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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                         (Frankfurt, Germany)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                        May 6, 1999

                        REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
                        AND CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER
                         IN PRESS AVAILABILITY
 
                        Office of the Chancellor
                             Bonn, Germany

5:45 P.M. (L)

CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: Ladies and gentlemen, we had a very intensive discussion together, the main emphasis, of course, having been on the crisis on Kosovo. We basically agreed regarding all of the questions that were discussed, and when I say "we agreed," then I'm talking about the two of us, but also about Germany and the United States of America.

There is no reason whatsoever to go in and change our jointly adopted strategy. We very much welcome the initiative taken by the foreign ministers today, the G-8 conference. We have noticed from looking at the results that some strong movement has happened there. We have also conjointly decided that it is very necessary to support the frontline states of the region and particular Macedonia and Albania, the two countries that at present are shouldering the vast burden regarding the refugee problem.

We very much have to go in and make sure that the earmarked 250 million Euro as support have to be channeled into those frontline states and really get there. You might know that Germany has earmarked 60 million German marks as support there. We have to make sure that those supports and that money speedily flows into the region.

I personally had the opportunity of talking to the Prime Minister of Macedonia today, and we also agreed that we were trying to spur matters in this very way.

The President of the United States of America has emphasized the fact that the United States will take on a large number of refugees. You know that we here in Germany have already taken on quite a few, and we hope that in taking these actions both America and Germany will set an example also for other European countries to follow up and to take on refugees themselves.

We hope that as a consequence that they will follow suit. Germany itself is continuing to think about whether they could potentially take on even more, and if you hear the most recent news today, yet again, another 10,000 refugees have flooded into Macedonia yet again, and in addition. And if you then bear in mind that soon the border might be closed off, sealed off, in fact, altogether, then really urgent action and consideration is needed here.

We have also discussed the possibilities of having some influence on the discussions taking place at the Club of Paris, where thoughts are ventilated about a potential suspension or a relief of debt for the frontline states involved, and we have decided that we conjointly support a debt relief or at least a suspension of debts for Macedonia and Albania.

And I think all of that -- and I think that goes without saying -- should be independent of the necessity of continuing our actions, continuing the NATO actions and the measures taken so far. But one point that was strongly emphasized was the necessity of giving a more comprehensive economic and political perspective for the Balkans.

THE PRESIDENT: If I could just say very briefly -- Chancellor Schroeder has faithfully summarized the items we discussed and the conclusions that we drew, and I would just like to say on behalf of the United States how much I appreciate the leadership of the German Chancellor and the German people in dealing with the refugee crisis, in trying to relieve the pressure on Macedonia and provide for the economic needs of both Macedonia and Albania, and in looking to the long-term development of the Balkans and Southeastern Europe, which is critical if you're going to avoid future incidents of this kind.

And on all those scores, both as the German Chancellor and as the present leader of the EU, I think he has done an outstanding job, and I am personally very grateful for it.

Q Mr. President, how important is it in your view to get the U.N. behind the principles on Kosovo, and what do you intend in order to get not only Russia, but also China into the part?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I believe it would be very, very helpful if the United Nations would endorse a peace process if it is a peace process that will work, meaning that the refugees would have to be able to come back with security and autonomy, and the Serb forces would have to be withdrawn, and there must be a multinational security force there that NATO is a core part of.

Now, the U.N. did so in Bosnia. We were there as -- under the umbrella of the U.N. -- NATO was there, Russia was there, Ukraine was there. It worked. And it will work again and, obviously, would be much better.

With regard to the Chinese, of course, the Chancellor is going to China in a couple of days and he will have fresh news when he comes back. But I believe if the Russians support this, the Chinese will support this. And I think they believe that this is something the U.N. should do.

Q Mr. President, what's the significance of the agreement or statement that Russia -- initially today?

THE PRESIDENT: I think the Chancellor might want to comment on that as well. The significance is that as far as I know, this is the first time that the Russians have publicly said they would support an international security as well as a civilian force in Kosovo. This is a significant step forward, and I was personally very pleased by it.

Q Mr. President, what is your personal impression? Do you think there is a message you can convey to the German people that there is a longer period of blood, sweat and tears that you have to look forward to or to look at in the near future, or do you think that there is a real peace process underway?

THE PRESIDENT: I think there is a real peace process underway, but it has no chance of reaching a satisfactory conclusion unless we maintain allied unity and firmness. I don't think the process is long, but I don't think we can afford to be discouraged or be impatient. We need to stay with the strategy we have and continue to aggressively support our air campaign and to aggressively support any diplomatic initiative that will secure the conditions necessary for a lasting peace in Kosovo.

Q Mr. President and Chancellor, do you think that the agreement, the statement that was issued today by the G-8 and Russia, will do anything to hasten the end to the conflict?

CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER: I can only repeat and emphasize what the President of the United States of America has just said. I consider it as truly substantial progress which has been made there. There has been open talk about the presence and the necessity for the presence of international troops there, and I think things will continue along that way.

I would also very much like to emphasize the fact that I agree that there is no reason whatsoever to now think about a change in the NATO strategy now that the strategy does seem to work, and I'm taking about military as well as political initiatives undertaken therein.

THE PRESIDENT: Let me just say very briefly, I agree with what the Chancellor has said. I do believe it's an advance because you have to see the G-8 resolution here, the statement, in the context of Mr. Chernomyrdin's efforts. I mean, here is a man that served as Premier of Russia twice; very highly regarded, I think, by all of us who have ever dealt with him on all sides of this issue. And this statement, plus his ongoing effort, I think you have to read this as a move forward and increasing the likelihood that there will ultimately be a resolution of this that will actually work.

Thank you.

END 6:P.M. (L)