U.S. COMMITTED WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO APEC, ASIA-PACIFIC REGION
(Transcript: Vice President Gore's post-APEC press conference) (4880)

Osaka, Japan -- The Clinton administration is committed wholeheartedly to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and to the Asia-Pacific region, according to Vice President Al Gore.

During a press conference following the conclusion of the APEC leaders meeting November 19, Gore said: "First of all, we support the APEC process and APEC as an organization wholeheartedly. President Clinton is as proud of his hosting of the APEC meeting in Seattle two years ago -- at which the current format was established -- as he is of anything that he has accomplished in his presidency."

America's future, the vice president said, lies in its relationships in Asia and in the Pacific. Only the "extraordinary emergency" of the U.S. government shut-down could have kept President Clinton from attending the APEC meeting, Gore said. "President Clinton and the other leaders of the United States are deeply committed to APEC and to the Asia-Pacific region. The President is determined to reschedule his State Visit to Japan at the earliest possible date. The President also looks forward to attending the next APEC Leaders' Meeting in Manila."

Gore, on behalf of President Clinton, congratulated Prime Minister Murayama for his leadership in achieving the APEC Action Agenda. "This is an historic step forward in fulfilling the APEC commitment to attain free trade in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 and 2020," he said.

"For the American people, this is a truly significant achievement, since our economic growth and prosperity are increasingly linked to this dynamic region. I would also like to congratulate Foreign Minister Kono and MITI Minister Hashimoto and all of the others who assisted Prime Minister Murayama in crafting the historic Osaka Action Agenda. In our meeting, I reaffirmed to Prime Minister Murayama that the U.S.-Japan relationship is of profound importance to peace and prosperity in this region and around the world. We had an excellent discussion that befits a partnership encompassing a remarkable range of issues."

Following is the official transcript of the press conference:

(begin transcript)

PRESS CONFERENCE OF VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE
THE HOTEL NEW OTANI

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1995
OSAKA, JAPAN

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good Evening. I feel privileged to have been able to make this trip to Osaka as President Clinton's representative at the APEC Leaders' Meeting. As I told Prime Minister Murayama, I am very grateful to him and to the other APEC leaders for agreeing to my participation in these historic events. President Clinton deeply regrets that the important budget debate in Washington prevented him from coming to Japan at this time. At this very hour back in Washington, we are in the sixth day of the shutdown of our government. Never before in our history has this occurred in this way for such a long period of time. And only such an extraordinary emergency could have kept President Clinton from attending this APEC session.

President Clinton and the other leaders of the United States are deeply committed to APEC and to the Asia-Pacific region. The President is determined to reschedule his State Visit to Japan at the earliest possible date. The President also looks forward to attending the next APEC Leaders' Meeting in Manila. On behalf of President Clinton, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Murayama for his truly exceptional leadership in achieving the blueprint for action that the APEC leaders endorsed today. This is an historic step forward in fulfilling the APEC commitment to attain free trade in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 and 2020.

For the American people, this is a truly significant achievement, since our economic growth and prosperity are increasingly linked to this dynamic region. I would also like to congratulate Foreign Minister Kono and MITI Minister Hashimoto and all of the others who assisted Prime Minister Murayama in crafting the historic Osaka Action Agenda. In our meeting, I reaffirmed to Prime Minister Murayama that the U.S.-Japan relationship is of profound importance to peace and prosperity in this region and around the world. We had an excellent discussion that befits a partnership encompassing a remarkable range of issues.

I made a particular point of reiterating to the Prime Minister the importance to the United States of our bilateral security relationship. A symbol of that partnership is the joint security declaration that our two governments plan to issue when President Clinton visits Tokyo. And tomorrow, the Joint Special Action Working Group will meet for the first time to review issues related to the U.S. military presence on Okinawa. We have asked Assistant Secretaries Lord and Nye to meet with their counterparts tomorrow and bring us results within a year. Our Economic Framework Agreement has provided a key basis for expanding our economic and commercial ties and is making a real difference to our two peoples.

We will continue to work cooperatively to resolve new economic and trade issues which may arise. The Common Agenda for Cooperation has been beneficial and productive for both countries. Working together, the United States and Japan are now addressing challenges of the post-Cold War world such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons, terrorism, threats to the environment and sustainable development, and international crime and drug trafficking. We are working together in new areas like peacekeeping, where Japan is making a significant contribution. I am also pleased that we are emphasizing student exchanges to deepen our people-to-people relationship.

