pd05jn00 United States-European Union Summit Statement on a New World Trade...

	Web GovRecords.org

members. We have had partnerships with dozens of new democracies, 
stretching all the way to central Asia. We have specific agreements with 
Ukraine and Russia. And I think we will have to continue to modernize 
the structure of NATO as we go along.
    And I think more and more, the countries against whom NATO was once 
organized--that is, Russia and other members of part of the former 
Soviet bloc--will see NATO as a partner, not a former adversary, and you 
will see further integration and further cooperation. That's what I 
believe will happen.

European Union

    Q. Yes, I'll start with Mr. President. Now that you are formally a 
European, considering Mr. Prodi has given you the qualification, I just 
wanted to ask you how do you feel about the position that's been 
expressed by some members of your administration that there is really 
not an adequate counterpart when they have to deal, for example, on 
economic and financial matters? That there is a Europe, but there are no 
ministers. Every 6 months you meet a different President of the European 
Union. Do you feel that it would be better for Europe as a whole to move 
further ahead into further integration, expressing better and with more 
determination their position?
    And the same question is for Mr. Prodi and for Mr. Guterres. Mr. 
Prodi, I know you've been attacked and some people have been saying that 
Europe is really moving back into some kind of national environment, a 
national policy. Isn't that a negative development?
    Thank you.

[[Page 1254]]

    President Clinton. Well, first, I think it's entirely a question for 
Europeans to determine, how they should organize themselves and at what 
pace this integration should proceed. But if you look at the roles now 
occupied, for example, by Mr. Solana and Mr. Patten, if you look at the 
work that the EU has done to get our common endeavors energized in 
Kosovo, for example, just in the last few months, I think you have to 
say that the European Union is growing stronger, not weaker, and that 
it's growing more effective.
    How you should proceed from here depends upon, I think, both the 
attitudes of the leaders as well as popular opinion and will be 
determined in no small measure by what the specific circumstances are 
confronting Europe in the next 4, 5 to 10 years.
    But as an outsider, let me just say, I think that whenever something 
is in the process of being born, being formed, maturing, and you want to 
understand it and then explain it to other people, which is what your 
job is--since you're in the media, you have to first understand it and 
explain it to other people--there is always the tendency to see in any 
specific event evidence of a pattern which shows either that there's 
backsliding or accelerating, going forward. I think you have to resist 
that a little bit now because, really, history has no predicate for the 
European Union. Even the formation of the United States out of the 
various States is not the same thing. And we had quite a period of time 
before we had a National Government, when we were sort of a nation and 
we sort of weren't, when we were sort of together and we sort of 
weren't, in a much simpler time, when the States had nothing like the 
history all the nations of Europe have.
    So I think that we all have to have a little humility here and let 
this thing sort of unfold as history, popular opinion, and the vision of 
the leaders dictate. But I take it, from my point of view as an 
American, I think that so far all the developments on balance are very 
positive. I believe we want a strong and united Europe that is 
democratic and secure and a partner with us for dealing with the world's 
challenges of the future. So I think it's going in the right direction, 
and I think it's a very good thing.
    President Prodi. Well, on my side, the answer is very simple. You 
know that the rotation of power is as ancient as ancient Rome, you know, 
and Rome became Rome and it began with the rotation of 6 months, as we 
are doing now. [Laughter] But I can also add there is a rotation of the 
President's Council, but there is no rotation of the President of the 
Commission. And so there is some stability in this, on this power.
    But I will tell you something more, just a hint, joining what Bill 
Clinton told now--look, let's stay on the path. Let's stick on the 
facts. The enlargement, resting on the facts, never happened in history 
to put together 11 currencies, you know. Let's stick on the facts--never 
happen in history to enlarge this democratic process as we are doing 
now.
    I'm touring every day in the new applying countries. And to see 12 
parliaments working day and night to apply the new legislation, to 
conform to the European legislation, is something that it makes 
different with history. This is what is happening now. And so I am not 
only confident that Europe is strong, but Europe will be the real new 
event of the democracy of the 21st century.
    Prime Minister Guterres. If I may add something. I think we have 
achieved a lot, but we are not satisfied. We are going on. We have an 
intergovernmental conference taking place now to improve our efficiency 
in decisionmaking, our democracy, our transparency, and to make sure 
we'll be able to cope with enlargement and, at the same time, to deepen 
our integration.
    And if one looks back at the recent Lisbon extraordinary summit, I 
have to recognize that I, myself, was not expecting the European Union 
to be able to take so many policy decisions in so many relevant matters 
in such a quick frame of time, which proves that when we want--when we 
have the political will to do that, we really can have good decisions, 
quick decisions, and can find the right path.
    So I'm very optimistic about the future of Europe, and I think my 
optimism is shared by all those that want to join the European Union at 
this moment.

