The White House Briefing Room
October 30, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(New York, NY)
________________________________________________________For Immediate
Release October 30, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
1998 National Security Strategy Report
President Clinton has transmitted to Congress the 1998 National
Security Strategy Report, as required annually by the Goldwater-Nichols
Act. The report, entitled ?A National Security Strategy for a New
Century,? outlines the President's vision for America's role in the world.
The core objectives of US strategy are to enhance our security, bolster our
prosperity, and promote democracy and peace around the world. Central to
achieving these aims is US engagement and leadership in world affairs,
through a network of institutions and arrangements, active diplomacy and a
strong military.
This year?s report focuses particularly on two central challenges: meeting
the persistent threat of international terrorism and crime and addressing
the global financial crisis. It also reasserts the President?s long-term
vision for our role in regions around the world. Following are some of the
report?s highlights and recent steps America has taken to carry out our
strategy:
The fight against terrorism and crime. The report describes the
President?s initiatives to protect Americans against the growing
challenge of transnational threats: terrorism, organized crime and drug
trafficking. This year we have strengthened government-wide efforts to
address this challenge, with the naming of a National Coordinator to
bring the full force of our resources to bear on terrorism; targeted
efforts to protect against cyber-attacks and chemical and biological
weapons; and a comprehensive plan to fight international crime. Our
strategy also includes taking the battle directly to terrorists who
attack our citizens -- as with our military strikes in the wake of the
murders at our embassies in East Africa.
A strong global economy for the 21st Century. The report emphasizes
America?s profound interest in the health of the global economy to
provide jobs and opportunity at home. It discusses our continuing
leadership role in breaking down trade barriers and the strong steps we
have taken to address the global financial crisis. This year we have:
invited the senior financial officials of the 22 leading economies to
consider options for crisis management and reform; announced an action
plan to spur growth and stop the contagion from spreading; obtained full
funding for the IMF; and launched an effort to reshape the world?s
financial architecture. (Consistent with our strategy, today, the US
and its G-7 partners announced agreement to establish a new line of
credit to help countries with sound economic ward off the financial
crisis, and a new World Bank emergency fund to aid people most in need.)
America as an engine for peace. The report discusses America?s continuing
role in leading for peace around the world. Our recent successes in
promoting an end to conflict, from the Wye agreement for the Middle East
to the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland to the border
settlement agreement between Peru and Ecuador, are driven by a
compelling fact: Drawing on our strength and values, America can often
be a decisive force for peace.
A stable Europe. The report emphasizes the progress we have made toward the
President?s vision, outlined in 1994, of a Europe democratic, undivided
and at peace for the first time in history. This year, in support of
this goal, we led the effort to add three new members to NATO, and in
April, the President will host the NATO Summit to welcome the new
members and chart a vision for NATO in the 21st Century. NATO resolve
promoted stability by bringing peace and free elections to Bosnia and
stopping the violence and repression in Kosovo. And we continued to
support democracy and reform in Russia.
An Asia-Pacific community. The report discusses how America has built on
the President?s vision of a new Asia-Pacific community for security,
prosperity and freedom. Vital to this approach are our cornerstone
relationship with Japan and our engagement with China. On the
President?s trip to China in June he expanded cooperation on issues like
security in Korea, nuclear proliferation, and the environment, while
dealing forthrightly with differences, including human rights.
The report emphasizes that the US military is and will continue to be
capable of supporting our strategy by meeting our defense commitments
around the world. Working with Congress, we have significantly increased
readiness funding for 1998 and 1999.
Finally, the report emphasizes that we must strengthen our commitment to
America?s diplomacy. Every dollar we devote to our diplomatic efforts to
prevent conflict, promote democracy, and reduce disease and poverty can
help protect the security interests of the American people.
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