In closing, before taking your questions, I would also like to note that I had an excellent series of bilateral exchanges with a number of the leaders attending the APEC meeting. For example, my discussion with President Jiang Zemin has added to the momentum for improved U.S.-China relations, that was created by President Clinton's meeting with President Jiang in New York. In my meeting with Prime Minister Paul Keating, I reiterated the importance that we attach to relations with our good friend and ally Australia. I also thanked him for his personal leadership and that of the Australian Government in making the APEC vision a reality. This was my third meeting with President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea. I told President Kim that Korea is an indispensable partner of the United States and underscored our intention to maintain solidarity with his country in order to maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. I also welcomed my first meeting with Thai Prime Minister Banharn. Thailand is a very important ally in Southeast Asia and I told the Prime Minister that we want to continue our close cooperation on a broad range of regional and bilateral issues. My discussions with these leaders reflect the strength and depth of America's relations with the countries of Asia.

I'll be happy to respond to any questions you might have. If you could go to one of the microphones and identify yourself, it would be appreciated.

Q: Sunohara with Nikkei Newspaper. I have two questions. First, President Clinton, in his interview with NHK Japan TV station, indicated that in the future he would like to use APEC as a sort of foundation to discuss security issues among APEC members. How do you think about that? My second one: President Clinton also admitted that because of his absence, his credibility and the United States' credibility among APEC members would somehow be reduced for the moment. How do you think about that because you met a lot of members, leaders of APEC countries? Thanks.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, we support the APEC process and APEC as an organization wholeheartedly. President Clinton is as proud of his hosting of the APEC meeting in Seattle two years ago -- at which the current format was established -- as he is of anything that he has accomplished in his presidency. Our future lies in our relationships in Asia and in the Pacific. The percentage of our economic trade with Asia is staggering, and it is growing rapidly. And this region of the world is growing by leaps and bounds. We are committed wholeheartedly to APEC and to this region. And I think that those who have looked at the unusual, indeed unprecedented, situation in our Congress right now, with the government shut down for six days and no end in sight, understand that it is truly an unprecedented matter, and it involves a crucial debate about the future of economic policy in the United States for the next decade. And it is only such an extraordinary occurrence that could have kept President Clinton from attending the APEC meeting. He and his administration will continue to be extremely active in all of the ministerial meetings and other preparatory sessions leading up to his personal presence at the next APEC meeting a year from now. And he will be, as I said, rescheduling his state visit to Japan at the earliest possible moment.

As for your question about security. We have supported the expansion of the APEC agenda to encompass a number of areas. And in my intervention in this afternoon's session, I made that point. But let me reiterate, as long as we are talking about security, the fundamental importance of the bilateral security relationship between the United States and Japan. And President Clinton and Prime Minister Murayama will reaffirm that when President Clinton arrives here. And crucial to that commitment is the presence of 100,000 forward-deployed troops -- 47,000 of which are here in Japan.

Q: Thank you very much Mr. Vice President. Tomohike Taniguchi with the Nikkei Business. My question is as follows. To American voters in the coming presidential campaign, how could you convincingly sell the need to have U.S. forces stationed, as they are in Japan, whose per capita GDP matches that of the United States, and with which the United States has accumulated the single biggest trade deficit. And this might sound a little bit like an outgrown question but no cliche, please, if I might ask you so.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Now why would you think I would use a cliche? The premise of your question is that we will have difficulty in persuading the American people of the importance of continuing the presence of these troops. With all due respect, your premise is inaccurate, because the American people strongly support a U.S. presence here in Asia -- the 100,000 forward-deployed troops and the 47,000 of them that are stationed here in Japan. We deeply appreciate the Host Country Agreement which has recently been modified and which has just passed the Diet in the first year. And we place an extremely high value on the bilateral relationship between the United States and Japan, within which the security relationship is so crucial. The importance to East Asia, to the Asia-Pacific region, and to the entire world, of a continued U.S. presence here, and the continuation of the strong security relationship between the United States and Japan, can scarcely be overstated. Look at the benefits to Asia and to the world of this long period of peace and prosperity and stability and friendship and growth. This is important to Japan, it is important to the United States and, as I said, it is important to the region and to the entire world. And the American people support this policy.

