Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 / Oct. 16 2065

Thank you, and God bless you. Proclamation 7142—National Forest Products Week, 1998 NOTE: The President spoke at 10:36 a.m. in the October 16, 1998 Rose Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to John Hume, leader, Social Demo- By the President of the United States cratic and Labor Party, and David Trimble, First of America Minister, Northern Ireland Assembly, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates; Sinn Fein leader and Northern Ireland Assembly member Gerry A Proclamation Adams; Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland; Our Nation has been blessed with abun- Prime Minister Tony Blair and Secretary of State dant natural resources, and among the most for Northern Ireland Marjorie Mowlam of the precious of these are our forests. Because United Kingdom; Deputy First Minister Seamus forests cover about one-third of the land area Mallon of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and of the United States, their splendor is not former Senator George J. Mitchell, who chaired limited to one region, but is shared by our the multiparty peace talks in Northern Ireland. entire country. All Americans can experience the variety and beauty of our forests, parks, and woodlands and share the joys of hiking, Statement Announcing the Award of camping, bird watching, and other rec- the Presidential Medal of Freedom reational activities. Likewise, all Americans to Chancellor Helmut Kohl of benefit from the essentials for life that forests Germany provide: clean water, clean air, soil stability, pollution reduction, and a rich habitat for October 16, 1998 plants and animals. Forests also supply us with products vital to our society and econ- I am very pleased to announce my inten- omy, from building materials to paper prod- tion to award the Presidential Medal of Free- ucts to medicines. dom to Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Fed- Maintaining the health of our Nation’s for- eral Republic of Germany. The Medal of ests is an important and delicate task. As we Freedom is this Nation’s highest civilian continue to grow, both in terms of population honor, and it is a fitting tribute to the extraor- and in land developed, we put increased dinary accomplishments of Chancellor Kohl. pressure on our forests and woodland areas. Throughout his 16-year tenure as leader In the past, such growth occurred without of Germany, Chancellor Kohl has made his- regard to its impact and often threatened the toric contributions to the cause of peace and very existence of our forests and the diverse freedom in Europe and around the world. wildlife they support. Learning from our mis- With uncommon vision and unstinting cour- takes, today we use wise forest management age, he led the reunification of Germany strategies and careful stewardship to ensure while pushing deeper European integration, that our forests will remain both healthy and bolstered transatlantic solidarity, and pro- productive. moted the cause of democracy everywhere. Such management requires strong co- Americans are grateful for the untiring ef- operation among private citizens, govern- forts of this inspiring leader, who will rank ment agencies, and the forestry industry. among those who changed the course of his- Half of our Nation’s forestlands belong to private landowners, the Federal Government tory. and State governments own 40 percent, and Helmut Kohl has been a lifelong friend the forest products industry owns the re- of the United States and has personally com- maining 10 percent. All three groups have mitted himself to the enduring partnership been working together to ensure the sustain- of our two countries. On behalf of all Ameri- able development of our forests and wood- cans, it is my profound pleasure to honor him lands. State Foresters and Cooperative State with this symbol of our Nation’s high esteem Extension Agents, with assistance from the and deep appreciation. U.S. Department of Agriculture, play a vital

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role in this endeavor, helping private land- October 13 owners properly manage their forestlands In the afternoon, the President traveled to through technical assistance, educational Silver Spring, MD, and later, he returned to programs, and voluntary incentives. Working Washington, DC. in partnership, government, industry, and private citizens are making progress in the October 14 vital task of preserving the health of Ameri- The President announced his intention to ca’s forests and woodlands while providing nominate John C. Truesdale to be a member essential products to the American people. of the National Labor Relations Board. To recognize the importance of our forests The President declared a major disaster in in ensuring the long-term welfare of our Na- Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supple- tion, the Congress, by Public Law 86–753 ment State and local recovery efforts in the (36 U.S.C. 163), has designated the week be- area struck by severe storms and flooding on ginning on the third Sunday in October of October 4–11. each year as ‘‘National Forest Products The President declared a major disaster in Week’’ and has authorized and requested the Kansas and ordered Federal aid to supple- President to issue a proclamation in observ- ment State and local recovery efforts in the ance of this week. area struck by severe storms, flooding, and Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, tornadoes on October 1–8. President of the United States of America, October 15 do hereby proclaim October 18 through Oc- In the afternoon, the President traveled to tober 24, 1998, as National Forest Products Wye Mills, MD. In the evening, he held sep- Week. I call upon all Americans to observe arate meetings with Chairman Yasser Arafat this week with appropriate ceremonies and of the Palestinian Authority and Prime Min- activities. ister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel in the In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set Commons Room at the Wye River Con- my hand this sixteenth day of October, in ference Center. the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and Later, the President hosted a dinner for ninety-eight, and of the Independence of the the leaders and their delegation in the Car- United States of America the two hundred michael House at the conference center. In and twenty-third. the late evening, the President returned to William J. Clinton Washington, DC. [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, October 16 12:05 p.m., October 19, 1998] In the morning, the President traveled to NOTE: This proclamation will be published in the Chicago, IL, and in the evening, he returned Federal Register in October 20. to Washington, DC. The President declared a major disaster in Washington State and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery ef- Digest of Other forts in the area struck by a landslide in Kelso White House Announcements on March 6 and continuing.

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest an- nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and Nominations not included elsewhere in this issue. Submitted to the Senate

October 12 The following list does not include promotions of In the afternoon, the President traveled to members of the Uniformed Services, nominations New York City, and in the evening, he re- to the Service Academies, or nominations of For- turned to Washington, DC, arriving after eign Service officers. midnight.

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