[[Page 1255]]

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, it's been a very busy couple of weeks in the 
Middle East, as you know. I'm wondering whether what's happened there 
recently has created any new opportunities for the peace process, what 
dangers it might have raised, and whether anything that's happened there 
has given you new hope that the September 13th deadline for a 
Palestinian-Israeli agreement will be reached?
    President Clinton. Well, I think the decision of Prime Minister 
Barak to withdraw the Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, in 
accordance with the United Nations resolution, was, first of all, a 
daring one which creates both new challenges and new opportunities. It 
changed the landscape. And from my point of view, it imposes on--it 
should impose, at least, on all parties a greater sense of urgency, 
because things are up in the air again. So there is an opportunity, to 
use a much overworked phrase, to create a new order, to fashion a new 
peaceful order out of the principles of the Oslo accord and all that's 
been done in the year since.
    But from my point of view, it also imposes a much greater sense of 
urgency. I think the consequences of inaction are now likely to be more 
difficult because of this move. And so--for example, you have now--just 
for example, you talked about the Palestinians. I think this will 
heighten the anxieties of the Palestinians in Lebanon. Does this mean 
that there is going to be a peace and, therefore, they will be able to 
have a better life, either going home or going to some third country, 
going to Europe, going to the United States? Or does this mean that this 
is it, and there is sort of a new freezing of the situation? So there is 
anxiety in that community. You see that in every little aspect of this.
    I think on balance it's good, because I believe they are going to 
reach an agreement. But it both turns the tension up in all camps and 
increases the overall price of not reaching an agreement fairly soon and 
the overall reward of reaching an agreement fairly soon. It changes 
everything in a way that both increases the pluses and increases the 
potential minuses. That's my analysis.
    Q. President Clinton, sir, can you confirm if it's true that 
tomorrow you will meet in Lisbon with Prime Minister from Israel, Ehud 
Barak?
    President Clinton. Yes. I will, and I'm going to talk to Mr. Arafat 
before that, sometime today.
    Yes.

Indonesia

    Q. Mr. President, I'm from Indonesia. Since in the senior level 
group it was mentioned the coordinated support for the President, Wahid, 
and Indonesian Government, how do you feel the political and economic 
development in Indonesia?
    Thank you.
    President Clinton. Well, first, I think it's worth pointing out that 
it's the largest Muslim country in the world, one of the handful of 
nations which will determine much of the shape of the 21st century the 
next 30 or 40 years by whether it does well or does poorly. So I think 
that everything that has been done to try to stabilize the country 
politically and get back to economic growth is a plus.
    And I suppose, like any outsider, my only wish is that more could be 
done more quickly, because so many people within Indonesia's lives are 
at stake, and the rest of us, we really need you to succeed.
    Prime Minister Guterres. If I may say something that might sound 
surprising to you--probably before this press conference ends, our 
Minister of Foreign Affairs will fly to Jakarta. And under the 
Portuguese Presidency of the European Union, it will be held, the first 
political dialog between Indonesia and the European Union. And that also 
shows the attachment we have in the European Union for democracy, peace, 
and stability in Indonesia.

Russia

    Q. The New York Times. Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. President, could you 
share with us your impressions of President Putin and the extent to 
which you see any prospects for some flexibility on a political solution 
in Chechnya? And President Clinton, could you kindly expand a bit on 
your discussions today about Russia? And on the eve of your trip to 
Russia, do you foresee any progress on any bilateral issue, including 
arms control, Chechnya, corruption?

[[Page 1256]]

    Prime Minister Guterres. Well, in our last meeting in Moscow, I must 
say that I was quite impressed by President Putin's determination in 
creating in Russia a democratic state based on the market economy and 
rule of law. It was also clear, from our point of view, that even if our 
views about Chechnya are different, he said--and he said publicly--that 
he was committed to a political solution. And he also announced his firm 
support to the inquiries to be made by an independent committee, his 
will to see the OSC back, and to give better support to international 
organizations involved in humanitarian help. And he even stressed in the 
press conference that there would be people prosecuted for violations of 
human rights in Chechnya.
    So even if this does not correspond entirely to what we think, it 
really shows a move and a step which I believe is in a positive 
direction.
    President Prodi. I confirm that there was a precise engagement on 
concrete decision to make inspections and transparency more visible in 
Chechnya for the immediate weeks, for the time that is in front of us.
    Last question.
    President Clinton. Wait, she asked me a question. Let me just say 
this, to start with a negative and end with a positive, I would be 
surprised if we bridge all of our differences on Chechnya, and I would 
be surprised if we resolved all of our differences on the question of 
missile defense, although we might make more headway than most people 
expect. I'm just not sure yet.
    However, I do expect that there will be two or three other areas 
where we will have truly meaningful announcements that I think will make 
a real difference--one of them, in particular, we're working on it. If 
we get it done, it will be very, very important.
    So I think the trip is well worth it, and even in the areas where we 
may not have an agreement, in some ways that may be the most important 
reason for the trip of all. We shouldn't only do these trips and these 
dialogs when we know we've got a guaranteed outcome. Sometimes it's most 
important to be talking when there's still unresolved differences.

