Administration of George Bush, 1991 / Apr. 17 about a U.S. military presence in the Gulf. who’s just leaving—he’s been the negotiator Their whole problem from day one, even on this, and he’s not pessimistic. But we’ve though the military would eventually be said all along that’s what it would take. used against their major enemy, Saddam But I don’t want to say that under—if Hussein—they just didn’t believe we’d those two things didn’t happen I would come out. They just didn’t believe we’d never sit down with Mr. Gorbachev. We’ve come out of the Gulf. And I would hope got a lot of common problems and con- that if they see our forces, several hundred cerns. One of them is this whole Middle thousand of them home already, I believe, East area and the problem of these refu- and more coming as rapidly as possible, gees. But I think we should keep our focus that that fear that has separated Iran from on having the summit, but having an ability the United States—one of the things that to say, hey, CFE’s in good shape and to has separated—will be allayed. And I think sign a START agreement. it will. So, that’s where I am on it. In other Mr. Fitzwater. Final question, please. words, I’m backing both of Marlin’s posi- tions. [Laughter.] Soviet-U.S. Summit Thank you all very much. Q. Mr. President, what can you tell us about the progress toward a summit? Have Note: President Bush’s 80th news conference you and President—the summit with Presi- began at 6:04 p.m. in the Briefing Room dent Gorbachev—have you and he talked? at the White House. In his remarks, he re- Is there—— ferred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; The President. Not recently. Prime Minister John Major of the United Q. What do you think are the chances? Kingdom; President Francois¨ Mitterrand of The President. Well, I like to think they’re France; President Turgut¸ Ozal of Turkey; reasonably good. There are two concerns Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany; United that he has and that I have. We both want Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de to see a CFE agreement—see that fully Cuellar de la Guerra; former President Rich- implemented. There is an agreement, but ard M. Nixon; Senator Edward M. Kennedy; they’ve backed away—in our view—backed President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet away a little bit, and we’re trying to resolve Union; and Richard R. Burt, former Chief those differences. START Negotiator. Brent Scowcroft was As- Secondly, we have predicated this par- sistant to the President for National Security ticular summit on a START agreement. But Affairs, and Marlin Fitzwater was Press Sec- we’re working at it. I talked to Rick Burt, retary to the President. Remarks at the Welcoming Ceremony for President Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua April 17, 1991 President Bush. It gives me great pleasure What a moment that was. In you we saw to welcome to the United States a woman the exhilarating victory of democracy, of of courage, a leader of conviction, a person that glorious new breeze that, in one amaz- of morality and vision: Mrs. Violeta ing year, swept out oppression and dictator- Chamorro, President of Nicaragua. ship from Prague to Managua. In you we We stand here at the White House almost saw your nation’s peacemaker, the person a year to the day after the extraordinary who would close the books on 11 years of moment when you stood at Managua’s Na- cruel civil war. tional Stadium to be sworn in as your na- In you we saw the symbol of national tion’s first freely elected President. reconciliation with the inner strength and 385 VerDate May 04 2004 11:03 Jun 23, 2004 Jkt 019194 PO 00000 Frm 00397 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 D:\91PAP1\91PAP1.007 APPS10 PsN: 91PAP1 Apr. 17 / Administration of George Bush, 1991 resolve to turn the face of your country Economic reform after years of mismanage- toward the path of healing. ment is never easy and presents challenges In you we saw what your countrymen to leadership. But sacrifice in the short run saw when they cast their ballots in their is vital to achieve long-term growth and first fair, open election. We all saw the per- development. And we hope that all ele- son who inspired her people to believe in ments of Nicaraguan society will work with the triumphant return of peace and free- you for the good of your country. dom. The Nicaraguan people do not stand On that Inauguration Day we saw Dona friendless and alone to face these chal- Violeta, candidate of compassion, become lenges. We are confident that as you con- President Chamorro, leader of reconcili- front them, all Nicaraguans will enjoy re- ation. On that day you closed a painful newed and widely shared prosperity. chapter in your nation’s history, and you began to forge a new one. The beautiful Dona Violeta, I am proud to stand with land of Ruben Dario had been exhausted you, and our nation is proud to stand by by strife, embittered by repression, polar- you. We’re offering over $500 million in ized by government attempts to dominate aid over your first 2 years as President. And every single aspect of society, impoverished we’ve joined with other developed countries by a cynical and mismanaged regime. to work with the international financial in- But you are the leader who once said: stitutions to help Nicaragua. And beyond ‘‘As a mother, I feel with great intensity aid, we’re offering opportunities for trade the obligation to teach while governing and and investment that will benefit both our to govern while forming peaceful hearts.’’ countries through the Enterprise for the And you’ve begun to bring life and dreams Americas Initiative. back to your people in your ‘‘mission to And most of all, we’re offering something help them’’—as you call it, ‘‘mission to help from our hearts to your proud country, your them.’’ Your courageous countrymen are blue and white Nicaragua, where, as your showing that they are ready to dig in and national anthem says, ‘‘the voice of the can- work hard to reap the benefits of free gov- non no longer roars.’’ We are offering you ernment and free enterprise. our respect, our admiration, and our friend- Following the course of your slogan, ‘‘Yes, ship. we can change things,’’ your reforms are As your nation renews itself under your realistic—restoration of democratic lib- leadership, the world shares the view of erties, religious freedom, economic recon- Nicaraguan poet Pablo Antonio Cuadra who struction, free-market opportunities, re- wrote about your late husband, Pedro Joa- allocation of military funds to vital economic quin, who was tragically assassinated for the and social programs, and reincorporation of pure passion of his political idealism. former combatants and refugees. Cuadra said of you: ‘‘Pedro’s flag could not But your reforms are also visionary: the be in better hands.’’ restoration of moral values and human dig- nity. The importance of an inheritance for Madam President, your nation is fortu- your children of reconciliation and respect. nate to have you as a leader. I am proud And the belief in the goodness of a people to have you as a friend. We salute you. that still turns for guidance to its patron And may God bless you and your proud saint, La Purisima. and courageous land. And welcome to the And your reforms, your ‘‘new sun of jus- United States. tice and freedom,’’ bring hope to the watch- President Chamorro. President Bush, my ing world. For with the democratization of good friend; Mrs. Barbara Bush, my good Nicaragua, we are one crucial step closer friend also; ladies and gentlemen. Many to the incredible goal of becoming this years have elapsed since the President of world’s first fully democratic hemisphere. Nicaragua has made a state visit to the We know that the tasks facing the Nica- White House. raguan people are difficult. Your economic It is a great honor for me to be here with stabilization plan requires hard choices. you this morning, for it represents the es- 386 VerDate May 04 2004 13:48 Jul 07, 2004 Jkt 019194 PO 00000 Frm 00398 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 D:\91PAP1\91PAP1.007 APPS10 PsN: 91PAP1 Administration of George Bush, 1991 / Apr. 17 tablishment of a new and precious relation- This commitment is, and will continue to ship between our two nations. The genuine be, to work towards consolidating peace, friendship extended by a noble country such strengthening our democratic institutions, as the United States deserves in turn the respecting human rights, and putting our friendship of democratic governments that economy in order. respect the rights of their people. For only I shall work toward achieving this goal in this manner can there exist a sincere without wavering, because I have adopted relationship between both nations. as my own those universal truths which As we meet today, Mr. President, it is Abraham Lincoln bequeathed to mankind: our responsibility as leaders of two demo- ‘‘a government of the people, by the people, cratic nations to begin fertilizing the seed and for the people.’’ of a new friendship, a friendship based on God bless and protect the peoples and our shared belief in democracy and mutual governments of the United States and Nica- respect.