Revolution that helped Hospital in Hyderabad, India India achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture March 24, 2000 and even more, to provide education, so that parents in India and throughout the world Thank you very much. Good morning, can determine the size of their families and Chief Minister Naidu. Thank you for wel- keep their children in school, and to support coming me today to your State and to this great Indian universities, like IIT. magnificent city. Dr. Aruna, thank you for Now, we believe that USAID will be just your remarks and for your work. Dr. Kolluri, as critical and just as active as India and the to Ms. Rachel Chatterjee, the Minister of United States embark on a dynamic new Health and the other ministers of the Gov- partnership, as we face new challenges, like ernment that are here; to the staff of the developing the sources of clean energy, Mahavir Trust Hospital, I thank you all for bringing the Internet to rural India so all its your dedication and for making me and our children can reach out to the world. American delegation so welcome. So I’d like to say a special word of thanks I am honored to be joined today by my today to our AID Administrator, Brady An- daughter, by the American Ambassador to derson, and B.A. Rudolph and the other India, Mr. Celeste, and his wife, Jacqueline members of the AID team who are here.

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They are devoted to the cause of India, and another $1 million for TB research. I also I thank them for their work. want to thank—I want to thank the Gates I would also like to acknowledge, though, Foundation and, in particular, Patty that on this polio eradication effort, the vast Stonesifer, because they are also announcing majority of the funding division and the work a number of new contributions today. No pri- has come from India. And the whole world vate foundation in America and, as far as I admires greatly what you have achieved. know, anywhere in the world has made re- Now, for the challenge. Today is World motely the commitment that the Gates Tuberculosis Day. It marks the day the bac- Foundation has in the world struggle against teria which causes TB was discovered 118 infectious disease, and I thank them for that. years ago. And yet, even though this is 118- Earlier this year, I asked Congress to sup- year-old knowledge, in the year 2000, TB port a $1 billion initiative to encourage the kills more people around the world than ever private sector to speed the development of before, including one almost every minute vaccines for diseases that particularly affect here in India. the developing world—malaria, TB, and Malaria is also on the rise here and in AIDS, and then to take steps to make those Southeast Asia and in Africa. And while the vaccines affordable to the poorest people in AIDS infection rate here is still relatively low, the world who need them. I am going to work India already has more people infected than hard to obtain support for that initiative in any other nation in the world. These are Congress. And again, I thank the Members human tragedies, economic calamities, and of our Congress who are here from both par- far more than crises for you, they are crises ties for their interest and commitment to for the world. India and to the public health. The spread of disease is the one global The fight against infectious disease should problem for which, by definition, no nation be a growing part of our partnership with is immune. So we must do for AIDS, for ma- you. Indians already are trailblazers in vac- laria, for TB what you have done for polio. cine research. India pioneered treatments for We must strengthen prevention, speed re- TB being used today in America. Many of search, develop vaccines, and ultimately the problems we have talked about are eliminate these modern plagues from the present here in India, but the solutions can face of the Earth. It can be done—you have be found here, as well in the dedication of proved it with polio—if governments, foun- men and women like those who work in this dations, and the private sector work together. clinic and in the genius of your scientists and With AIDS in particular, it also takes lead- in the elected officials and their commitment ership. I want to commend Prime Minister from Delhi to Hyderabad, to countless towns Vajpayee for his efforts to focus India’s atten- and villages across this country. tion on the urgency of this challenge. In Many years ago, India and the United every country and in any culture it is difficult States helped to launch the Green Revolu- to talk about the issues involved with AIDS. tion, which freed millions of people from the I know a lot about this because it’s been a misery of hunger. If we can join forces on problem for a long time in America, and now health, determined again to place science in it’s a big problem for you. But I would submit the service of humanity, we can defeat these to you it is much easier to talk about AIDS diseases; we can give our children the healthy than to watch another child die. And we have and hopeful lives they deserve in this new to face up to our responsibilities for pre- century. venting this disease, especially because there Thank you very much. is not yet a cure. I am gratified that India is not waiting to NOTE: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to N. Chandrababu Naidu, act, and I am proud that the United States Chief Minister, and Dr. S. Aruna, Minister of is supporting your efforts here. I am happy Health, Andhra Pradesh; Dr. Murthy Kolluri, who to announce that we will contribute another made a presentation on tuberculosis and polio $4 million this year to programs to prevent treatment; Rachel Chatterjee, Commissioner of AIDS and care for victims here in India and Hyderabad; U.S. Ambassador to India, Richard

