Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994 TAG: 9405040150
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press Note: lede
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
At a televised forum on foreign policy, Clinton went on the offensive against persistent criticism that he's been an indecisive world leader, telling a questioner in Sarajevo: ``There have been no constant flip-flops, madam.''
Clinton used the occasion to warn Haiti's military leaders that he has not ruled out the use of force to restore democracy. He told North Korea it must permit international inspection of suspected nuclear weapons sites. And he said he wants to avoid revoking China's most-favored trade status but that the loss of those benefits is ``clearly an option on the table.''
Clinton's appearance was televised live around the world by CNN.
``We've had a lot of successes that perhaps have not been as noticed as they should have been,'' the president said in defense of his policies.
He said the two-year civil war in Bosnia and the defiance of the Haitian military were two areas that defied easy solutions. ``At least on the international front, I would say the problems are more difficult than I imagined them to be'' as a candidate, Clinton said.
``I have been willing to risk error and when you do that you get criticism,'' he said.
Rejecting any suggestion that he fire his foreign policy team, Clinton said, ``I think they're up to the job. It's just that they're plowing new ground'' in the aftermath of the Cold War.
He acknowledged that as a candidate he had underestimated the difficulty of forging a coalition with European allies to stand up to Serbian aggression in the former Yugoslavia. Clinton had accused George Bush of failing to take a tough stand.
Clinton decried the ethnic bloodshed that has killed upwards of 200,000 people in Rwanda. He said the United States must provide more humanitarian aid, help deal with the flood of refugees and ``get the political process going again.''
To a questioner from Sarajevo, Clinton angrily rejected the notion that he had engaged in ``constant flip-flops'' on Bosnia.
Spitting out his words, he said, ``There have been no constant flip-flops, madam.''
``I think we have done a very great deal,'' Clinton added. ``Do I wish we could have done more earlier? Do I wish the Europeans and our other allies had totally agreed with me? Of course, I do. But I also respect their differences and their long experience in this area. I did the best I could, I moved as quickly as I could.''
As for Haiti, Clinton said the United States ``cannot afford to discount the prospect of a military option'' to restore democracy and return ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power.
``We have not decided to use force,'' Clinton said. ``All I've said is that we cannot rule it out any more.''
He said Haiti's military rulers have thwarted democracy and have visited ``abject misery on their people. ... Innocent civilians are being killed and mutilated.''
``It is wrong. We have got to do what we can to stop it,'' Clinton said.
On another troubling front, Clinton said he hoped to be able to renew most-favored nation trading status for China, saying Beijing has made ``significant overall progress'' on some but not all human rights problems.
Loss of the China market would deal a severe blow to America's aircraft manufacturers and other industries.
However, he said that revocation of those benefits is ``clearly an option on the table.'' At another point, he said, `` I do not wish that to happen.''
Clinton called on North Korea to honor its obligations to foreswear development of nuclear weapons. If it fails to do so, he said, ``North Korea will be much more isolated ... and in a much more tenuous position.''
Clinton also made these points:
Expressed hope that progress in talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization would be followed by a peace agreement between Israel and Syria. Asked about additional U.S. aid to the Palestinians, Clinton predicted an infusion of capital from private sources, Arab and Jewish.
Said he was determined to ``simply continue to make progress'' toward negotiating expanded trade with Japan. He rejected suggestions that numerical targets represented ``managed trade,'' saying, ``We have to know are we are making progress or not.''
Said the lesson of U.S. involvement in Somalia was that the United States should be willing to help save lives in struggling countries ``but not to solve your problems for you.''
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.