Great people, Brave men of our valiant armed forces, Arab freedom fighters and strugglers, Friends, Peace be upon you, On this day, every year, we recall with you the two days of the revolution on 17 and 30 July 1968. But today, on the thirtieth anniversary of the revolution we will not engross you, like on traditional occasions, in figures and achievements that acquaint you with what rests you assured of its genuine course and with sincere pledge and promise made to the brave and genuine revolutionists.

The subject that I want to discuss—let me just say one thing in advance—I'm going to give you my best thoughts. We have been working on this for three years at some level of intensity or another, going back to the Naples G-7 meeting in the aftermath of the Mexican financial crisis. I have done everything I could do personally to reach out across the country, and indeed across the world, for any new ideas from any source. I'm going to give you my best thinking today about what we can do, but I want you to know that I'm here, and if I had my druthers, this would be about a three-hour session where I'd give this talk and then I would listen for the rest of the time.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for having come to this press conference. I thank Madeleine Albright, the Secretary of State, for her second visit to Rwanda and her first as Secretary of State. Her successive visits reflect her personal commitment and that of the Government of the United States of America to help Rwanda's people come to terms with the aftermath of genocide.

I have the honor to declare open this United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court.

I wish to acknowledge the generosity of the Italian Government, which is hosting this Conference, as it has done for other landmark United Nations conferences in the past, and to express my appreciation of the strong support given by Italy to the United Nations and its activities in general. We are particularly honored by the presence of President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro with us today.

For one thing, first of all, I understand there's a new allegation about that—I have two things to say about it. First of all, all the foreign policy decisions we made were based on what we believed—I and the rest of my administration—were in the interests of the American people.

I think the day's gone pretty well. It's not an easy time here. They're obviously going through a lot of questioning about the direction of their government. President Clinton is delivering a very strong message about the need to stay with a reform program, understanding that it's not easy and that they have to make the tough decisions. The United States is there at Russia's side, but they're the ones that have to make the hard decisions. That has really characterized the day, Wolf.

The Secretary-General had announced at a press conference in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, in the morning, that there was “total unanimity” on the need to release all political prisoners and detainees. Following a series of meetings with officials, traditional leaders and representatives of civil society, as well as political prisoners, including Chief Moshood K. Abiola, the Secretary-General had concluded that there was broad agreement on a number of key issues. All Nigerians insisted on a return to democracy, the Secretary-General said, adding that all wanted a peaceful, democratic and, above all, credible process leading to free and fair elections. All Nigerians also wanted to live under the rule of law, with full respect for human rights.

I am writing to you with respect to sections (b)(1) and (b)(2) of Public Law 99–183, relating to the approval and implementation of the Agreement for Nuclear Cooperation Between the United States and the People's Republic of China, and with respect to section 902(a)(6)(B) of Public Law 101–246. The sections of Public Law 99–183 cited above require certifications to the Congress and a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate before exports or retransfers to China under the Agreement may begin. Sections 902(a)6(B)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Public Law 101–246 require a certification to the Congress and report to the Congress before terminating the suspensions and automatic disapprovals of nuclear cooperation with China.

Good afternoon. President Kim, members of the Korean delegation, let me first say again what a privilege it has been to welcome President Kim back to the United States and here to the White House. His remarkable life history reminds us that from Seoul to its sister city, San Francisco, people everywhere share the same aspirations—for freedom, for peace, for the opportunity of prosperity.

Good afternoon. Secretary Cohen and I are very pleased to welcome Foreign Minister Komura and State Minister for Defense Nukaga to New York. Today's session of the U.S.Japan Security Consultative Committee, better known as the “two-plus-two,” is one of a series of high-level meetings we will have this week, including President Clinton's summit with Prime Minister Obuchi on Tuesday.

I am very pleased today to be here with Secretary of Defense William Cohen, to announce a major new United States initiative on a subject of widespread concern in America and around the globe.

I am pleased that the Senate has passed legislation today that is consistent with my view that U.S. food exports should not become an unintended victim of an important non-proliferation law. Food should not be used as a weapon, and I will resist any action that would lead to a de facto grain embargo.

The Heads of State or Government of the G7 countries and the President of the European Commission met today, 15 May, to discuss the world economic and financial situation, and the challenges we face in strengthening the global financial system.

The long-range population projections presented here, prepared by the United Nations Population Division, cover the period from 1950 to 2150. A total of seven projections for each of the eight major areas of the world are considered in this report. The variants are distinguished by their assumptions regarding future scenarios in total fertility rates. The range of potential demographic outcomes underscores the difficulty in focusing on any particular scenario and also highlights the critical importance of current policies and actions for the long-range future of the world population.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Welcome to Ottawa.

Many of you came to Ottawa last October for our previous landmines conference. Since then, it has been a year of frantic activity and full court press diplomacy. From Maputo to Tokyo, Vienna to Ashkabad, Kempton Park to Bonn, Manila to New Delhi, Saan'a to Brussels and Sydney to Oslo–the world's governments and peoples have been engaged in an extraordinary global effort to ban anti-personnel mines. And we have succeeded.