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F. Celeste; Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee If that doesn’t improve the aid program of India; and Patty Stonesifer, cochair and presi- for India, I don’t know what will. [Laughter] dent, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A tape And make sure we have no burden on E- was not available for verification of the content commerce between ourselves. of these remarks. I want to thank Secretary Daley, the Sec- retary of Commerce, for being here; and Remarks to the Business Community Brady Anderson, the Administrator of our in Hyderabad USAID program; and Dr. Neal Lane, my March 24, 2000 Science Adviser; and Dr. Rama Murthi; and of course, Ambassador Dick Celeste and Jac- Thank you. Thank you very much. First queline, his wife. of all, thank you all for coming out in such I’d also like to point out I have—I don’t large numbers on this warm day to this won- know how many, but I have at least four In- derful facility. It may be that every day is dian-Americans with me working on this trip a warm day, but for us, it’s a new experience. who are actually in the audience today, and [Laughter] And I rather like it. two of them are from here in Hyderabad. Mr. Raju, thank you very much. President So I’d like to acknowledge Rekha Chalasani Bajaj, President Batnagar, Mr. Hariharan, from AID, and Mona Mohib who works with and Chief Minister Naidu, thank you all for us in the White House. I thank them for welcoming us here. And I must say, when being here. I was watching the Chief Minister give his You should also know this was a very cov- speech, I wish I had brought some slides— eted trip from Washington to India. My [laughter]—because it was so very impres- Chief of Staff is on this trip, my National sive. And you should know that he is becom- Security Adviser. Everyone wanted to come. ing—[applause]—yes, he did a good job. Those who did are happy; those who are still If a picture is worth a thousand words, you at home working are angry. [Laughter] But will remember much more of what he said we know—we know a lot of our future de- than what I am about to say. [Laughter] And pends upon whether we have the right kind he is becoming very well-known in the of partnership with India. United States and very much admired for all Once historians said of your nation, India of these remarkable achievements, and I is the world’s most ancient civilization, yet thank him. one of its youngest nations. Today, in this I would like to thank your Ambassador to ancient city, we see leadership to drive the the United States, Ambassador Chandra, for world’s newest economy. coming back to India and making this trip One of the greatest joys of being President with me. And thank you very much, Mr. Am- of the United States for me has been to be bassador, for what you do. involved with the people at home who are I would like to thank the large number pushing the frontiers of science and tech- of Americans who are here with me, includ- nology. Many people believe that I asked Al ing six Members of our Congress. And I Gore to be my Vice President because he would like to ask them to stand because they knew roughly 5,000 times more about com- come on these trips with me—I get to give puter technology than I did. [Laughter] the speeches; they have to sit and listen. And But I have learned every day now, for over then when we go home, they have all the 7 years. And I think it’s very interesting for power over the money. [Laughter] So I a man my age—I’m 53, which is way too old would like to introduce Representative Gary to make any money in information tech- Ackerman from New York, Representative nology. [Laughter] But it’s very interesting— Nita Lowey from New York, Representative the terms that are used today by young peo- Jim McDermott from Washington, Rep- ple and not-so-young people anymore had resentative Ed Royce from California, Rep- such different meanings for me when I was resentative Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas, in my twenties. When I was a young man, and Representative Jan Schakowsky from chips were something you ate, windows were Chicago, Illinois. Thank you very much. something you washed, disks were part of

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your spinal column, that when you got older Again, I want to say that I think Chief Min- often slipped out of place, and semiconduc- ister Naidu deserves a lot of credit for giving tors were frustrated musicians who wished you the right kind of governance. There are they were leading orchestras. [Laughter] The some people who believe—we were talking world is a very different place today. about this before we came out here—there I want to speak briefly about how our na- are some people who believe that the 21st tions already are working together to seize century world, because the Internet will the possibilities of the information age and make the globe more interconnected, and we about what we can do to make sure no one will have all kinds of connections with people is left behind. I particularly appreciated the beyond our borders that we never had be- Chief Minister’s emphasis on this in his re- fore, and therefore, Government will become marks, because, for me, the true test of the completely irrelevant to most people’s lives. information revolution is not just the size of If you look at the example of this State and the feast it creates but the number of people this city, you see we need a different kind who can sit at the table to enjoy it. of government. It can be smaller. It can be It is incredible to think about how far far less bureaucratic. It should be far more science has come in just the 7 years and a market-oriented. It should be smart, as I few months since I first became President. learned from the Minister’s chart. But it is In that time we have explored a galaxy 12 a grave mistake to think that we can really go forward together without that kind of billion light years away. We have seen the smart governance. And the Chief Minister’s cloning of animals. We are just a few months role in your success I think is evident to all away from completing the sequencing of the of you by your response. human genome, with all that promises for I’m personally intrigued by the fact that improving the life and quality of life of peo- you can get a driver’s license on the Internet, ple all around the world. and you don’t have to go wait in line, as you When I was elected President, there do in America. I have my driver’s license were—listen to this—there were only 50 sites here—[laughter]—and in a few months I on the World Wide Web in January of 1993. may come back, because it may be the only Today there are more than 50 million, and place I will have a license to drive. [Laughter] it is the fastest growing communications me- You may see me just tooling around on the dium in history. streets here, causing traffic jams. [Laughter] Here in India, the number of Internet I want to also acknowledge, if I might, just users is expected to grow more than 10 times very briefly, something which has already in just 4 years. Ten years ago, India’s high- been mentioned by previous speakers. And tech industries generated software and com- that is the remarkable success of Indian- puter-related services worth $150 million. Americans in this new economy, from Suhas Last year, that number was $4 billion. Today, Patil, the chairman emeritus of Cyrus Logic, this industry employs more than 280,000 In- to Vinod Khosla, who helped to build Sun dians, in jobs that pay almost double the na- Microsystems, to Vinod Dahm, who created tional average. Little wonder, as the Minister the Pentium chip. The remarkable fact is— said, Hyderabad is being known now as listen to this—Indian-Americans now run ‘‘Cyberabad.’’ more than 750 companies in Silicon Valley Now, I realize to many of you this comes alone, in one place in America. Now, as again as no surprise, since the decimal system was I learned on the screen, we’re moving from discovered—invented in India. If it weren’t brain drain to brain gain in India, because for India’s contributions in math and science, many are coming home. you could argue that computers, satellites, The partnership of Americans and Indians and silicon chips would never have been pos- proposes to raise a billion dollars for a global sible in the first place, so you ought to have institute of science and technology here. I a leading role in the 21st century economy, have no doubt they will succeed. After wel- companies with names like Infosys, Wipro, coming your engineers to our shores, today and, of course, Satyam. many of our leading companies, from Apple

