(00:00:00) We're honored to welcome our speaker back to the Upper Midwest region where he grew up as you may know Warren Christopher is a Norwegian from a small town in North Dakota. And mr. Secretary. We will not hold that against you some have commented on what may be described is Warren Christopher's restrained personality, but this can be taken too far in his first trip abroad as Secretary of State. He visited Egypt and the next week a huge picture appeared in these Newsweek showing him visiting the Sphinx. You may have seen it and the caption under the photo said Warren Christopher is the one on the left. The secretary has come a long way from the small town of Scranton North Dakota. It was a time when the Dakotas were hit by the same horrible drought and dust storms that brought Devastation to much of our region. It is an experience that touches a person for Life Hubert Humphrey used to say I learned more about economics 41 South Dakota dust storm that I did in all my years in college during the Depression his family, like so many others moved to California in search of opportunity. It was there that he embarked on his successful career graduating from Stanford law school serving as head of one of the nation's leading law firms and becoming one of that communities most respected Civic leaders. And at the same time he became one of our most distinguished and experienced public servants. He served four years as our deputy secretary of state shepherding the Panama Canal treaty through Congress serving as our chief spokesman on human rights abroad and successfully negotiating the release of our hostages in Iran on the last day that we were in office for this. He received our nation's highest civilian award the presidential medal of freedom, but his talents have not been applied only overseas in the aftermath of the Rodney King beating Warren Christopher successfully led a very difficult and delicate investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department and his findings led to the resignation of the chief of police and to the reorganization of that department years earlier. He had been Vice chairman of the McCone commission, which investigated the cause of the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1865 this brought him to the attention of President Johnson who nominated him to be Deputy attorney general in that role. He was instrumental in coordinating the federal response to the rioting of the American cities and getting Congress to pass the 1980 68 Civil Rights Act, which I was privileged to be the chief author last year. He supervised the selection of Al Gore as Bill Clinton's vice presidential running mate. He led the presidential transition between November and January and now as Secretary of State he holds what is probably the most challenging and demanding of all cabinet assignments. He is the First new secretary of state since the end of the Cold War but as we've already seen he inherits a world that remains a dangerous and complicated place. The very fact that he is with us here today says something about the challenge of foreign policy in these times. We are strong internationally only to the extent that we are strong at home. And only when we understand this connection in a recent profile one writer observed Warren Christopher's personal and professional conduct reflects reflects at FOC apiece. A preference for logic to force and for compromise to war perhaps what marks him most is his deeply felt belief dating from the depression that ordinary people can play mightily for the mistakes of men in power. I believe that describes the kind of person we should want in a position of such great power and responsibility. I'm glad that Warren Christopher is there and I know we're all glad that he's with us here today. Please join me in welcoming Secretary of State Warren (00:04:30) Christopher. ladies and gentlemen and particularly two groups in the audience the University of Minnesota students who understand her down here right in front. I'm very glad that you're here today and although I can't see them. I understand there's a group of high school students up in the upper balcony. I'm particularly glad you're here today. Fritz thank you. I've never had such a nice introduction. I'm delighted to be back in the Upper Midwest is the vice president said Scranton North Dakota was where I grew up. It was such a small town that we had no Daily newspaper and thus I depended upon the Minneapolis Tribune for the news which was brought only one day late. I grew up on gopher football. I think I could probably still name some of the members of the 1935 team. Let's see pug landed fullback Julie Alphonse at halfback. I could go on but I won't that's enough for Nostalgia. Fortunately at Fritz is about the only person in the audience who could check up on me. And those Depression years I learned politics should be about helping people. Through my life and in my career no single state has produced more caring politicians than Minnesota notable among them Fritz Mondale. Fritz Mondale is a man that I've been proud to work with and stand with for nearly 30 years as he said we work together to advance Justice at home and human rights abroad we work together as he said to win the approval of the Panama Canal treaties and the Taiwan relations act two of the signature Endeavors of the Carter Administration. We also work together on behalf of Southwest Southeast Asian refugees and to avoid to prevent the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction. In recent years a Fritz has worked to promote democracy and human rights around the world as chairman of the national Democratic Institute where ever he is gone around the world Fritz has shown America's most decent face to the world and when he has been here in the United States, he's reminded Americans of our most inspiring (00:07:27) values. (00:07:30) I'm especially pleased to be here today speaking at a great State University that honors the memory of Hubert Humphrey his achievements on the domestic front were so imaginative and so important from civil rights to Medicare that we sometimes forget the lasting contributions. He made in the field of international affairs. Like many of his contemporaries Hubert Humphrey knew what he was against communism and repression but like few others. He was also just as passionate about what he stood for and