Q: Chris Stanley of the CBS Radio Network. And I'd like to know if the GOP budget priorities that you are fighting should prevail -- in whole or even in part -- how might future U.S. participation in APEC be affected. And I'd like to follow up if I may.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, they're not going to prevail, so it's a purely hypothetical question. President Clinton has made it clear that he will never agree to these budget priorities. And ultimately -- whatever is arrived at as a solution for the temporary crisis -- ultimately this decision will be made by the American people a little less than one year from now, in our elections in November of 1996.

Q: Since back in the States it's now very early on Sunday morning and the House Republicans have chosen to go into recess and take Sunday off, I'm wondering if you know if the President has given any consideration to perhaps inviting Speaker Gingrich out for a Sunday ride in the front section of Air Force One so we can break this impasse and ensure that you don't have to stand in for him in Ireland next week as well. And if he's not, would you consider pitching the idea to him on your way home?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I think you've got a very interesting idea. They could taxi on the runway at Andrews perhaps. But, as soon as I get back to the United States, I'll tell the President that I received a very interesting suggestion at my press conference here. Mike McCurry, the Press Secretary at the White House, suggested that maybe the personalized M&M's with Air Force One on them might be an appropriate gift. But in any event, this goes far beyond personalities or the disputes that have been played up in press coverage. It really is a dispute about fundamental differences in values. Do we continue to invest in education and protection of the environment and in an adequate Medicare system, or do we abandon those priorities? These are the central questions that have to be resolved. And the Republican leadership in the Congress has strong views, and they have a narrow majority. But they do not have the support to override President Clinton's veto, and so they have chosen to issue this threat of shutting down the government indefinitely unless President Clinton agrees to give in to their demands. And let me repeat, he will not.

Q: Charlie Radin from the Boston Globe. Did you meet while you were here with Hu Chung Fu from Chinese Taipei, or Taiwan as the case may be? If not, why? And if so, why didn't you mention it when you went through your other bilateral meetings here?

Q: Oh, I did meet with him during the course of the sessions. I did not have a separate bilateral meeting with him. But we were arranged in alphabetical order by country and he was two seats away during most of the sessions, and we had a number of cordial conversations in the context of the meeting itself. But, because of the limited period of time in between the APEC sessions, there were a large number of countries with which I did not have bilateral meetings, and there were a large number of individuals at the APEC meeting with whom I did not have separate bilateral sessions.

Q: Antoine Denais (phonetic) from Agence France Presse. Judging by the talks you had today, how far is China from entering the WTO?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Ambassador Kantor, who is here, and Mrs. Wu had very productive conversations yesterday, two days ago, and some progress has been made, but some work remains to be done. I think a pathway has been clearly defined. But there are milestones along that pathway, and it remains to be seen exactly how soon these milestones will be reached. But these conversations were very productive.

Q: Deutsche Zeitung, Germany. I would like to come back to the troop issue. You stressed repeatedly that the 100,000 troops in East Asia and the 47,000 in Japan are so important. Maybe also 45,000 would do the same job. I'm asking if the offer of the Governor from Hawaii to take a few of the American troops, if they had too many in Okinawa. You realize, in Okinawa it's a very big concentration of bases. Isn't it worthwhile for the United States to get some of the emotional problems out of the system by making such a gesture as having a few of these troops reduced rather than wait for a cumbersome process in Japan which might take ten years and endanger the whole supportive attitude vis-a-vis the Ssecurity Treaty?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, nobody is talking about ten years. But let me answer your question in an orderly way. First of all, as President Clinton said as recently as last night, we are quite responsive to the concerns of the people who live on Okinawa and for that reason, this special group is being established and will have its first meeting tomorrow. It's not as if there is a lengthy delay involved. Assistant Secretaries Nye and Lord will be meeting with their Japanese counterparts tomorrow. And they will start work immediately. And they have been given the deadline not of ten years, but one one year or less in arriving at adjustments and solutions for the problems that this group might identify. The 47,000 figure that I used refers to the number of U.S. troops stationed throughout Japan. That number is important to us and to Japan and is not going to be reduced. What Japan may feel about arrangements within that ceiling may be one of the issues discussed by this group.

