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Mulroney Departure 11/29/89 [OA 3540]
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Mulroney Departure 11/29/89 [OA 3540]
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13513
Folder ID Number:
13513-004
Folder Title:
Mulroney Departure 11/29/89 [OA 3540]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
25
6
6
5
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 29, 1989
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY
UPON DEPARTURE
The Diplomatic Entrance
8:45 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Let me just say that Prime Minister
Mulroney has very generously come down here and given us a very full
briefing, his observations from a long and detailed trip that he took
to the Soviet Union. I don't know why he is not more wiped out by
jet lag because I last saw him just a few weeks ago in Central
America -- he'd come from Asia. Now he's been to the Soviet Union.
But it was most generous, Mr. Prime Minister, for you to come here.
And on behalf of the Secretary of State and Brent Scowcroft, John
Sununu, those of us who will be in the meetings, I can't tell you how
much I appreciate your advice and your observations.
And it's a little unorthodox, but if you'll excuse me --
I understand you're going to take some questions here.
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: I will.
THE PRESIDENT: All right. Thank you. And our love to
Mila, and thank you, sir, very much. It was most generous of you.
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Thank you very much.
Q
What's the best advice he gave you, Mr. President?
Q
What was the best advice?
Q
Mr. Prime Minister, what did you give him? What did
you tell him? Right off the bat, what's the big one?
Q
Don't you think they ought to try to achieve
something at this summit?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Well, I think they probably
will. I had lengthy meetings with Mr. Gorbachev and Prime Minister
Ryzhkov and Mr. Shevardnadze in the Soviet Union, and my belief is
that President Gorbachev looks upon the Malta summit not with a view
to achieving any miracles, but with a view to building a sustained
and solid relationship with President Bush that will give rise to
major accomplishments down the road.
I believe that -- I think that he's in for the long haul
himself. I think he's got an ambitious, progressive agenda for the
future. And given some ongoing changes, it may be an agenda that can
be accommodated as time goes on.
And I had a very good meeting with the President and his
advisors tonight. I find that, as the leader of the Alliance,
President Bush is in a -- has a very constructive approach to the
challenge that exists, the opportunities. He's very sensitive and
alive to the unique opportunities that are there, not in Malta, but
in the months and the years that will follow Malta. And so I'm very
pleased with our meeting and I'm, as a member of the Alliance and as
Prime Minister of a neighboring, friendly country, I'm very happy
with the attitude and the prospects.
MORE
- 2 -
Q
What did President Bush ask you, Mr. Mulroney? What
was on the top of the agenda tonight? What did you advise him when
he goes to meet with Mr. Gorbachev two days from now?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Well, as I say, we've had very
extensive recent meetings with President Gorbachev and his
colleagues, and I gave the President and his colleagues our view of
the opportunities and the attitudes and how we best think they should
be grasped. We think that President Gorbachev is for real, that he
is in for the long haul, and that his -- some of his suggestions are
worthy of thoughtful and generous response.
Q
Like what? What in particular?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: On the basis of that, there are
some gestures that can be taken, to respond to Helen's question.
There are gestures, for example -- we think that there is -- the
President, among other things, could consider observer status at the
GATT for the Soviet Union; that the President could accept an idea
that at the end of every economic G-7 summit that there be a meeting
with the outgoing chairman of the summit and President Gorbachev.
After all, the G-7 -- the harmonization of monetary and
economic policies of the G-7 has brought about the greatest sustained
economic growth in modern history. And some of those ideas would
clearly be of benefit to President Gorbachev, who says very clearly
that what he wants to do is integrate the economy of the Soviet Union
more totally into those economies that have known such success. But
there's a long way for him to go, and one of the ways that this could
be done is by receiving firsthand the views and the opinions of the
outgoing president -- or chairman of the G-7 summit, which this year
happens to be President Bush -- and next year will be another one of
us.
But it could put in train a very valuable series of
consultations that would be beneficial to President Gorbachev and
would bring the Soviet Union more closely into the ambit of the
industrialized nations.
or
Do you think there will be any conditions, sir?
Should there be any conditions, sir?
Q
-- assurances should Mr. Bush give? What political
assurances should he give Mr. Gorbachev?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: I don't think that President
Gorbachev is looking for any political assurances from President Bush
beyond the assurance that he speaks very clearly for the Alliance,
which he does; that the Alliance is committed to a constructive
relationship. We're encouraging the events in Eastern Europe. We
realize that a lot of this has come about because of the attitudes
set in train by President Gorbachev. And this has to be responded
to. And President Bush is in the process of preparing to do
precisely that.
