President Clinton. We don't have prepared statements, but we will each make a very brief statement and then we'll take a couple of questions.

Ukrainian President Kuchma has announced that all nuclear warheads have been removed from the territory of Ukraine. This is a remarkable achievement. In 1991, there were more than 4000 strategic and tactical nuclear warheads in Ukraine. Today there are none. I applaud the Ukrainian government for its historic contribution in reducing the nuclear threat. When the Presidents of Ukraine, Russia and I signed the January 1994 Trilateral Statement on this issue, we looked forward to a day that has now arrived.

The summit of July 1994 marked an important stage in the history of the Atlantic alliance. On this occasion, the chiefs of state of our governments defined the principle directions for the Alliance in the coming years: on one hand, that the Alliance should engage itself resolutely in new missions required by the new strategic realities in Europe; on the other, that it should adapt its structures towards the end of bringing its full weight to bear on the development of a European Security and Defense Identity.

Dear citizens of Russia. Yesterday the Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation summed up the final results of the presidential election. Their official results have been published. Again you have put your trust in me by electing me as your president. Like five years ago you have entrusted to me the top government post in the country. I am grateful to you, dear fellow citizens, for your understanding and your support.

Excerpt from Department of State Daily Press Briefing with Department Spokesperson Burns, December 18, 19951 Q. Do you interpret the parliamentary elections yesterday in Russia as a defeat for President Yeltsin, and if not, why not?

The governments of the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America will sign on Monday, March 25, 1996 the three additional protocols to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which is also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga.

The Security Council reiterates its grave concern about the military confrontation in Afghanistan. The Security Council is also concerned at the violation of the United Nations premises in Kabul and expresses its dismay at the brutal execution by the Taliban of the former President of Afghanistan, Najibullah, and others who had taken refuge in these premises.

President Lee. After my inauguration, very soon, probably in July or August, we may need to convene a Political-Economic Conference. This conference will cover such important topics for the next four years. The first one will be our mainland policy. The second one would be the foreign policy for the Republic of China on Taiwan, and lastly, what opinions people have on domestic political reform.

Statement by Israeli Foreign Minister Barak to the Israeli Knesset, December 25, 19951

Foreign Minister Ehud Barak delivered his remarks in reply to a no-confidence motion on the negotiations with Syria. Mr. Speaker, Honorable Knesset,

Prime Minister Hashimoto. Right in front of you, I and President Clinton signed two documents. One is the message to the peoples of Japan and the United States that lays down the direction in which the two countries should, together, proceed towards the 21st century. And the second is the Japan-U.S. Declaration on Security.

The Vice President met for almost an hour today with the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, David Trimble. The President joined them for part of the meeting. The focus of the discussion was the peace process in Northern Ireland.

The North Atlantic Council met at the Intercontinental Hotel, Berlin, Germany. Let me begin by thanking and congratulating Secretary-General Solana for the immense contributions he has already made to the Alliance in his first six months in office. I also want to thank our German hosts, and Foreign Minister Kinkel in particular, for their hard work in organizing this historic Ministerial—the first meeting of the North Atlantic Council in a free and unified Berlin.

Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, and in particular its resolutions 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, 707 (1991) of 15 August 1991 and 715 (1991) of 11 October 1991.

This Action Plan for expanding and deepening U.S.-EU relations reflects a framework with four shared goals:

• Promoting peace and stability, democracy and development around the world;

• Responding to global challenges;

• Contributing to the expansion of world trade and closer economic relations;

• Building bridges across the Atlantic.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is an authoritarian state in which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the paramount source of power. At the national and regional levels, party members hold almost all top civilian, police, and military positions. Retired senior leaders retain considerable power, but the top leadership announced in mid-1995 that ultimate authority had been passed to the younger generation of Communist Party leaders that makes up the 21-member Politburo. Economic decentralization has increased the authority of regional officials. Socialism continues to provide the ideological underpinning of Chinese politics, but Marxist ideology has given way to pragmatism in recent years. The party's authority rests primarily on the success of economic reform, its ability to maintain stability, appeals to patriotism, and control of the security apparatus.

President Clinton. Good afternoon. Please be seated. Good afternoon. I'm very glad to welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House. This is his first visit since taking office, and it gave me an opportunity to congratulate him on his victory in the election in May. Israel has changed governments, but as I told the Prime Minister, the historic relationship between the United States and Israel has not and will not change. The bonds that unite us are as strong as ever today. I am proud that our relationship is broader, deeper and more firmly rooted than at any time in Israel's history. And I am determined that it should remain so.

It's a real pleasure for me to be closing the 48th IHEDN session. I attach, as you know, great importance to this institution. It is the crucial instrument for maintaining a close link between the nation and its armed forces—as you said—and all the more so now, at a time when our defense is about to undergo an essential and profound transformation.