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to Texas Instruments to Oracle, are coming There is so much we can do, for example, in waves to your shores. I’m told that if a to help the poor have better health care. This person calls Microsoft for help with software, morning I was at a clinic in Mahavir, and there’s a pretty good chance they’ll find I helped to immunize a child against polio. themselves talking to an expert in India, rath- Together we have nearly eradicated this dis- er than Seattle. India is fast becoming one ease, but tuberculosis is still a major prob- of the world’s software superpowers, proving lem. Malaria is on the rise. HIV and AIDS that in a globalized world, developing nations are big problems for you, as they have been not only can succeed, developing nations can for years for the United States. These are lead. global problems. We must find a science to One of the reasons India is finding so solve them and the technology to disseminate much success, I believe, is because of your those solutions to all people, without regard enduring values of nationhood. Fifty years to their income. ago, Prime Minister Neru had the vision to There is much to do to protect our planet invest in the Indian Institutes of Technology. and those who share it with us. In Agra, I I am very proud that the United States saw some efforts that local citizens are mak- helped in its early development. Today, not ing to clean the air and preserve the Taj only are ITT graduates leading the informa- Mahal. I talked to an engineer who is doing tion revolution, India has the second largest his best to clean up the Ganges River that pool of trained scientists in the entire world. he worships as an important part of his faith As I said, we have to do more together. and his country’s history. Two of our leading associations, the U.S.- Yesterday, I was in the national park in India Business Council and your Federation Rajasthan to see the magnificent tigers. And of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Indus- I learned, much to my dismay, that—from try, will launch a dialog to take our infotech a man who has spent a great deal of his life trade to new heights, to create more jobs and and risked a lot of his life to save those tigers, more opportunities in both our nations. that last year still 20 of them were poached, But as I said at the beginning, in the midst and you are still in danger of losing them. of all this celebration of tomorrow, and in They, too, are an important part of your her- the midst of all of our satisfaction at our own itage and your future. good fortune, there is something we cannot We must find a way to help people make forget. It’s a good thing that we’re creating enough money and have a decent enough in- a lot of 25-year-old multi-millionaires; it’s a come that they wish to preserve the environ- good thing that we’re seeing the latest Indian ment and the biological species with which start-ups shoot up the NASDAQ; but this we share this planet. This is very, very impor- whole enterprise cannot just be about higher tant, and technology has a big role to play profits. There must also be a higher purpose. in all of this. In India today, as in America, there is This week, you are establishing a green much to do. Millions of Indians are con- business center here in Hyderabad, with nected to the Internet, but millions more some assistance from USAID, to bring the aren’t yet connected to fresh water. India ac- private sector and local government together counts for 30 percent of the world’s software to promote clean energy development and engineers but 25 percent of the world’s mal- environmental technology. This is a pro- nourished. And there are other statistics, foundly important issue, and I hope that this which, given the wealth of the United States, city will lead your nation and help to lead I could cite you about our country which are the world toward a serious reassessment of just as troubling and challenging. our common obligation to reverse the tide So our challenge is to turn the newest dis- of global warming and climate change, be- coveries into the best weapons humanity has cause in the new economy you do not have ever had to fight poverty. In all the years to pollute the atmosphere and warm the of recorded human history, we have never planet to grow the economy. In the new had this many opportunities to fight poverty. economy, you can create more jobs by pro- And it is good economics to do so. moting energy efficiency and alternative