Q: Mr. Vice President, I'm from the International Herald Tribune. You would have heard the Chinese President announce at the meeting of APEC leaders today that China will slash duties on more than 4,000 tariff lines next year by as much as 30 percent. The hand-out on the down payments that we were given from the Leaders' Meeting says that China will also take some significant steps to reduce non-tariff barriers and also take liberalization steps in other areas. Will this package help China gain American support for China's accession to the WTO?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: The steps announced must be interpreted as part of a process of opening and harmonizing in a manner that is calculated to lead to the meeting of all the necessary requirements for WTO membership. And so the simple answer to your question is, yes, it's a positive step but the understandings reached between the United States and China are about the full agenda of steps which relate to WTO membership. And this was an important step down that pathway. There are others and we feel that we've reached a clear understanding about how that path must be traveled.

Q: Konda, video journalist: As far as APEC is concerned, many countries are participating. They must understand each other's culture and how the conferences should be held. I am interested in the super information highway because that's what you proposed. Because of that, Japan is having an Internet boom right now. So we can use Internet and we can go into the White House many times. However, if we have an exclusive line to Internet, fees are very expensive. I understand that the fees are very inexpensive in the United States. That's why many people have access to Internet. And that's how the American people can participate politically and economically through Internet. In order for us to lower charges, just like the United States, what kind of steps should we take? What can we do to lower Japanese fees to access Internet? What do you think?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Have you visited our White House home page yet?

Konda: Yes, of course.

Vice-President Gore: Good, good.

Konda: I like it.

Vice-President Gore: Thank you very much.

Konda: I saw Japanese White House also (sic).

Vice-President Gore: Very good. Well, we're updating our home page. You'll like the new one even more. We have actually included recommendations and action agenda items with respect to telecommunications reform in the Osaka Action Agenda. There are steps adopted by the APEC leaders that directly address this question. The principles that we have proposed for the global information infrastructure include competition and inter-operability and flexible regulation and other steps which we know from experience will lead to a higher quality of service and lower costs for consumers and easier access to services, such as those provided on the Internet. It truly is an exciting new way for people all around the world to communicate and I have long been active in this area of policy, dating back 20 years. And I was the principal author and sponsor of the legislation which created the new Internet capacity by among other things, pumping an extra one billion dollars per year into new switches, new software, new technologies of various sorts that have led to this Internet explosion of activity. And I'm delighted that there is growing interest here in Japan. And as the costs come down with telecommunications reform, its importance will grow even more rapidly.

Q: Dan Robinson, VOA: I wonder, last year in Jakarta a bunch of East Timorese students kind of clambered over the fence at the U.S. Embassy compound to -- in fact, they requested a meeting with President Clinton. A while back the U.S. delinked the MFN and human rights issues. Do you think perhaps, is it possible that the human rights issue is being shunted aside in the dash -- as some NGOs said this week -- for economic development?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, not at all. And in fact, you can make a strong argument that the opposite is true. That with increased economic integration and with the increased flows not only of capital but of individuals across the borders of all the APEC countries, the ability to achieve progress with regard to human rights concerns is enhanced. In fact, since the meeting in Bogor, you have seen on that particular issue some steps that would not have been possible before the progress at Bogor. Although that's not to say that this issue is resolved. But I think there is good reason for believing that the increased reform and integration of our economies and our societies will work to the advantage of human rights.

Q11. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. My name's Mr. Furukawa. I'm representing Japan Times Journal. Now, the (inaudible) question about the Okinawa bases is regarding the talk of relocation. We're worried about the (inaudible) as a part of Japan. But your embassy knows - all America knows - that Narita Airport was opened 16 years ago after wrangling for ten years. In 16 years, they have not constructed a second airstrip because of local opposition. And like the Okinawa governor, no governors in Japan say they wish to have American bases. These (inaudible) governors can't do anything because of the opposition of local people. If we (inaudible) so, how can the United States do? No governors, no local people at all, wish to accept relocation of American forces. Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I appreciate your statement. I'm not sure that I -- I didn't hear a question in it but .... I'm not sure I understood that totally but in any event, you had the opportunity to make your statement.

