E X E C U T I V E O F F I C E O F T H E P R E S I D E N T
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI The Oval Office
4:10 P.M. EST
Q Mr. President, is an airdrop enough to relieve the suffering? Will that do the job of getting food to people?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if we can reach an agreement, it will help, I think.
Q How close are you to an agreement, Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know. We can't talk until you leave. (Laughter.)
Q Do you think that there is some risk, though, of this being the first step to an engagement that we won't be able to get out of?
THE PRESIDENT: Not necessarily, no. Not at all.
Q Why not?
THE PRESIDENT: Because what we're discussing is very different. It has no combat connotations, whatever, and it's purely humanitarian and quite limited.
Q Isn't there a risk of people being shot at by antiaircraft artillery?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if we do it, we'll have an announcement that deals with that. We think the risks are quite small.
END4:11 P.M. EST