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sources of energy than by polluting the envi- We have to bring government services ronment. with printers to every village, so people can The economic wave of the future is in en- see in basic ways what it is they need to do vironmental preservation, not in environ- to improve the health care of their children. mental destruction. That is a lesson this city We need printers with computers on the can teach the rest of your nation, people in Internet with all the educational software my Nation and people throughout the world, available. If we could do that for every village and I hope you will do it. in South Asia, in Africa, in Latin America, There is still much we can do in science in the Middle East, then overnight the poor- and technology to feed the world’s people. est places in the world could have access to American and Indian scientists are working the same learning materials that only the in the biotechnology industry to pioneer new richest schools offer their students today. We crops more resistant to pests, diseases, more can do that if we do it together. nutritious, with higher yields per acre. And it isn’t just good public values; it There is much we can do to protect the would be good economics. It would mean, rich cultural diversity of our planet. I know among other things, that the world’s most that some worry that globalization will populous nation would have the world’s larg- produce a world where the unique gifts na- est number of educated people and, there- tions and peoples bring to the world are fore, in no time would have the world’s larg- washed away. I do not believe that. If we est economy. Doing the right thing is good do the right things, the Internet can have economics in the Information Age, and we precisely the opposite effect. Look at India, have to do this together. with 17 officially recognized languages and Finally, let me say that we just want to some 22,000 dialects, you can get on the be a good partner with you in all these en- Internet today and find dozens of sites that deavors. Two days ago in Delhi I signed an bring together people who speak Telugu agreement to create a U.S.-Indo Science and from every part of the world. You can Technology forum to bring scientists from download fonts in Gujarati, Marathi, Assam- our nations together to discuss future co- ese, and Bengali. You can order handicrafts operation. Today, the top science minds in made by people from every part of India— our two Governments are sitting down to- I saw one of the sites just before coming in gether to begin a dialog on how we can con- here. And you know the proceeds are going duct new research across a whole range of to the people in need. scientific frontiers. There is a lot we can do. The new technology can reinforce our cul- But, you know, as I said before I came tural distinctions while reaffirming the even out here; I visited a lot of the booths; I met more important fact of our common human- a lot of the business people; and I also was ity. And India can also help us lead the way treated by the Chief Minister to a video con- in doing that. ference with people in all 23 districts of this Now, finally let me say we cannot work State who are working on empowerment to lift what has been called the ‘‘Silk Cur- projects, who had access the microcredit. I tain,’’ which has divided the United States learned something I didn’t know before I got and India for too long now, only to have a here, which is that 20 percent of the people digital divide arise in both our countries be- in the world, in poor villages who have access tween the haves and have-nots. In America, to microcredit, are in this State, in India. And we have worked very hard to wire all our that’s something my wife and I and our ad- schools to the Internet, and we’ve made great ministration have worked very hard on. We progress. We are now going to provide some financed through AID about 2 million micro- $5 million through AID to help bring the credit loans all across the world every year. Internet to schools and businesses in under- So I saw all this. And I would say there’s served areas in rural India. This State is doing one thing that I hope my country will learn a remarkable job in providing the Internet from the values expressed in the Chief Min- to people all over the State, in the smallest, ister’s speech, in the local government coun- poorest villages. cils I have visited here, in the local women’s

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communes I have visited here, working on Statement on North Atlantic Treaty all kinds of economic and educational issues, Organization Operations in and that is that the two most important things Southeast Europe that we can promote in the new world are March 24, 2000 empowerment of individuals and a sense of community. And if you do one without the One year ago today, the 19 democratic other, you will not succeed. members of NATO, supported by our re- Very often, people who are very interested gional partners, launched Operation Allied in empowerment don’t have much interest Force to put an end to Slobodan Milosevic’s in community. When they’re talking about brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing. empowerment, they mean their own em- Milosevic’s actions not only caused the powerment. [Laughter] And very often, a lot worst human disaster in Europe since World of people who have always cared deeply War II but also threatened NATO’s core in- about community are almost a little sus- terest in the stability of Southeast Europe. As result of NATO’s resolute and concerted picious of empowerment. But the lesson that stand over 78 days, we reversed the ethnic you are teaching us is that we must do both cleansing, compelled Serb forces to with- together. draw, allowed a NATO-led force and a We are here to talk about the future of United Nations mission to secure the peace, cyberspace. ‘‘Cyber’’ comes from the Greek and paved the way for nearly a million refu- word ‘‘kybernautis’’. It means helmsman, one gees to return to their homes in safety. Imag- who steers the ship. So I am here to say I ine the consequences if NATO had not acted admire what you are doing to steer the ship one year ago. Milosevic’s campaign of ethnic of this State into the future. I want to steer cleansing would have proceeded unchecked, with you. But we cannot forget the simple exterminating or expelling hundreds of thou- message that, no matter how much new tech- sands of Kosovar Albanians, a final grim epi- nology there is, the two things we must re- taph of the twentieth century. Those who main committed to are empowerment and survived would have become permanent ref- community. Everyone counts. Everyone ugees, causing a humanitarian crisis and should have a chance. Everyone has a role threatening the stability of the region. The to play. And we all do better when we help historic progress we have made toward build- each other. ing a Europe undivided, democratic, and at Thank you, and God bless you. peace for the first time in history would have been reversed, and NATO’s role to help con- solidate stability in Europe would have been NOTE: The President spoke at 2:05 p.m. in the undermined. atrium at the Hi-Tech Center. In his remarks, he We should be proud that we met our re- referred to B. Ramalinga Raju, chair, Satyam sponsibilities in Kosovo, and we have accom- Computer Services, Ltd.; Rahul Bajaj, president, plished much in the past year. With the sup- Confederation of Indian Industry; Sanjay port of the international community, NATO Batnagar, president, American Chamber of Com- and the United Nations Interim Administra- merce in India; E.S. Hariharan, deputy general tive Mission have created the foundation that manager, Hi-Tech Center; and N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh; Naresh can lead to a peaceful and stable Kosovo. The Chandra, Indian Ambassador to the United States; U.N. mission helped return over 90 percent and Richard F. Celeste, U.S. Ambassador to India; of the refugees to their homes in time to as- Mona Mohib, Associate Director for Intergovern- sist their preparations for winter. Some mental Affairs, Office of the First Lady; and 300,000 Kosovar children are back in school Rekha Chalasani, press officer, Bureau of Legisla- today. Electric power has been restored to tive and Public Affairs, U.S. Agency for Inter- most areas. Over 200 kilometers of railway national Development. A tape was not available are back in service, and nearly 2,000 kilo- for verification of the content of these remarks. meters of roadways have been cleared of