Upcoming Meeting With Prime Minister Ehud Barak of Israel

    Q. Mr. President, can you please explain the timing and reasoning 
behind your visit tomorrow with Barak and tell us what you hope to 
accomplish?
    President Clinton. Yes. They have--first of all, all the balls are 
up in the air as I just explained, and so there is both greater 
potential for something happening and also greater tension in the 
atmosphere, which is causing a ripple effect in the relationship between 
the Israelis and the Palestinians.
    Secondly, Mr. Barak and Mr. Arafat have set for themselves an 
earlier timetable, as you know, to reach a framework agreement--not a 
final agreement; that's supposed to be done in September--but an earlier 
one. And there are lots of things that need to be gone through that we 
need to go through if we're even going to reach the framework agreement, 
because a lot of the toughest things have to be--they'll have to come to 
grips with those just to reach the framework agreement.
    So I have been looking for an opportunity to meet with Prime 
Minister Barak. As you know, he was supposed to come to the United 
States a few days ago, and because of developments in the region, he 
could not come. Then he was going to come to Germany and participate in 
an event to which he was invited anyway, and we were going to talk, and 
then he couldn't do that because of a holiday in Israel. So this was the 
only shot we had to do it and still have enough time to meet the 
deadline that both he and Mr. Arafat are trying to meet.
    There's no--you shouldn't overread this. It's not like there's some 
bombshell out there. But we just really needed to have a face-to-face 
meeting, and we needed to do it in this time frame. He couldn't come 
last week to the United States. Then he couldn't come to Berlin to the 
meeting to which he was also invited. So we're doing the best we can 
with a difficult situation.
    Prime Minister Guterres. Ladies and gentlemen, I must confess I have 
enjoyed sometime ago very much a picture called ``NeverEnding Story,'' 
but I don't think we can repeat that picture and transform this press 
conference in a new version. So, thank you very much, all of you.

[[Page 1257]]

Note: The President's 190th news conference began at 2:49 p.m. at the 
Palacio Nacional de Queluz. The President met with Prime Minister 
Antonio Guterres of Portugal in his capacity as President of the 
European Council and President Romano Prodi of the European Commission. 
A portion of Prime Minister Guterres' remarks were in Portuguese and 
were translated by an interpreter. In the news conference, the following 
people were referred to: Commissioner Christopher Patten of the European 
Commission; High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security 
Policy Javier Solana of the European Council; President Vladimir Putin 
of Russia; Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority; Minister 
of Foreign Affairs Jaime Gama of Portugal; and President Abdurrahman 
Wahid of Indonesia.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 1257]
 
Monday, June 5, 2000
 
Volume 36--Number 22
Pages 1241-1269
 
Week Ending Friday, June 2, 2000
 
Statement on the Death of Governor Robert P. Casey

May 31, 2000

    Hillary and I were saddened to learn of the death of Governor Bob 
Casey. Over the many years I knew him, I came to admire his toughness, 
tenacity, and commitment to principle. Those are the qualities that 
helped the son of a mule tender in the coal mines of northeastern 
Pennsylvania lead a life of dedicated public service, culminating in two 
successful terms as Governor.
    Throughout his career, Bob fought tirelessly for the people of 
Pennsylvania, never losing sight of the poor and their children. That 
devotion was reflected in his support of universal health care, tougher 
environmental laws, expanded educational opportunity, and strong labor 
protections.
    As Governors, Bob and I worked together on many of these causes. And 
when we disagreed, I understood that his views were based on deep 
religious beliefs and a commitment to his convictions.
    Hillary and I send our thoughts and prayers to his wife, Ellen, and 
the entire Casey family.


<DOC>

Other Popular 2000 Presidential Documents Documents:

Other Documents:

2000 Presidential Documents Records and Documents