ACCESSION
NUMBER:326427
FILE ID:NEA303
DATE:02/09/94
TITLE:WHITE HOUSE REPORT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 (02/09/94)
TEXT:*94020907.POL
*NEA303 02/09/94 *
WHITE HOUSE REPORT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
(Arab boycott, House banking committee) (720)
CLINTON SEEKS END TO ARAB BOYCOTT
President Clinton told members of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) --
including the president of the Jewish community in Sarajevo -- that Arab
nations should end their boycott of Israel and treat Tel Aviv as a partner,
not a "pariah."
"To achieve our goal of a comprehensive settlement," the president said, "we
are insisting that the Arab boycott of Israel end now. There must be a
commitment to a new era of peace and prosperity which sees in the Middle
East partnership with Israel. Israel must be the partner of these nations,
no longer a pariah."
Clinton told the WJC that he has made progress in the past year on the three
"pillars" of U.S. policy in the region, including minimizing the risks for
peace taken by Israeli officials. "I have tried to do that," he said.
"The prime minister is fulfilling his commitment (to take risks for peace),
and we are keeping ours -- our commitment to maintaining and enhancing the
security of Israel is ironclad."
U.S. policy, he said, also seeks "successful implementation" of the
Israeli-Palestinian declaration of principles signed at the White House
last year. "Both sides," he said, "now have to begin to implement the
agreement on the ground, and we are working hard to support that without
interfering with it. Implementing the agreement on the ground is the only
way to show the Israelis the agreement can enhance their security while
1roviding a more normal life of more self-government for their Palestinian
neighbors."
U.S. policy in the region is also focused on getting the Mideast
negotiations "back on track," Clinton said, characterizing the effort to
"help Syria and Israel make peace" as "the biggest challenge this year."
He said his meeting with Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad last month in Geneva
"was designed to help achieve that goal," adding that the Syrian leader's
statement that Damascus wants peace with Israel broke "new ground." Syria,
Clinton declared, must still "demonstrate that it wants a full and
meaningful peace to achieve the confidence of the people of Israel to make
such a peace possible."
The president said he welcomed Syria's decision to provide exit visas to
Jews who wish to leave the country, adding he understands the visa process
"is now virtually completed."
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
HOUSE BANKING COMMITTEE'S ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED MATERIAL RESTORED
The Office of the Press Secretary on February 8 released the following
statement by the Press Secretary:
(BEGIN TEXT)
President Clinton on February 4, restored the access of the House Banking
Committee to classified material and ordered relevant federal agencies to
declassify certain Iraq-related documents requested by the Committee.
In a letter to Banking Committee Chairman Henry Gonzalez, the President
said: "I am very pleased to tell you that in view of your October 28 letter
and your pledge to protect the confidentiality of classified information
provided by the Administration, we have decided, effective immediately, to
restore fully your Committee's access to classified information. This
action will resolve an unfortunate and long-standing difficulty that has
severely interfered in the Committee's relations with the executive
branch."
Accordingly, the President has directed relevant agencies of the federal
government to provide the Committee access to the classified information it
has requested in connection with its investigation of BNL and pre-war
policy toward Iraq. Consistent with past practice and policy, access will
be subject to arrangements to protect intelligence sources and methods, as
well as on-going law enforcement investigations.
The President also ordered relevant federal agencies to declassify and
disclose to the public Iraq-related documents requested by the Committee
concerning the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL), Cardoen, Matrix-Churchill,
Gerald Bull and U.S. policy toward Iraq immediately preceding the Persian
Gulf War. The President also indicated that agencies will review for
declassification other specific documents identified by the Committee as
necessary to carry out the purposes of its investigation. The
Administration will declassify these documents to the maximum extent
possible, excluding from public release only: (1) material that must remain
classified; (2) material whose disclosure would compromise privacy rights;
and (3) material that reveals executive branch deliberations.
(END TEXT)
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