Mar. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994

Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President of March 4, 1994

Q. Mr. President, do you think Mr. Nussbaum [At this point, a question was asked in Ukrain- should resign? ian, and a translation was not provided.] The President. I’m here with President President Kravchuk. We’re just recalling our Kravchuk to discuss a lot of very important meetings, but we haven’t started talks yet. But issues. I have nothing to add to what I said we recalled our Kiev meetings. yesterday. If I have anything else to say, it will Q. What is the opinion of this meeting, Mr. be later today. I have nothing to say. Clinton? Q. ——they’ll follow through on the disman- The President. I thought they were very good tling of the nuclear warheads? meetings. We made, as you know, a very impor- The President. Yes, I think they will do exactly tant agreement which we then signed in Mos- what they said they’d do. President Kravchuk cow the next day. And I also very much enjoyed has had a good deal of success working with being in your country a brief time. We also his Rada to secure approval of a continued had a wonderful meal. And we’ll have a good denuclearization of Ukraine, and we will have meal today, but there won’t be so many courses some things to discuss about that today and as there were when we were in—[laughter] some further announcements at our public state- President Kravchuk. And the newspapers were ment in a couple of hours—we’ll have some covering it for a long time. more to say about it. The President. Yes. Q. [Inaudible]—sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Mr. President? The President. I hope they will, and I think NOTE: The exchange began at 11:42 a.m. in the they’re working toward that. Oval Office at the White House. President Kravchuk spoke in Ukrainian, and his remarks [At this point, one group of reporters left the were translated by an interpreter. A tape was not room, and another group entered.] available for verification of the content of this ex- The President. This is the Ukraine press. change.

The President’s News Conference With President Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine March 4, 1994

President Clinton. Good afternoon. It’s a great When I first met President Kravchuk in Kiev pleasure for me to welcome President Kravchuk on January 12th, the hour was late, and the and his entire delegation from Ukraine to the weather was icy. But at that brief meeting we White House today. Before I go forward, I think marked the dawn of a new and warm era in I should acknowledge the presence in the relations between the United States and Ukrainian delegation of two of the Ukraine’s Ukraine. Two days after that meeting, we signed Olympic athletes, Viktor Petrenko and the an historic accord with President Yeltsin to Olympic gold medalist in skating, Oksana Baiul. eliminate some 1,800 Soviet nuclear warheads Welcome to the United States. Please stand up. left in Ukraine. Since then, Ukraine’s Parliament [Applause] Thank you. I’m pleased that Presi- has approved the trilateral agreement and un- dent Kravchuk brought them with him today. conditionally ratified the START Treaty and the We all enjoyed meeting them, and we’re looking Lisbon Protocol. And last month, Ukraine joined forward to the entire American Olympic team the NATO Partnership For Peace. These steps being here in just a couple of weeks. represent a tribute to the statesmanship and