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unexploded ordnance and mines. Although Proclamation 7282—Education and violence still remains too frequent in Kosovo, Sharing Day, U.S.A., 2000 the weekly murder rate has been reduced March 24, 2000 by 90 percent since last June, thousands of weapons have been confiscated and de- By the President of the United States stroyed, and the Kosovo Liberation Army was of America successfully disbanded. A Proclamation There is much more to be done. The As we welcome a new millennium, Amer- NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), with ap- ica stands at a unique moment in time. We proximately 85 percent of the troops contrib- can look back over the past century, where we experienced profound advances in uted by our Allies, has helped create condi- science, medicine, and technology that fun- tions of basic security that will permit civil damentally altered the world in which we implementation to move forward quickly. live. At the same time, we can look ahead The international community has pledged to a new century filled with unparalleled over $1 billion for the stabilization and eco- promise and unlimited possibilities for fur- nomic revitalization of Kosovo—with our ther progress. partners providing more than 6 times our Throughout our Nation’s history, edu- contribution to this effort. U.N. member cation has been at the heart of achievement states have sent over 2,500 policemen to pa- in America, and it is the key to meeting the trol the streets of Kosovo, but the U.N. has challenges and seizing the opportunities that asked for an additional 2,000 officers, and lie before us. To succeed in the global com- we will do our share. Building on the founda- munity of the 21st century, we must provide tion of the 300 local judges and prosecutors all our citizens with a world-class, well- that have been appointed by UNMIK, the rounded education. We must ensure that international community is working with every American has not only the knowledge Kosovars to help rebuild Kosovo’s legal and and the skills he or she needs to flourish, judicial systems. With the support of inter- but also a solid foundation of moral guidance national soldiers and police, we are working and values. As the technology revolution to protect the individual human rights and breaks down barriers of geography, culture, cultural heritage of all Kosovars, Serb, Roma, and economic status, it is more crucial than Albanian and others. We remain committed ever that young people learn the importance to seeking the release of those Kosovars of tolerance, cooperation, and sharing. Im- jailed in Serbia without the benefit of due bued with these values and enriched by a legal process. quality education, our children can look for- ward to a bright future. During Allied Force, we persisted until we Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, prevailed. Today we are carrying that same the Lubavitcher Rebbe, recognized early the spirit forward into the challenges of building importance of such comprehensive learning. peace, democracy, and opportunity—in In addition to being one of the world’s highly Kosovo and across the Balkans. And with the respected religious leaders, he was also an leadership of our European Allies and the accomplished scholar in mathematics and support of our Congress, we will continue science. Understanding that both secular to work with the people of Southeast Europe education and spiritual training contribute toward our shared vision of a democratic and enormously to human development, he peaceful future. sought to provide young people with fresh opportunities for academic, social, and moral enrichment through the more than 2,000

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educational and social institutions he estab- they control all the money. [Laughter] So I lished throughout our country and around would like to acknowledge the presence here the world. His efforts continue to bear fruit of Congressman Jim McDermott, Congress- today, helping a new generation to develop man Gary Ackerman, Congressman Ed into responsible and mature adults. Royce, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, As we observe this special day, let us renew Representative Nita Lowey, and Representa- our commitment to excellence in education tive Jan Schakowsky, all Members of the and to nurturing our young people’s aca- United States House of Representatives. We demic and spiritual development. Let us also thank them for coming. remember the example of Rabbi Schneerson This has been a remarkable week, and I and pass on to our children the values and think a wonderful week for me and my knowledge that have strengthened our Na- daughter, Chelsea, who is here, and for our tion in the past and that will empower us entire American delegation. We came as to face the challenges of the future. friends to a changing India, to gain a better Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, understanding of your country, your views, President of the United States of America, in order to build a new partnership on a high- by virtue of the authority vested in me by er level than that which we have experienced the Constitution and laws of the United over the last 22 years. States, do hereby proclaim March 28, 2000, If you imagine the world you would like as Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A. I in- to see 10 years from now or 20 years from vite Government officials, educators, volun- now, if you imagine how you would like India teers, and all the citizens of the United States to be 10 or 20 years from now, it is difficult to observe this day with appropriate activi- to believe that the world you would like and ties, programs, and ceremonies. the India you would like can be achieved In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set without a deeper and better partnership of my hand this twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and mutual respect and common endeavor with of the Independence of the United States of the United States. America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. I can also say, I’m grateful for the presence of the American Ambassador, one former William J. Clinton American Ambassador to India, and the In- [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, dian Ambassador to the United States, Am- 11:45 a.m., March 27, 2000] bassador Chandra, that I cannot imagine the world that I want for my children’s genera- NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the tion in America that does not include a deep- Federal Register on March 28. er and better partnership with India. And so I came here to try to build it, or Remarks at a Business Reception in at least to have the foundations there before Mumbai, India my time as President is done. Already, as all March 24, 2000 of you well know, America is the largest trad- ing partner and investor for India. This week Thank you. Thank you, President Goenka. American companies signed about two dozen Chief Minister Deshmukh; my good friend, agreements to create or advance projects Ambassador Wisner; my colleague and long- worth another $4 billion. And I’m very time friend, Ambassador Celeste; Secretary pleased that our Export-Import Bank will Daley; our distinguished crowd here. We make available a billion dollars in new financ- thank you for welcoming us. I have brought ing for small and medium sized businesses quite a group from the United States, includ- in India to export to the United States. ing six Members of our Congress. This week we have strengthened our com- And we were just down in Hyderabad, and mitment to work together to protect the envi- I asked the crowd to acknowledge them be- ronment, to promote clean energy, to fight cause I always got to give the speech, they against deadly diseases, to use science and always have to listen, but when we go home, technology to help people rise from poverty.