what America ought to stand for in the world. Peace and Freedom he know where America should go and as much as anyone in his generation he knew how to get there. The arms control and Dubai and disarmament agency known as actor the nuclear Test Ban Treaty the Peace Corps the food for peace program. These are all part of Hubert's Legacy Hubert's ideas made the world better by bringing out the best in America. This is one of a series of speech. I'll be speeches. I'll be giving around the United States. I'm concerned about the people of the United States and I want to make sure that foreign policy isn't foreign to the people of the United States. At the state department. We have a desk for virtually every foreign country a China desk and Brazil desk and a Russia desk a secretary of state. I'm determined we will also have an American desk, but I will sit behind it. My principal Mission and I remind myself of this whenever I can is to advance the vital interests and values of the citizens of the United States. That's my job. I want to help American businesses succeed in our global economy. And that's why I visited Honeywell earlier today to discuss their investments in Russia. It was an inspiring visit to a very great company. I was reminded that Americans ought to be concerned about their businesses and especially that American secretaries of State ought to visit American businesses more often as I did Honeywell today. I also want to underscore our unshakeable commitment to Human Rights and that's why I'll be visiting later today the center for victims of torture here in Minneapolis. And I want to make America. Willing to go ahead with the essential Investments for our national security and that's why I've come here to talk to you today about American policy toward Russia. No relationship. No relationship is more important to our long-term security than our strategic relationship with Russia. Today's students you who are out here in front of me are the first generations of Americans to have come of age in the post-cold War era. It is your generation that will Define America's Destiny in The Next Century. It is your generation will decide to what purpose of America's leadership will be put and where we will put our power. Today I want to talk about our new opportunity to make a better debt of democratic world as we meet the people of Russia are struggling heroically to build a free society and a market economy if they succeed the payoffs for America promise to be profound. And they reduce the threat of nuclear war in lower defense budgets and in the vast new markets that can fuel Global Perspective prosperity and can help create jobs for Americans. On the other hand if the form fails in Russia if it reverts to dictatorship or collapses into Anarchy, the consequences would be quite a poly the shadow of nuclear confrontation would return our peace dividend would be cancelled cooperation in foreign policy would vanish and the worldwide movement toward democracy would suffer a devastating setback. America faces a choice either we will do all we can to help Russia's reformers succeed or we will stand aside take our chances in just watch events unfold. If we take the ladder course if we stand aside we will forfeit a rare chance to shape a more peaceful world. Some believe that with the end of the Cold War America ought to step back step back from the world stage. What a disservice that would be to all Americans especially to Young Americans like you you deserve the same chance. My generation had to fulfill America's unique Destiny to promote freedom and democracy around the world. Some say and I'm sure you've heard this said that our nation is on a course of decline that we can no longer afford to lead. And certainly it is true that the United States faces many challenges unlike our nation has ever felt before in our history. But to mean to me that means we must be more engaged internationally not less more Ardent in the promotion of democracy motion of democracy, not less and more inspired in our leadership not less. America must lead because the need for American leadership is undiminished. We are a blessed and a powerful Nation. We must shoulder our responsibility for world leadership. United States stands prepared to act decisively to protect our interests wherever and whenever necessary when it is necessary, we will act unilaterally to protect our interests. We are more Collective responses are appropriate will lead in mobilizing such Collective responsibilities. But let me make it clear today make no mistake. United States will lead. At two other points in this Century America faced a similar choice to the one that we face today. The first defining moment for American leadership in this Century came in 1918 in the aftermath of world war one after that terrible conflict Europe lay devastated and demoralized Empires that had stood for centuries collapsed overnight violent revolution and revenge erupted amid, the chaos the world look to United States for strength and for a moral Vision to ensure a lasting. Peace. That was the dream of President Wilson. He was a Visionary who had a profound grasp of the truth of the bloody 20th century. He knew that American leadership is the linchpin of a just International System. But Wilson's plan to join the League of Nations was defeated in Congress instead of deciding to lead the United States chose to retreat for America and the world the consequences were just tragic within a decade. The storm clouds gathered Hitler became Germany's chancellor Chancellor and six years later Germany marched into Czechoslovakia a militaristic Japan invaded Manchuria fascist. Italy conquered Ethiopia and the systematic prosecution and destruction of Europe's Jews commenced. All the while America reclined in isolationism the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor shattered a false. Peace. And nearly 300,000 Americans gave their lives on the battlefields of Europe and in the Pacific to help America win World War 2. Then came the second defining moment for American leadership American saw European Democracies teetering on the edge economies lying in Ruins. Communist dictatorships consolidating their hold in Eastern Europe the Iron Curtain descending in a cold war chilling the new piece. Once again the world look to America's strength and moral Force to build peace from the ruins of War. But