372 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 / Mar. 4 leadership of President Kravchuk and to the vi- ter future for all our people and for all the sion of the Ukrainian people, who understand world. I look forward to working with President that integration into a broader, peaceful, and Kravchuk in that endeavor. democratic Europe is Ukraine’s best path to last- Let me again thank the President for coming ing security and prosperity. here with the entire delegation, including his In our meeting today, I strongly reaffirmed Olympians, and to say to all the Ukrainians, American support for Ukraine’s independence, and to you especially, Mr. President, thank you sovereignty, and territorial integrity. I urged for giving us the opportunity to work together President Kravchuk to continue to work to and to make a better future for our peoples. achieve Ukraine’s accession to the Nuclear Non- President Kravchuk. Mr. President, ladies and Proliferation Treaty. We shared views on devel- gentlemen, we have just signed a number of opments in and their impact on Ukraine. important bilateral documents which lay down We discussed ways to expand cooperation be- the legal foundation for cooperation in the areas tween our two nations. At the core of our agen- of economy, trade, and other areas. That—what da is developing a closer economic relationship. happened several minutes ago before your eyes While Ukraine is going through a difficult pe- could be, without exaggeration, called a historic riod of transition, it remains a nation with enor- moment in relationship between our two states. mous economic potential, endowed with abun- Today we, in fact, turned the page of a still dant natural resources and human talent. To brief history of our bilateral relations which develop the full measure of these resources, seem to have linked us forever with colossal Ukraine’s most promising future clearly lies with and complicated problem of nuclear weapons, market reform. That’s why I was pleased that which Ukraine inherited from the former Soviet President Kravchuk today expressed his deter- Union. Although the problem remains to be as mination to move forward toward comprehen- complicated today, we managed to get closer sive market reform. to a successful resolution of this problem today. As Ukraine proceeds with reform, the United The new balance of forces on the political States is prepared to mobilize support from the map of the world clearly indicates the need to G–7 nations and from international financial in- create a global security system which would be stitutions. We’re also prepared to increase our based on entirely new principles. We understand bilateral economic assistance to $350 million this that the complicated processes of international year for privatization, small business creation, security and peace are intertwined and cannot and other priorities. And to help Ukraine dis- permit gaps and vacuum to exist in this or that mantle nuclear weapons, we’ve committed $350 part of the world, especially on the European million in Nunn-Lugar funds. Total U.S. assist- Continent. Therefore, President Bill Clinton and ance available to Ukraine this year will, there- I agreed that the political and economic security fore, be $700 million. This represents a major of Ukraine, which is playing an important stabi- increased commitment to an important friend lizing role in its area—and this idea is shared in the region. by many others—has an exceptional significance Ultimately, the best way to bolster Ukraine’s for both the people of Ukraine and for the peo- reforms is to facilitate private trade and invest- ple of the United States of America. Proceeding ment. I told President Kravchuk today that the from this basic idea, we believe that relations United States will support Ukraine’s member- between Ukraine and the United States should ship in GATT and will lower tariffs on a number develop as relationships of friendly states which of Ukrainian products. have much more common interests than con- We’ve also signed treaties to promote invest- troversies. ment and prevent double taxation. And we es- During our talks with President Clinton we tablished a joint commission on trade and invest- became confident that the American side under- ment that will strengthen further our commer- stands the problems that we have and is con- cial ties. These ties are part of a richly woven cerned over the serious economic situation in fabric that binds our two nations. Ukraine. We saw that the administration in the From the time of our own revolution, Ukrain- United States does not only welcome steps of ian immigrants have helped to shape the United the Ukrainian Government to overcome the eco- States. Now America and Ukraine are dedicated nomic crisis but also expresses readiness to pro- to building a new relationship, to shaping a bet- vide necessary assistance to Ukraine in the main