Q
Should there be any conditions, sir? Should there
be any conditions? If you're suggesting the Soviet Union should have
observer status at GATT and perhaps at the G-7, is that tomorrow --
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: I never suggested that they
have observer status at the G-7. That they should have observer
status at the GATT, that there might be a series of steps to bring
them more closely into the IMF and World Bank ambit in a progress
manner over a period of time. But that the chairman of the G-7 be
mandated on an outgoing basis to meet with President Gorbachev on an
ongoing basis. That was my -- that was one of my -- one of many
suggestions that we made.
Q
What did he think of that? What did he say to that?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: What did President Bush think
of it? I think he kind of liked it.
MORE
- 3 -
Q
Prime Minister, the administration has been
criticized for reacting very slowly to events in Eastern Europe. Do
you share that perception?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: The administration has a
responsibility to act with prudence. President Bush is President of
the United States and leader of the Western Alliance. And it is
important that he act not in haste, but that he act effectively. And
I believe that his intensive preparations and his very constructive
attitude, I believe that this is going to bring about good results.
And I think that's the way that we should approach it.
Q
He assured you of no surprises here? He assured you
of no surprises, no foreswearing nuclear arms?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Oh, you can be certain of that.
Q
Is Gorbachev in trouble?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Gorbachev is not in trouble. I
think that he's remarkably popular, inside and outside the Soviet
Union. The Soviet economy is in trouble. The Soviet economy is in
big trouble. But he's in the -- his reforms are designed to improve
that. And it is important, I think that as he seeks to improve his
own economy, that it's in our interest, the interest of the West, the
interest of the industrialized world, to cooperate with him, to
assist him in bringing about and achieving these historic reforms.
2
Mr. Prime Minister, did you discuss any specific
issues? I'm thinking of some of the highlights from your trip last
week. Did you discuss, for example, any sort of environmental
agreement that he might enter into with the Soviets regarding the
Arctic or a demilitarization of the Arctic -- any of those things?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Well, certainly not the last
two you mentioned. But we discussed many specifics, yes.
Q
Bilateral issues, sir? Were any bilateral issues
discussed tonight?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Yes, we discussed some
bilateral issues.
Q
Did you discuss lobster, sir? Anything about
lobster? (Laughter.)
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: You can always count on the
Canadians.
Q
How about Salvador?
Q
Did you discuss El Salvador?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Yes, we did.
END
9:00 P.M. EST
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 29, 1989
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY
UPON DEPARTURE
The Diplomatic Entrance
8:45 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Let me just say that Prime Minister
Mulroney has very generously come down here and given us a very full
briefing, his observations from a long and detailed trip that he took
to the Soviet Union. I don't know why he is not more wiped out by
jet lag because I last saw him just a few weeks ago in Central
America -- he'd come from Asia. Now he's been to the Soviet Union.
But it was most generous, Mr. Prime Minister, for you to come here.
And on behalf of the Secretary of State and Brent Scowcroft, John
Sununu, those of us who will be in the meetings, I can't tell you how
much I appreciate your advice and your observations.
And it's a little unorthodox, but if you'll excuse me --
I understand you're going to take some questions here.
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: I will.
THE PRESIDENT: All right. Thank you. And our love to
Mila, and thank you, sir, very much. It was most generous of you.
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Thank you very much.
Q
What's the best advice he gave you, Mr. President?
Q
What was the best advice?
Q
Mr. Prime Minister, what did you give him? What did
you tell him? Right off the bat, what's the big one?
Q
Don't you think they ought to try to achieve
something at this summit?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Well, I think they probably
will. I had lengthy meetings with Mr. Gorbachev and Prime Minister
Ryzhkov and Mr. Shevardnadze in the Soviet Union, and my belief is
that President Gorbachev looks upon the Malta summit not with a view
to achieving any miracles, but with a view to building a sustained
and solid relationship with President Bush that will give rise to
major accomplishments down the road.
I believe that -- I think that he's in for the long haul
himself. I think he's got an ambitious, progressive agenda for the
future. And given some ongoing changes, it may be an agenda that can
be accommodated as time goes on.
And I had a very good meeting with the President and his
advisors tonight. I find that, as the leader of the Alliance,
President Bush is in a -- has a very constructive approach to the
challenge that exists, the opportunities. He's very sensitive and
alive to the unique opportunities that are there, not in Malta, but
in the months and the years that will follow Malta. And so I'm very
pleased with our meeting and I'm, as a member of the Alliance and as
Prime Minister of a neighboring, friendly country, I'm very happy
with the attitude and the prospects.
