THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Denver, Colorado)

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For Immediate Release

June 20, 1997

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND PRIME MINISTER PRODI OF ITALY
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

The Brown Palace Hotel
Denver, Colorado




4:25 P.M. MDT

Q Mr. President, could we ask you one question, again -- I'm sorry -- on tobacco? Apparently, Mr. Kessler is already a little bit skeptical about the agreement, particularly as it concerns regulating nicotine levels. Could the White House be in a position of rejecting this agreement? What are your concerns over nicotine levels, regulation?

PRESIDENT CLINTON: That we could be in a position of rejecting it or accepting it -- I haven't seen it yet.

I received a letter -- I was told that I received a letter after I left to come out here, from Dr. Kessler and Dr. Koop -- both of whom, as you know, have worked with me very closely on this issue -- asking for a reasonable amount of time for them to evaluate this. And I think that they should evaluate it and of course I care very deeply about what they say. I have worked with them on a whole range of issues. And we want to see what it says.

The test should be, does it deserve clear and unambiguous jurisdiction for the FDA in important areas; and, is the money spent in an appropriate way so that we advance the protection of public health and reduce children smoking. That's it. It's a simple test for me and I -- but I can't comment on it because I haven't seen it. And I think that it's the same to them. You would expect them to put up a few little red flags, but we all ought to -- these folks have been working hard and they've done their best and now we should look at it and make our judgments.

Let me say to the American press, while you're here, I want to thank Prime Minister Prodi and the members of his government for the extraordinary leadership that Italy has shown in the Balkans, working with us in Bosnia, being a very effective member of the contact group, providing support for American actions there, without which we would not have been able to proceed. And then, most recently, for really an almost unprecedented effort to lead a multinational force in Albania. I will predict to you that in future years we will look back on this Italian effort and see it as a real watershed in European leadership for promoting security and minimizing disruption.

I just wanted to thank him and say that to you.

PRIME MINISTER PRODI: Thank you.

Q Mr. Prodi, on Bosnia, do you believe that the multinational force should stay after 1998? Do you have any concerns that fighting will still break out?

PRIME MINISTER PRODI: I have some concerns, but we shall talk about that in our conversation. And, of course, the Bosnian situation is very complex and a problem to end it in a short time is not easy to solve. But we came here just to talk of this problem.

Q Thank you.

PRESIDENT CLINTON: I would like to say that it's a great honor for us to have Prime Minister Prodi and the distinguished members of his government here. And I want to also say that the United States is deeply grateful for Italy's leadership in promoting peace in the Balkans, especially the work that we have done together in Bosnia. The United States could not have done its job in Bosnia without the support of Italy.

And I am especially grateful for the leadership that Italy has shown in Albania. It is an almost unprecedented effort to put together a European initiative to minimize the troubles of Albania, which are the kinds of things that we will be dealing with for a long time. And I believe that in years to come we will look back on the Italian effort here as a dramatic historic breakthrough in the capacity of the European nations to promote peace and deal with difficulties.

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