THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.
-------------------------
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Good morning. Maybe I should wait for
the plane, huh?
As all of you know, this morning six-year-old Elian Gonzalez
was reunited with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez. The Department
of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Reno, went to
great lengths to negotiate a voluntary transfer. Even yesterday, the
attorney general worked very hard on this, late into the night,
showing great restraint, patience and compassion.
Page 3 /
When all efforts failed, there was no alternative but to
enforce the decision of the INS and the federal court that Juan
Miguel Gonzalez should have custody of his son. The law has been
upheld, and that was the right thing to do.
I am well aware that this has been a difficult time for all
the parties involved. But let's remember, as I said from the outset,
the most important thing was to treat this in a lawful manner,
according to the established process. This was, in the end, about a
little boy who lost his mother and has not seen his father in more
than five months. I hope, with time and support, Elian and his
father will have the opportunity to be a strong family again.
.STX
Thank you very much.
Q Mr. President, what was your role? And did you give
the go-ahead for the operation?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, I talked to the attorney general
extensively, especially in the last several days, and I supported the
decisions that were made. I think, you know, we talked last evening
last, and then I talked to Mr. Podesta two or three times through the
night. And I believe that it was the right thing to do.
She made the decision. She managed this. But I fully
support what she did. And it was clear to me from our long
conversations that we were in agreement about this. She had a
special feeling, because she was from Miami. She wanted to resolve
this in the most patient way possible to minimize the damage to the
people and the community that she loves so much. But she felt
strongly and I felt strongly that the law had to be upheld and that
Elian had to be reunited with his father. And every conceivable
alternative was tried for quite a long time. And so I think she did
the right thing and I'm very pleased with the way she handled it.
Q What can you say to those Americans who might be
disturbed about the very heavy show of force, sir?
Q (Inaudible) -- father and son?
#### |
