THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(New York, New York)
___________________________________________________________________________
_____
For Immediate Release September 6, 2000
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON
AND PRESIDENT PUTIN
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Waldorf-Astoria
New York, New York
11:25 A.M. EDT
Q Have you any expectations?
PRESIDENT PUTIN: Only positive expectations.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: I agree with that. This is just part of our
ongoing, regular consultation. We're going to have another chance to meet
in Asia in a couple of months, and we have a lot of things to talk about.
But it's part of our continuing effort to strengthen our relationships and
to help our people.
Q (Question asked in Russian.)
PRESIDENT PUTIN: (Answers in Russian.)
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Thank you. Let me just say one thing about ABM
issue. We have worked together on nuclear issues very closely for
virtually the whole time I've been in office, and actually, for quite a
long time before that, before I became President. The decision that I made
last week on our missile defense will create an opportunity for President
Putin and the next American President to reach a common position. And I
hope they can, because I think it's very important for the future that we
continue to work together.
When we work together, we can destroy thousands of tons of nuclear
materials and lots of nuclear weapons, and work together in the Balkans for
peace. I mean, we can get a lot of things done if we work together. So I
hope that the decision that I made will enable my successor and President
Putin to resolve this issue and to continue working together on all the
arms control issues.
Q Mr. President, the deadline set by Israel and the Palestinians is
a week from today. Do you have any reason to believe that there might be
something worked out by this time, or would you like the parties to discard
the deadline?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, I haven't met with them yet, but I think
that -- I think we can work through that if there's a sense of progress.
And one of the things I hope I have a chance to talk to President Putin
about -- but I think the main thing they have to decide is whether there is
going to be an agreement within what is the real calendar, which is the
calendar that is ticking in the Middle East against the political realities
in Israel, as well as for the Palestinians. There's a limit to how long
they have, and it's not very much longer.
END 11:30 A.M. EDT
President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House | White House for Kids
White House History | White House Tours | Help
Privacy Statement