THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Guatemala City, Guatemala)

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For Immediate Release

March 10, 1999

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
UPON ARRIVAL

Casa Presidencia
Guatemala City, Guatemala


4:15 P.M. (L)

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, representatives of the Guatemalangovernment and people, we thank you for your warm welcome. I am honored to havethe chance to be greeted here, in a place that recalls both Guatemala'sculturalheritage and its past of conflicts and pain.

And I am especially grateful for the chance to meet you today, at a timewhen Guatemala is building a future of democracy, reconciliation and peace. Youhave ended a cruel war. You have given your people -- all your people -- achance to shape their destiny and to stand on their own. You have facedthepast with candor and found the courage to move forward. You are teachingtheworld that no conflict is so bitter, no gulf is so wide that it cannot beovercome by the power of the government and by people of good will.

In a few moments I will have the opportunity to discuss with abroadrange of Guatemalan citizens the progress of peace in your country. I willreaffirm America's commitment to shed light on the dark events of the past, sothat they are never repeated, and to help you implement the peace accordsin away that ensures that the human rights of the Guatemalan people are alwaysrespected.

Tomorrow, I will meet with President Arzu and we will join with theleaders of Central America in a summit in Antigua, to continue our effortstobuild in this hemisphere a community of true democracies in which all ournations finally can prosper together. That is our common goal. Lolograremoscomo socios y como amigos.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

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