373 Mar. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 areas of economic transformation, which the Q. How about Mr. Nussbaum? President indicated. President Clinton. I have nothing more to add Today we signed a package of economic ac- to what I said yesterday. cords and agreements which I hope will help Ukraine Ukraine considerably facilitate and speed up its progress towards the market and ease the ten- Q. The Voice of Ukraine, the parliamentary sion in the economy and also the daily life of newspaper of Ukraine. It was said that the mo- the people. We are convinced that we found ment is historic in the . Is the right friend at the right time in America. this historic moment different from any other Today Ukraine is a friend in need, but it is historic moment in the history of Ukraine? a friend, indeed, as your saying goes. I believe President Kravchuk. I do understand your that the day will come when we will be remem- question. Every country lived through a historic bering these days as the era of the birth and period of—the time that we are living through formation of a true friendship between the two is very complicated. It’s a period of trans- nations and states, Ukraine and the United formation, of transfer from one system to an- States of America. other. Ukraine is in a very bad, very difficult Thank you very much for attention. situation. And friendly relationship with the President Clinton. Thank you, Mr. President. United States of America, the good neighborly Now, we’ll attempt to alternate between the relations in all areas of political and economic American press and the Ukrainian press on life, is really the true historic moment. And the questions. So we’ll start with Helen [Helen fact that United States of America and Ukraine Thomas, United Press International]. signed documents which open up the way to market reforms and stronger democracy, which Whitewater Investigation still have to take place on the territory of the Q. Mr. President, is Mr. Nussbaum leaving former republics of the former , your staff, and have you decided how you’re this is truly a historic moment. going to approach these daily spate of stories Yes, the word has its own history, but it can- concerning Whitewater—been likened in Post not be interpreted as an archaic word. This is cartoons to torture, Chinese torture, and so the word of a very high, lofty sounding. forth? Q. President Kravchuk, the Ukrainian Par- President Clinton. Well, I think that’s a deci- liament has failed to ratify the Nuclear Non- sion more for you than for me, whether there Proliferation Treaty. Are you confident that it will be a daily spate of stories. Most of the will ratify this treaty? And will the $700 million newspapers in the country asked me to have of aid that you talked about today go forward a special counsel appointed. That’s what I have if the Parliament fails to take that step? done; I did it so that I could go on with my President Clinton. First, I am confident it will work. It’s been an interesting thing since no ratify the treaty. Perhaps I should let President one has still accused me, as far as I know, of Kravchuk speak for himself on this. I believe doing anything wrong in this whole encounter. that because the Parliament has supported the So we have a Special Counsel, and I intend trilateral agreement, the START Treaty, the Lis- to let the process unfold. bon Protocol, which is the first step toward be- Yesterday, I said what I had to say about coming a nonnuclear—I mean, agreeing to the the meetings that had occurred or the conversa- Non-Proliferation Treaty. I’m also confident be- tions that had occurred. I think we have con- cause this country has already begun to imple- structed a clear and appropriate firewall be- ment its commitment to reduce the nuclear tween the White House and any Federal regu- presence. And the Nunn-Lugar funds, in par- latory agency that might have anything to do ticular, as you know, are tied to making sure with this, as I think it is absolutely imperative that countries can afford to do it and can reduce to do. And I have told again everybody on my their nuclear capacity in a technically competent staff to just bend over backwards to be as coop- and safe way. So I feel a high level of con- erative as possible. I want a full investigation. fidence in this. I want this thing to be done fully, clearly, and President Kravchuk again assured me today to be over with. That is my only interest, and that he thought the NPT would be acceded I intend to pursue it with great vigor. to by the Rada and that the real problem, the

