President Clinton. I am delighted to welcome my friend, President Mubarak, and his delegation from Egypt back to the White House to reaffirm the close partnership between the United States and Egypt. Under the wise and courageous leadership of President Mubarak, Egypt has been a key partner with the United States in working to build both regional security and global peace. I commend him for his vision and his dedication. Nowhere has that been more crucial than in Egypt's own region.

The War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia began its first trial in The Hague today. This marks the beginning of a historic process—to bring justice for serious violations of international law, including genocide, to the attention of the international community

President Clinton. Please be seated. Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Peres back to the White House. For as long as there has been a prospect of peace in the Middle East, Shimon Peres has stood at the forefront, striving to bring a new day of security and harmony to the people of Israel and to all the people of the region.

This afternoon I met with my senior national security team to review the situation in Bosnia. I received a report on this weekend's meeting in Rome with the Presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.

Iraq's agreement to implement UNSCR 986 is long-overdue and represents an important victory in the Security Council's efforts since 1991 to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. Iraq's belated decision to implement UNSCR 986 demonstrates once again that it will act in accordance with the requirements established by the Security Council only when the Council stands firm in refusing to negotiate lesser terms. It validates the long-standing U.S. view that there can be no discussion of modification to the overall sanctions regime until Iraq has met fully all its obligations to the UN. It makes clear that Iraq's current leadership has been and remains responsible for the suffering of the Iraqi people.

Europe's future will be shaped by one of two very different paths: either by the divisive intolerance that left Bosnia in ruins or by the democratic integration to which most nations in this region aspire. For the right choice to prevail, there is a challenge you must meet, a challenge the United States must meet, and a challenge we must meet together.

You will be aware from our discussions at the EU-U.S. summit in Washington in June and from your meetings during the recent G7 in Lyons of the deep and widespread concern in Europe over the potential application of the Helms Burton legislation to European companies. As you know, the EU and the United States share the same common desire to promote democracy, respect for human rights and market economics in Cuba. The European Council meeting in Florence in June has regretted that political circumstances in Cuba have not allowed progress to be made. However, the European Council also expressed its deep concern over the extraterritorial effects of the “Cuban Liberty and Solidarity (Libertad) Act” and believes that such action taken against partners and allies does nothing to further these objectives in Cuba.

Obviously, I'm not with the Secretary. I just saw the press reports on this. I don't know everything that he said, but I think he was referring to Helms-Burton in general. The fact is that the way that foreign companies will be affected is that after the date of the law, those that invest in Cuba will be affected. It will not pertain to those who perhaps were there in decades past, and that's what he was referring to. But since I haven't seen the full text of what he said—and I think he's also just now giving a press conference—I'd rather wait until I see the full text and then get back to you.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been briefed by the National Security Advisor on the shooting down today in broad daylight of two American civilian airplanes by Cuban military aircraft. We are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident, including the airplane's flight plan and the flight route and what, if any, warnings were given.

A little later this morning, President Preval will be meeting with the President. As the first democratically elected President to succeed an elected incumbent, his visit marks a turning point in Haitian history and in U.S.-Haitian relations. President Preval will also be talking to Members of Congress about the need for economic reform in Haiti, as well as his vision for the development of the rule of law and democratic institutions in Haiti, and the importance of continued U.S. support in these areas.