Informal Exchange With Reporters Prior to a Meeting With Soviet Foreign
Minister Eduard Shevardnadze
Q.
Mr. President, did the Minister bring you new proposals for START or arms
control?
The President. We have only just met
and come out here for this particular purpose, and then we're going back in and
start the meeting.
Q.
But -- must know; hasn't he given you a clue?
The President. We haven't had any
conversation yet.
Q.
Mr. President, what do you think you've accomplished in improving the
relationship over these years? Excuse me. What do you think you've
accomplished? What is the most important thing that you've accomplished since
your first meeting with Minister Shevardnadze?
The President. I know we haven't time
to have a press conference here, but I think I can answer that by simply saying
that I think on virtually every subject that we have discussed, we have made
sizable progress.
Q.
Minister Shevardnadze, how would you assess the relationship now after these
years of working with Mr. Shultz and President Reagan?
The Foreign Minister. We have a very good
relationship, and we have been able to achieve very much over the last few
years.
Q.
Mr. President, do you see any -- --
The President. I think he got cut off,
and then we'll come back to you.
Q.
Mr. President, do you see any advantage to the
The President. This is something that
we haven't had an opportunity to discuss either, and will be discussed.
Q.
What message did Mr. Gorbachev send you?
The President. We haven't had the
meeting yet. I am expecting a message, a letter from him. I haven't seen it
yet, because we haven't had the meeting.
Q.
Mr. Shevardnadze, what's the message?
The President. What?
Q.
I'm asking Mr. Shevardnadze. He apparently knows -- --
The Foreign Minister. It's a long letter.
Q. -- -- a breakthrough on conventional arms? Would
you like to see a breakthrough on conventional arms?
The Foreign Minister. There is in the letter
suggestions on all areas --
--
Q.
Mr. President, is this your last hurrah for U.S.-Soviet relations, personally?
The President. I've got 4 months to
go; I'm not going to sit them out. I'm going to stay busy.
Q.
Senator Byrd believes that you should not be talking about interim agreements, that you should instead be demanding that the
Soviets do something about
The President. Everything you're
mentioning are things that we continue to talk about.
But I think we had better get back and start the meeting.
Q.
Why don't you come and see us after you've talked to him? Maybe you could
answer some of these questions.
The President. I think the Secretary
of State will be talking to you.
Q.
Will you be sending a letter back to Mr. Gorbachev?
The President. It's possible.
Q.
Do you think you'll see Mr. Gorbachev again before you leave office?
Q.
Perhaps in
The Foreign Minister. It's a good
possibility.
Note: The exchange began
at