374 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 / Mar. 4 reason it hasn’t happened just before his coming us here in the United States to note that one here, is because so many people are out cam- of the big issues when I went to Ukraine and paigning, something that we all understand in to Russia in January has been resolved, and that this country. But I think it would be good to is the question of how Ukraine will be com- let him make a comment about this. pensated for the highly enriched uranium in its President Kravchuk. The thing is that having nuclear arsenal. ratified START I and removing the reservations Q. [Inaudible]—your recent statement about as to Article V of the Lisbon Protocol, the the resurrection of the Russian imperialism, Ukraine has committed itself, the political com- would they bring damage to Ukraine? mitment, to accede to the NPT as a nonnuclear President Clinton. Well, the United States power. This question is now open as a commit- supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine. And ting task for Ukraine. So you shouldn’t have I personally have been very impressed that all doubts about the ratification or nonratification the parties involved in the Crimean issue seem of the NPT. As to the money which is allocated to be very responsible in their comments and to Ukraine, that money is allocated for disman- their policies recently. So I think you’re asking tling the weapons. And we have already started me a hypothetical which doesn’t seem too prob- dismantling the nuclear weapons in Ukraine. able in light of the policies and the statements Q. This is a question to President Clinton. which have been made. You have already landed in Ukraine, and that Ann [Ann Compton, ABC News]. was a very short stopover. Are you planning an official state visit to Ukraine? Terrorism President Clinton. I would very much like to Q. Mr. President, the defendants in the World come back. This year I have a full schedule Trade Center bombing were all convicted today. of travel, perhaps as much as I can accommo- Do you think Americans have any reason to date this year. But I certainly wouldn’t rule it feel any more secure against terrorism now than out. I had such a good time on my brief stay, they did one year ago? I wanted to do more and to see more. President Clinton. Well, I think the authorities Trude [Trude Feldman, Trans Features]. did a terrific job in cracking the case. And I’m Q. Mr. President, I have a question for both glad to see that it has been handled in this Presidents. Are you satisfied with the progress way. I think that the signal should go out across on removing nuclear missiles from the Ukraine the world that anyone who seeks to come to under the January Moscow agreement? this country to practice terrorism will have the President Clinton. I personally am. I think full weight of the law enforcement authorities they’re making good progress and proceeding against them, and we will do our best to crack just as they agreed to do. Obviously, there are the cases and to bring them to justice, just as always technical details to be worked out. And they have today. This will send a very important this is a delicate matter that has to be handled signal around the world. And I am very gratified with great care. But I’m personally well satisfied. by the work that was done. Mr. President, do you want to answer that question? Ukraine President Kravchuk. As I’ve already said, an- President Kravchuk. I didn’t answer the ques- swering to the part of that question, the Ukraine tion which was raised previously. I believe that has already begun the practical implementation our integration within the limits of the CIS does of that issue. But speaking more definitely, a not contradict the integration in the political whole trainload of nuclear warheads is on the and economic area with the countries that make way to Russia. The treaty has been signed be- up the New Independent States. This has been tween Russia and Ukraine because this is a joint foreseen by many documents in the CIS. issue of removing the weapons to Russia. And Ukraine does not make a task of leaving the Ukraine will fulfill its commitment. I also be- CIS or curtailing relationship with the countries lieve that other sides, other parties, would fulfill that have been created on the territory of the their obligations. And Ukraine would certainly former Soviet Union. We believe that the joint stick to its commitments. efforts of the CIS countries and their coopera- President Clinton. If I might just add one tion with the Western states will give an oppor- other thing, too. I think that it’s important for tunity to avoid the burdensome and heavy proc-

375 Mar. 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 esses which are now taking place in Russia and often complained in the past of political motiva- in many other countries. tion, I think that they would show a little more We cannot limit the process towards the proc- restraint and judgment in this case. ess in Russia or Ukraine. These are universal All I can tell you is, even the editorial writers, processes, and we have to interact on them. you know, they say, ‘‘Well, there is no evidence But there is a tendency of creating difficult Bill Clinton did anything wrong; we’re spending processes including the extremist or expansionist millions of dollars to dig around in all of this, character. There are such tendencies, but if we but no one has ever accused him of doing any- act together we would be able to avoid such thing wrong. We’re just going to do it anyway. developments. Now, they better not mess up the process.’’ So Q. Mr. President, this is the Ukrainian wire I sent the message to the people who work service. Did you discuss today with the Presi- here, ‘‘Don’t mess up the process. Nobody dent of Ukraine a question of providing addi- thinks we’ve done anything wrong, but we, be- tional material assistance to Ukraine except for cause I’m President, have had to launch this the provision of assistance for the massive, hugely expensive, unusual inquiry, denuclearization? while everybody says, ‘I really don’t think any- President Clinton. Yes, we did. And the thing happened wrong, but let’s have this mas- United States agreed to do two things. One is, sive inquiry. Now, let’s make sure they don’t we are increasing the assistance that we had mess it up, and if they do, let’s find them.’ ’’ previously pledged not only in the So I said, ‘‘Let’s don’t mess it up.’’ denuclearization area but in economic assistance I mean, I’ve made it as clear as I can: Bend as well, so that we will have about $350 million over backwards to avoid any appearance of con- in each category. flict; set up a firewall between the White House Now, over and above that, we agreed to send and any of the appropriate agencies; have a cen- an economic team to Ukraine as quickly as tral point of contact if anyone calls us. You President Kravchuk says you are ready to receive know, one of these disputed meetings arose out them to discuss what we might do to get more of press questions, for example. We have to countries involved in assisting Ukraine, and to be careful. speed up the timetable by which Ukraine can I think I have sent a very clear and unambig- receive assistance from the International Mone- uous signal that there is no point in letting a tary Fund and the World Bank. process mess this White House up when we Andrea [Andrea Mitchell, NBC News]. have not yet been accused of any wrongdoing. Since there was no wrongdoing on my part, Whitewater Investigation I want a full, complete, thorough investigation. Q. Mr. President, in Annapolis today, Repub- And I want it to go forward unimpeded and licans were calling upon Speaker Foley to hold then to be over. I think that is in the national hearings on some of these latest meetings. interest. And I’m going to do my best to make Would you object to such hearings? Do you it abundantly clear that that is precisely what think they’re necessary? And secondly, do you happens. think a stronger signal needs to be sent from Yes, sir? the White House that you are, indeed, so sen- sitive to these ethical distinctions? Do you need Ukraine to make other changes beyond the memo that Q. Mr. Clinton, the newspaper Kiev Herald. was issued yesterday? Has there been a change in the last 5 years President Clinton. Let me say, first of all, of your understanding of the Ukrainian situation it’s up to the House to do whatever they think in Europe? And if there has been a change, is appropriate to do, not for me to tell them please present your arguments. what to do. I think that it is clear that the President Clinton. Well, I’ll attempt to answer Republicans have behaved in a fairly blatant, the question as I understand it. I certainly, over bald, and totally political way in this regard. the last half year, have come to have higher And since there is no evidence of abuse of au- hopes for the prospect of a full Ukrainian part- thority on my part as President, or any of the nership in a democratic Europe where all the kinds of things for which their parties and ad- countries respect each other’s territorial integrity ministrations were accused, and since they have and work together in an atmosphere of free