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I visited a small village in Rajasthan yester- If we do this right, we will find that doing day; you probably saw the pictures in the what is morally right, consistent with the val- paper where I was dancing with the village ues of India that’s a sense of community and ladies. [Laughter] It was pretty good odds; mutual responsibility, also turns out to be there were about 30 of them and one of me. very good economics in the information age [Laughter] And they were throwing—the because you need more education, you need children were throwing flowers, petals of more people with the capacity to make the flowers on us. But the reason we were danc- most of this new economy. ing was because of the time we had shared The same thing is true with the environ- before, and I saw the work that was being ment. All over the world today there’s a gen- done in the poor village to lift the lives of eral consensus that the climate is warming women, to give them access to credit, to give too quickly and that the consequences are them support in the workplace, to keep their likely to be disastrous. children, including their girl children, in I met with a man doing malaria research school. I saw the role of men and women shortly before I came here tonight. And we and people of different tribes and castes talked about how troubling it was that ma- working together in the local government laria is now being found at higher and higher units. And so there was cause for celebration. altitudes in countries all across the globe Today in Hyderabad, when I was there, where it manifests, so that it’s attacking peo- I talked to representatives of all 23 districts ple in villages that have never seen it before. of the State in a teleconference about the And they’re much more vulnerable and likely same sorts of activities that are occurring. I to have many more problems, all the con- say that because I believe that while there sequences of changing environment. is plainly a digital divide in India and a digital But in the information age, no nation has divide in the United States, not just from to grow rich by putting more greenhouse place to place but within every city where gases into the atmosphere. And in fact, there there is a strong business group well-con- will be enormous opportunities for India— nected to the new economy, the truth is that millions and millions of jobs; a trillion-dollar the information age gives us the chance to global market—in developing alternative en- eliminate poverty more quickly for more peo- ergy sources, maximizing the use of new en- ple than ever before in all of human history. ergy technologies, the development of fuel I saw that yesterday when I was in this for automobiles from farm sources all over little village of Nayla. And there was a com- the world. puter hook-up to the State and Federal Gov- It will change the world in the next 5 years ernment so that all the people could come about as much as the Internet has changed in and find out what all the services were it in the last 5, and it will do nothing but that were available to them. And there were help India. It would reduce the pressures on printouts so that the women could get actual your people to continue practices that lead prints that they could take home that would to soil erosion or the loss of precious species. tell them how to take better care of their Yesterday I went to the Ranthambhore children. National Park and I saw two magnificent And some day every village will have all Bengal tigers, one, a vast male tiger named the educational software available anywhere Boomerang—interesting name for a tiger— in the world on it, so that in the poorest vil- [laughter]—and the other a female tiger. lages of India or Africa or China or Latin Rather like often happens, the female was America, people will be able to print out for doing all the work in this setting. [Laughter] their school children the most modern edu- She was stalking a herd of deer. And it was cational materials available anywhere, so that an amazing sight to behold. people in the poorest villages of the world Already this year, 20 tigers have been will have access to the same learning mate- killed in India, even though it is not legal rials that the people in the richest schools to do so. All these competing economic pres- in the United States or any other country sures. I hope all of you will help to preserve have today. your tiger population. It’s an important part