MORE
- 2 -
Q
What did President Bush ask you, Mr. Mulroney? What
was on the top of the agenda tonight? What did you advise him when
he goes to meet with Mr. Gorbachev two days from now?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Well, as I say, we've had very
extensive recent meetings with President Gorbachev and his
colleagues, and I gave the President and his colleagues our view of
the opportunities and the attitudes and how we best think they should
be grasped. We think that President Gorbachev is for real, that he
is in for the long haul, and that his -- some of his suggestions are
worthy of thoughtful and generous response.
Q
Like what? What in particular?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: On the basis of that, there are
some gestures that can be taken, to respond to Helen's question.
There are gestures, for example -- we think that there is -- the
President, among other things, could consider observer status at the
GATT for the Soviet Union; that the President could accept an idea
that at the end of every economic G-7 summit that there be a meeting
with the outgoing chairman of the summit and President Gorbachev.
After all, the G-7 -- the harmonization of monetary and
economic policies of the G-7 has brought about the greatest sustained
economic growth in modern history. And some of those ideas would
clearly be of benefit to President Gorbachev, who says very clearly
that what he wants to do is integrate the economy of the Soviet Union
more totally into those economies that have known such success. But
there's a long way for him to go, and one of the ways that this could
be done is by receiving firsthand the views and the opinions of the
outgoing president -- or chairman of the G-7 summit, which this year
happens to be President Bush -- and next year will be another one of
us.
But it could put in train a very valuable series of
consultations that would be beneficial to President Gorbachev and
would bring the Soviet Union more closely into the ambit of the
industrialized nations.
Q Do you think there will be any conditions, sir?
Should there be any conditions, sir?
Q
-- assurances should Mr. Bush give? What political
assurances should he give Mr. Gorbachev?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: I don't think that President
Gorbachev is looking for any political assurances from President Bush
beyond the assurance that he speaks very clearly for the Alliance,
which he does; that the Alliance is committed to a constructive
relationship. We're encouraging the events in Eastern Europe. We
realize that a lot of this has come about because of the attitudes
set in train by President Gorbachev. And this has to be responded
to. And President Bush is in the process of preparing to do
precisely that.
Q
Should there be any conditions, sir? Should there
be any conditions? If you're suggesting the Soviet Union should have
observer status at GATT and perhaps at the G-7, is that tomorrow --
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: I never suggested that they
have observer status at the G-7. That they should have observer
status at the GATT, that there might be a series of steps to bring
them more closely into the IMF and World Bank ambit in a progress
manner over a period of time. But that the chairman of the G-7 be
mandated on an outgoing basis to meet with President Gorbachev on an
ongoing basis. That was my -- that was one of my -- one of many
suggestions that we made.
Q
What did he think of that? What did he say to that?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: What did President Bush think
of it? I think he kind of liked it.
MORE
- 3 -
Q
Prime Minister, the administration has been
criticized for reacting very slowly to events in Eastern Europe. Do
you share that perception?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: The administration has a
responsibility to act with prudence. President Bush is President of
the United States and leader of the Western Alliance. And it is
important that he act not in haste, but that he act effectively. And
I believe that his intensive preparations and his very constructive
attitude, I believe that this is going to bring about good results.
And I think that's the way that we should approach it.
Q He assured you of no surprises here? He assured you
of no surprises, no foreswearing nuclear arms?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Oh, you can be certain of that.
Q
Is Gorbachev in trouble?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Gorbachev is not in trouble. I
think that he's remarkably popular, inside and outside the Soviet
Union. The Soviet economy is in trouble. The Soviet economy is in
big trouble. But he's in the -- his reforms are designed to improve
that. And it is important, I think that as he seeks to improve his
own economy, that it's in our interest, the interest of the West, the
interest of the industrialized world, to cooperate with him, to
assist him in bringing about and achieving these historic reforms.
Q
Mr. Prime Minister, did you discuss any specific
issues? I'm thinking of some of the highlights from your trip last
week. Did you discuss, for example, any sort of environmental
agreement that he might enter into with the Soviets regarding the
Arctic or a demilitarization of the Arctic -- any of those things?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Well, certainly not the last
two you mentioned. But we discussed many specifics, yes.
O
Bilateral issues, sir? Were any bilateral issues
discussed tonight?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Yes, we discussed some
bilateral issues.
Q
Did you discuss lobster, sir? Anything about
lobster? (Laughter.)
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: You can always count on the
Canadians.
Q
How about Salvador?
Q
Did you discuss El Salvador?
PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY: Yes, we did.
END
9:00 P.M. EST