376 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 / Mar. 4 markets and respect for democracy and human factor. What is your opinion on that? What rights. would be the development of that issue? I think that is due in no small measure to President Kravchuk. We should take a look the leadership of President Kravchuk in con- at Ukraine, not only from the position of today cluding the nuclear agreement with the United but also take into consideration its great eco- States and Russia and in the efforts in Ukraine nomic, spiritual, human, and natural resources. to support the START Treaty and Lisbon Pro- The relations which are now developing between tocol. I also know what a very difficult economic the United States and the Ukraine and the un- time Ukraine is going through. And I see the derstanding which President Clinton showed and beginnings of a real effort to restructure the the administration of the United States dem- economy. And I believe the United States onstrated, show that they take into account ex- should support that. actly that perspective view, not the view of today Finally, let me say one point which has not been made yet: I was very pleased that Ukraine but the view of tomorrow. so quickly accepted the invitation from NATO From that point of view, Ukraine can play to join the Partnership For Peace. This is just a great stabilizing role in the future; that is what we conceived could happen, that we could one thing. Secondly, Ukraine can, with the help literally build a united Europe where the parties of rapid economic and political reforms, can in- respect each other’s borders and integrity and troduce such principles of coexistence which are commit to work with one another to promote in the limits of highest standards. For instance, the peace and to protect the people of all the we do not have any problems with human rights countries involved. or ethnic or interethnic or international conflicts Yes, sir. in the Ukraine. We preserved the political calm and stability in the conditions when we are get- China ting ready for the elections. Q. Mr. President, Secretary of State Chris- The most important is the economic situation. topher is heading to China soon. Isn’t the Chi- If Ukraine, by itself, and with the help of the nese Government basically thumbing its nose United States and other states, will manage this at the U.S. by rounding up dissidents on the economic crisis, it would be ready to use the eve of his visit and, of course, with Congress economic potential that it has and will be able getting ready to kick around the most-favored- to perform its role in Europe. nation status? President Clinton. I wouldn’t presume to President Clinton. I agree with what President know what motivated the Chinese Government. Kravchuk said. I might just add one point. The All I can tell you is that we have sent a very United States recognizes that it is very important stern statement. We strongly disapprove of what to be supportive as Ukraine tries to reform and was done, and it obviously is not helpful to get through this period of economic transition. our relations. I have done what I could to make One of the things that we’ve been able to do it clear that the United States does not seek in the last year or so is to take a broad view to isolate China economically or politically and of the need for defense conversion measures that we want a constructive and strong relation- as the denuclearization occurs. ship with them, but that the observance of basic So, for example, tomorrow the President and human rights is an important thing to us, along the Ukrainian delegation will go and meet with with nonproliferation, along with fair trade rules. the Secretary of Defense, Secretary Perry, to And that was certainly not a helpful action. talk about what kinds of defense conversion Ukraine things, that will help the long-term Ukrainian economy, can be done as part of the process Q. Mr. President, this is Ukrainian Television. of denuclearization. And that, I think, is some I have a question to both President Kravchuk evidence that the United States believes that and President Clinton. Mr. Kravchuk, the Ukraine is living through the potential of Ukraine is enormous and that a very difficult period of time. We are very we have to have a long-term view of our part- active in the denuclearization policy, and nership. Ukraine is called at the same time the stabilizing Yes, sir.