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of India’s heritage. But I think we all under- much what your caste or tribe was. And they stand that the stronger and more diversified were rather proud of the fact that women the economy gets, the easier it will be to pre- as well as men were in the government and serve the species, to preserve the environ- that their positions were, to some extent, ment, to restore the magnificent historical guaranteed. And they couldn’t even remem- and cultural artifacts that dot the countryside ber why they didn’t want to have dinner to- in every part of this magnificent country. gether anymore. So we have a lot at stake in this. So does This may seem small to you, but if you the United States. We have in Silicon Valley have seen people like I have seen them— alone 750 companies started by Indian- a widow in Rwanda who woke up to see her Americans—750 in Silicon Valley alone. We husband and six children cut to death all have seen the country literally transformed around her, just because of the tribe they because of the infusion of new talent from were in; if you had been in the refugee camps people from all over the world. But we have that I’ve been in, in the Balkans in Bosnia been especially blessed by people from India and Kosovo, to see people run out just be- and, indeed, from throughout South Asia. cause of their religious faith—it is not some- And as I look at the world of tomorrow— thing to be lightly discarded. If you can figure a world that I hope will be characterized by out how to take what I saw yesterday at the peace and prosperity; by a genuine commit- village level and keep working until you reach ment to the dignity of all people; by societies some sort of acceptable accommodation on which celebrate their ethnic, their racial, the other larger problems on this subconti- their tribal, their religious diversity, but are nent, there’s no stopping you. bound together by a common acceptance I really do believe that if India—and, of that the humanity we all share is even more course, as I said in my speech to the Par- important than the differences among us— liament, you’ll have to make all these deci- I know the world will never be that way un- less South Asia is that way. sions yourself. And we don’t agree on every And I have seen in these local experiments issue, and we shouldn’t. And friends don’t in India something I wish for all the world. have to agree on every issue. They just have Yesterday, in that little village where I am to have an honest relationship about it. And known now only for dancing not very well then whoever is supposed to make the deci- with the village women, I talked to people sion has to make the decision. But I do be- on the local government council who told me lieve if we can lead the region—or you can— that they now had 10 of their tribes and away from the proliferation of dangerous castes represented in their local government, weapons, toward the proliferation of new that for the first time in the history of the ideas, new companies, and new technologies; village, people from different groups were away from the kind of racial and ethnic ten- regularly dining together. sions that we see now in the trouble spots Now, it seems like a little thing, but if you in South Asia, toward the sort of harmony consider the fact that 800,000 people, more I saw in that little village yesterday, then the or less, were killed in the Rwandan tribal dreams that your Chief Minister spoke of are wars in the space of 100 days, that a million well within your grasp. people were driven from their homes in I believe that if we work together to turn Kosovo simply because they were Muslim in our common vision into common progress, a country that was mostly Serbian and Ortho- to educate our children as partners, to fight dox Christian, that the Irish Troubles have disease as partners, to protect our environ- been going on for 30 years, and in the Middle ment as partners, to expand commerce as East people still die because of their faith partners, to lift the lives of the poorest among and ethnic background, and I could go on us as partners, to fight terrorism and work and on and on—it was a truly remarkable for tolerance as partners, I believe if we do thing to see that, in a local community in that then what Gandhi said of India so long India, people were worried about how they ago will certainly be true. He once said, ‘‘It could get clean water, and it didn’t matter is my conviction that India, numbering one-

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fifth of the human race, can be a great force The President announced his intention to of service to the whole of mankind.’’ nominate Lawrence George Rossin to be If we have the right kind of partnership Ambassador to Croatia. and the best of India that I have seen in these The President announced his intention to last few days becomes the guiding force for nominate Nuria I. Fernandez to be Adminis- all of India, then Gandhi’s cherished hope trator at the Federal Transit Administration. will become the accepted reality for your The President announced his intention to children and America’s children in this new nominate John A. White to be a member of century. the National Science Board. Thank you, and God bless you. The President announced his intention to nominate Bruce Sundlun to be a member NOTE: The President spoke at 7:45 p.m. at the of the National Security Education Board. Stock Exchange. In his remarks, he referred to The President announced that Secretary G.P. Goenka, president, Federation of Indian of Health and Human Services Donna Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Vilasrao Shalala appointed 10 members of the Presi- Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Frank dential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. G. Wisner, director and vice chairman, external affairs, American International Group, Inc.; Rich- ard F. Celeste, U.S. Ambassador to India; and March 21 Naresh Chandra, Indian Ambassador to the In the morning, the President participated United States. in a wreath-laying and tree-planting cere- mony at the Gandhi Memorial at Rajghat Samadhi. In the evening, the President met with President Kircheril Narayanan in the North Digest of Other Drawing Room at Rashtrapati Bhavan. White House Announcements The President announced his intention to nominate Arthur C. Campbell to be Assistant Secretary for Economic Development at the The following list includes the President’s public Department of Commerce. schedule and other items of general interest an- The White House announced that the nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and President will travel to Muscat, Oman, to not included elsewhere in this issue. meet with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on March 25. March 18 In the afternoon, the President traveled to March 22 Aviano Air Base, Italy, arriving the following In the afternoon, the President traveled to morning. Agra, India, and in the evening, he traveled to Jaipur, India. March 19 The President announced his intention to In the morning, the President had a tele- nominate Gordon S. Heddell to be Inspector phone conversation with President Hugo General for the Department of Labor. Chavez of Venezuela from Aviano Air Base. The President announced his intention to Later, he traveled to New Delhi, India. nominate Ella Wong-Rusinko to be Alternate Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Re- March 20 gional Commission. In the morning, the President traveled to The President announced his intention to Dhaka, Bangladesh. nominate Julio F. Mercado to be Deputy In the evening, the President met sepa- Administrator of the Drug Enforcement rately with Bangladesh National Party oppo- Administration at the Department of Justice. sition leader Khaleda Zia and President Jus- The President announced his intention to tice Shahabuddin Ahmed at the Pan Pacific appoint Nancy K. Hatamiya as a member of Sonargaon Hotel. Later, he returned to New the Parents Advisory Council on Youth Drug Delhi, India. Abuse.

