This is historical material, "frozen in time." The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release February 28, 1996

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

                    Meeting of President Clinton and
                   Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Jabir al-Sabah

President Clinton and Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmed al-Jabir al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, met in the Oval Office this morning for a wide-ranging discussion of regional and bilateral issues. The meeting took place five years to the day after the end of the Gulf War and the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The President noted the importance of the occasion, and reaffirmed to Sheikh Jabir the United States' unwavering commitment to the security of Kuwait and the stability of the Gulf region.

President Clinton and Sheikh Jabir discussed numerous regional issues of mutual concern, such as Iraq, Gulf security, and the Middle East peace process. They agreed on the need to hold Iraq to full compliance with all UN Security Council Resolutions before sanctions can be lifted. In particular, both sides emphasized the importance of a full accounting by Iraq for Kuwaitis taken prisoner during the Gulf War. President Clinton welcomed recent steps toward normalization of Kuwait's relations with Jordan. The two leaders also discussed the importance of full implementation of the Dayton accords in Bosnia.

President Clinton and Sheikh Jabir discussed expanding commercial ties between the United States and Kuwait. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to encouraging further progress in this and other areas of bilateral relations.

# # #