*EPF502 05/05/00
Transcript: Clinton, Japan's Prime Minister May 5 Photo Opportunity
(President, Mori meet in preparation for upcoming G-8 meeting) (560)

President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori of Japan met at the White House May 5 to discuss the G-8 meeting to be held in Okinawa later this year.

Regarding tensions surrounding the large American military presence on Okinawa, Clinton said that the United States has tried to be "sensitive to the concerns of the people and to be highly respectful. And where mistakes have been made, we've tried to correct them and we will continue to do that."

Following is the White House transcript of Clinton's remarks at a photo opportunity prior to their meeting:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary May 5, 2000

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
WITH PRIME MINISTER YOSHIRO MORI OF JAPAN

The Rose Garden

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.

Q: What are you going to talk about?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to talk about our relationship, which is very, very important to both of us. I'm delighted to have Prime Minister Mori here, and anxious to have this chance to visit; and I'm also very much looking forward to going to Okinawa to the G-8 meeting later this year. So we have a lot to visit about.

Q: Is this your first meeting?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. It's our first official meeting, yes. We met briefly once before.

Q: Mr. President, do you intend to talk about trade, and especially the telecommunication dispute?

THE PRESIDENT: We're going to talk about everything, I hope -- everything we have time to talk about.

Q: What's your view of the Japanese economy?

THE PRESIDENT: I think it's getting better, and we're going to talk about what the future is. We support a strong Japanese economy. I think there are a lot of inherent strengths in the economy, most of all in the people and the level of skill and education and capacity to grow. I believe that they will return to big growth, I hope sooner rather than later.

Q: Mr. President, what's your message to the people of Okinawa?

Q: Mr. President, the American economy, is it overheating?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the inflation report yesterday was quite good. And, as you know, this morning the unemployment report is wonderful news for the American people, the lowest in over 30 years now. So I'm hopeful, because combined with yesterday's inflation report, the news is good and we just have to keep on a steady course, keep working.

Q: Mr. President, what's your message to the people of Okinawa when you go there in July? Are you willing to talk with them and explain to them why we need to maintain all those U.S. bases in Okinawa?

THE PRESIDENT: I hope I'll have a chance to speak with them, and I want to talk to the Prime Minister about how we should do that. But we tried to be sensitive to the concerns of the people and to be highly respectful. And where mistakes have been made, we've tried to correct them and we will continue to do that.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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