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The President announced his intention to be Director General of the Foreign Service, appoint J. Richard Thesing as a member of vice Edward William Gnehm, Jr. the Architectural and Transportation Bar- riers Compliance Board (the Access Board). John McAdam Mott, The President announced his intention to of the District of Columbia, to be an Asso- reappoint Lorenzo H. Aguilar-Melantzon ciate Judge of the Superior Court of the Dis- and Ruth Luckasson as members of the trict of Columbia for the term of 15 years, President’s Committee on Mental Retarda- vice Truman Aldrich Morrison III, retired. tion. Bernard Daniel Rostker, March 23 of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense In the afternoon, the President toured the for Personnel and Readiness, vice Rudy de Amber Fort. Leon. The President announced his intention to nominate Gregory G. Govan for rank of Am- Submitted March 22 bassador during his tenure of service as Chief Delegate to the Joint Consultative Commis- Arthur C. Campbell, sion of the Treaty on Conventional Armed of Tennessee, to be Assistant Secretary of Forces in Europe. Commerce for Economic Development (new The President announced the nomination position). of Manuel Trinidad Pacheco to be a member of the National Security Education Board. Nuria I. Fernandez, of Illinois, to be Federal Transit Adminis- March 24 trator, vice Gordon J. Linton, resigned. In the morning, the President traveled to Hyderabad, India, and in the afternoon, he Lawrence George Rossin, traveled to Mumbai, India. of California, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- potentiary of the United States of America Nominations to the Republic of Croatia. Submitted to the Senate Bruce Sundlun, of Rhode Island, to be a member of the Na- The following list does not include promotions of tional Security Education Board for a term members of the Uniformed Services, nominations of 4 years, vice Eamon M. Kelly, term ex- to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- pired. eign Service officers. John A. White, Jr., Submitted March 20 of Arkansas, to be a member of the National Science Board, National Science Founda- Gregory Robert Dahlberg, tion, for a term expiring May 10, 2006 (re- of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of the appointment). Army, vice Bernard Daniel Rostker. Submitted March 23 William A. Eaton, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Gordon S. Heddell, Foreign Service, class of Counselor, to be an of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Depart- Assistant Secretary of State (Administration), ment of Labor, vice Charles C. Masten, re- vice Patrick Francis Kennedy. signed. Marc Grossman, Julio F. Mercado, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator of Foreign Service, class of Career Minister, to Drug Enforcement, vice Donnie R. Marshall.

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Manuel Trinidad Pacheco, trator Brady Anderson on initiatives in Ban- of Arizona, to be a member of the National gladesh Security Education Board for a term of 4 Transcript of a press briefing by National Se- years (reappointment). curity Adviser Samuel Berger on the Presi- Steven S. Reed, dent’s meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh of Kentucky, to be U.S. Attorney for the Nasina of Bangladesh Western District of Kentucky for the term Fact sheet: Helping To Eliminate Child of 4 years, vice Walter Michael Troop, re- Labor and Improve the Lives of Working signed. People in Bangladesh Beth Susan Slavet, Released March 21 of Massachusetts, to be Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, vice Ben- Transcript of a press briefing by Secretary jamin Leader Erdreich, resigned. of State Madeleine Albright on the Presi- dent’s visit to India Ella Wong-Rusinko, Statement by the Press Secretary on the at- of Virginia, to be Alternate Federal Cochair- tack on a village in Kashmir man of the Appalachian Regional Commis- sion, vice Hilda Gay Legg, resigned. Statement by the Press Secretary announcing the President’s upcoming visit to Oman Fact sheet: The U.S. and India: Concrete Steps To Improve Economic Relations Checklist Fact sheet: The U.S. and India: Promoting of White House Press Releases Democracy in Asia and Beyond Released March 22 The following list contains releases of the Office of the Press Secretary that are neither printed as Transcript of a press briefing by NSC Senior items nor covered by entries in the Digest of Director for Environmental Affairs Ian Other White House Announcements. Bowles on the Indo-U.S. Joint Statement on Energy and the Environment Released March 18 Fact sheet: Combating Trafficking in Women Transcript of a press briefing by Chief of and Children in South Asia Staff John Podesta and National Economic Fact sheet: President Clinton’s India Trip: Council Director Gene Sperling on the Protecting the Environment, Promoting President’s announcement on oil prices Clean Energy Development, and Combating Released March 19 Global Warming Statement by the Press Secretary announcing Announcement of nomination for U.S. Attor- cancellation of the President’s planned visit ney for the Western District of Kentucky to Joypura, India Released March 23 Fact sheet: Promoting Clean Energy Devel- Fact sheet: The Clinton Administration: opment in Bangladesh Helping To Protect India’s Endangered Fact sheet: Food Assistance for the People Tigers and Elephants of Bangladesh Released March 24 Fact sheet: Helping Bangladesh To Conserve Fact sheet: New Financing To Expand India- Its Tropical Forests U.S. Trade Announcement: Official Delegation Accom- Fact sheet: President Clinton Announces panying the President to South Asia Internet for Economic Development Assist- Released March 20 ance for India Transcript of a press briefing by U.S. Agency Fact sheet: India and the United States: Part- for International Development Adminis- ners for a Healthy World

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Announcement: Special Envoy MacKay Acts Approved Heads U.S. Delegation to the Peru-Ecuador by the President Consultative Group Meeting, and Attends the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank in New Orleans NOTE: No acts approved by the President were received by the Office of the Federal Register during the period covered by this issue.

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