Q: It is out of the control of the Japanese Government and no governors, no local people want to accept relocation of American forces in Japan. You somehow agreed, are somehow committing that some part of American forces in Okinawa may be relocated to some other part of Japan. But no governors, no local people are willing to accept such relocations. In this case, what will happen?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Oh, I'm sorry, okay. There was a question at the end of that. It's for the Japanese Government to determine in dialogue with the United States in this group and I am not prepared to agree with your blanket assessment there. That's for the Japanese Government to determine in this dialogue that I referred to.

Q: Gregory Hudson, The Times: Given the commitments that have been made over the past few days, do you think that in fact you can deliver in the light of what is happening politically next year in the United States?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes. Yes, I certainly do.

Q14 Right. And the second question is what would you say is the single largest problem in APEC?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: What is the single largest problem?

Q. Yes, for America. What do you see as the most intractable?

Vice President Gore: Well, I don't see any intractable problems, truthfully. I see APEC as an important opportunity for progress for the entire Asia-Pacific region including the United States. Our exports to this region are growing very rapidly. We in turn are the largest source of exports for many of the countries of Asia who are members of APEC, the expansion of the APEC agenda to include issues far beyond trade liberalization and economic progress to include sustainable development and the environment as mentioned specifically by Prime Minister Murayama last night and today. All of these developments are positive in my view and the organization itself is quite unique in the tone, the spirit and the manner in which the nations in APEC reach out to seize these new opportunities. It has been a very positive experience for the United States and we believe for all of the other members of APEC. We don't see any intractable problems inside APEC. I think we are going to have to cut it off after just a couple more.

Q: Daily Telegraph, London: Vice President Gore, the American down payment according to the pieces we've been handed today, looks to be considerably smaller than those offered by many other countries. What's your excuse?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I disagree with you completely. We listed 12 areas in which we are not only going to accelerate our compliance with the provisions of the Uruguay Round, but are actually going to complete by January 1 of 1996 -- that's only six weeks from now -- so do not be misled when you see a list of areas where countries are pledging to accelerate their movement and then you compare it to the blanket provisions in the U.S. down payment list where we're actually going to complete the list in those 12 areas within only six weeks. In addition, the extensive reforms pledged in government procurement, for example, and in the other areas mentioned are very important and extensive and we feel very good about the down payment list and that of the other countries as well. Let me take just one more.

Q: You made mention earlier of the President's personal pride in having hosted the Seattle summit. And the last three years with the leaders being on hand we've seen them show real commitment. But now that the APEC is going to turn to rather more incremental economic chats for 24 years, I'm wondering if you see or envision at some point APEC reverting to a strictly ministerial forum where you just don't have to come?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, I don't. And neither do I agree with your premise. I would direct your attention to the pessimism widely expressed in the press and elsewhere prior to the meeting in Bogor by the majority of observers who said it was just going to be -- what was your phrase -- an economic chat? And instead, the skeptics were proven completely wrong. Similarly, I would invite your attention to the prevailing pessimism in advance of the Osaka meeting, in which the majority of observers in the press corps and elsewhere speculated openly that nothing would happen in Osaka. And instead, we have the dramatic Osaka Action Agenda. I think the reason the pessimists have been wrong for two years in a row goes back to the innovation of President Clinton at Blake Island in insisting that only the leaders themselves be present in the room and they spend all day long talking directly to one another. These leaders are empowered to make decisions on behalf of their governments and their countries. And during a day-long conversation between these leaders in the most dynamic and rapidly-growing area of our planet, it is inevitable that they come to grips with the challenges immediately before them and make significant progress. The pessimism that was I think apparent in your assessment of what lies ahead for APEC I predict will also be proven wrong. Already, the preparations for the meeting in Manila next November are beginning to gain momentum. President Ramos said that the standard set by Prime Minister Murayama and before him by President Soeharto and before him by President Clinton, is a standard which he is going to work very hard to meet and exceed. It think that this organization with its unique format is going to continue producing positive surprises and progress for all of its member countries in the years that lie ahead. It's been a great privilege for me personally to be able to attend this meeting. President Clinton is already looking forward to the meeting in Manila. I would like to say publicly what I said in the meeting privately in expressing thanks to all of the leaders for their courtesy to me and reiterate in closing the very strong and unyielding commitment of the United States to the Asia-Pacific region and to APEC. Thank you very much.

(end transcript)

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