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Singapore Caning of Michael Fay to a number of treaties, including matters re- Q. Mr. President, I’d like to ask you a ques- lated to the production in the Ukraine. So far, tion about a human rights case. An American it is very hard to answer your question. young man living in Singapore has been con- President Clinton. Yes, we discussed it and victed of petty vandalism there and sentenced we discussed it in some detail. I said that I to a caning, a punishment that is said to leave would have the United States explore two or permanent scars. This would seem to outweigh three options to see if we could find some way the crime. And since Singapore is an ally of to avert an even worse crisis. It’s a serious prob- ours, is there anything the United States can lem. We didn’t achieve a total resolution today. do about this? Thank you very much. The President. This is the first I’ve heard of it. I’ll look into it. Senate Majority Leader Rita [Rita Braver, CBS News]. Q. Mr. President, have you heard about Thank you for bringing it to my attention. George Mitchell? Q. Do you think you can work without him, Middle East Peace Process sir? Q. President Clinton, just a little while ago, President Clinton. I have. I would like to Nabil Shaat, the envoy from the PLO, said that make a statement about Senator Mitchell, if I the United Nations is close to agreement, with might. U.S. backing, on some kind of international se- We had a long talk about this last night. He curity force in the occupied territories. Can you came over for dinner and asked if he could tell us a little bit about that and what the U.S. stay afterward, and asked if I would not tell participation in that would be? anybody. So I didn’t, and it didn’t leak. President Clinton. I can’t because we haven’t I didn’t know George Mitchell very well when made the agreement yet. I can say that there I became President, and therefore I didn’t know is—I believe we have some more movement what to expect. After the last 14 months, I can in the Middle East. There is still some—I am tell you that I think he is one of the finest, encouraged in a way by what he said, but I ablest people I have ever known in any kind wouldn’t overstate it. We are continuing to inch of work. There is no doubt in my mind that ahead, but I don’t want to jump ahead of actual we would not have had the success we had developments. And I think I’d better wait and last year had it not been for his incredible per- see what actually is agreed to before I can com- sistence and patience and strength. And he will ment. be very difficult to replace. But he made this Ukraine decision, I am convinced, for exactly the reasons Q. Mr. Kravchuk, supplies of Russian gas are that he will say, as he goes home to Maine supposed to be cut off today because of to make this statement. And I think I should Ukraine’s inability to pay. Did you discuss this let him speak for himself. issue today with Mr. Clinton? And, Mr. Clinton, He is a wonderful man. He has made a very did you have any suggestions; were there any personal decision. I will miss him a lot, and moves to help Ukraine in this instance? America is deeply in his debt. President Kravchuk. Yes, I informed President Thank you. Clinton about this case. We discussed this mat- ter together, but it’s hard to tell you any definite NOTE: The President’s 51st news conference steps. But I believe that we would find a joint began at 2:10 p.m. in the East Room at the White resolution of that process because it is related House. President Kravchuk spoke in Ukrainian, not only to the economic issues but also related and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.

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