this time America responded positively. It took principled presidential leadership in bipartisan statement ship to win Congressional approval and Lasting public support. Fortunately at that time. We were blessed with leaders Truman Atchison Marshall Vandenberg leaders who had learned the bitter lessons of 1918 together the Democrats and the Republicans put the pillars of peace and security into place pillars like the Bretton Woods agreement the Marshall Plan and NATO and those pillars still stood as the Berlin Berlin Wall felt in very recent times put simply communism Was Defeated Freedom was defended in our values Triumph. In the late 1940s. I had just returned from the Pacific serving World War II and I was attending law school. I remember the atmosphere at that time. It was like a real Herriman once said most Americans wanted to do nothing more than go to the movies and have a Coke. And yet the American people saw what was at stake and they exercised their common sense. They accepted the necessarily the necessity of American leadership in the post-cold war world. They understood it was right. It was necessary and that it was very much an America's interest. We spent literally trillions of dollars to deter the Communist threat and we put the lives of our finest Young Americans on the line to preserve Freedom. The sacrifices were great, but the payoffs were even greater My Generation enjoyed security and unparalleled prosperity and we help turn our former wartime adversaries Germany and Japan into peacetime allies and into leading Partners in the Democratic community. Now certainly, I recognize that there are differences between the situation we faced after the two world wars and the situation today, but there are also important parallels that ought to guide us. We must recognize the need for American leadership. The need for bipartisanship in our foreign policy the need to make investments now to avoid far larger expenditures and a much more dangerous World later and the need to sought to talk sense to the American people. Even as we make the tough choices to put our economy at home in order, we must extend a hand of cooperation to the people of the former Soviet Union. not out of Charity, but out of responsibility to ourselves to secure our own interest in to defend our values helping democracy succeed in Russia is probably the wisest and least expensive investment that we can make today in America's security A democratic Russia creates a new political landscape today Russia is showing a willingness to work with the United States and other nations to prevent the spread of conflict in Bosnia and to exert pressure for a political outcome. Our new relationship with Russia gives us a chance to work together on some of the world's problems and to carry out preventive diplomacy and conflict prevent conflict. Let me tell you what a tremendous pleasure. It is to work on the same side of the table as the Russian diplomats. I spent last week doing that and it's a world of difference from the days of the late 1970s when you couldn't talk to the Russians about the time of day without getting into a polemical argument now, we're working together and it's a tremendous Advantage for the United States. The need for action in the United States to cooperate with Russia is only reinforced by the results of Russia's April 25th referendum in what I think was one of the Great Expressions of democratic Faith the Russian people reaffirmed their commitment to political and economic reform in that referendum. While the experts insisted that the Russians had grown cynical and apathetic about democracy nearly two-thirds of them came to the polls a percentage that would often put us to shame even more remarkable was the outcome of the referendum itself after about 18 months of painful economic reforms a strong majority of Russian people expressed their support. Not only for president Yeltsin, but they asked for more reform. Vice president Mondale and I were talking about that this morning and I think not very many American politicians would like to have a referendum on their economic plans right about now. President Clinton whose support of Yeltsin and reform has been such a major factor during this period gave his strong and unflinching support to president Yeltsin and without overdoing the effect of America frankly. I think it made a difference. President Clinton is determined to meet the challenge of leadership to tip the global balance in favor of Freedom. That's why he has led America into this Alliance for Russian reform working closely with the Democrats in Russia. That's small D and it with our Western allies. The president has developed a two-part strategy to support the new Russian revolution first. They focused program of u.s. Initiatives to help the development of Russian democracy and second a large-scale packages package of measures to support a transformation of the Russian economy a package. Jointly sponsored by the world's major industrial democracies and its major financial (00:22:19) institutions. (00:22:25) President Clinton is delivering on the commitments that he made president Yeltsin had Vancouver in early April commitments that were which were so important. I think to the outcome of the referendum. the president pledged to concessional loans for agricultural products carrying out very soon. Russia will sign a 700 million dollar food for Progress concessional loan agreement an agreement that will provide aid for Russia and just not incidentally an agreement that will also help wheat corn and soybean Farmers here in the Midwest. The president pledged support for privatization in Russia and now u.s. Teams are in Russia helping to establish Capital markets, including a fledgling stock market and establishing an Enterprise fund to invest in start-up businesses in Russia. The president pledged support for student exchange programs as part of the Democracy core and now more than 2,000 Russian students will come to America in the next several weeks as part of democracy summer. Other parts of the Vancouver program are also moving ahead. We're working to revive the energy sector in Russia to enable Russia to earn hard currency and to lessen us dependence on Persian Gulf Oil. We're also helping to resettle the immobilized Russian soldiers an action that will enable them to withdraw more swiftly from the neighboring countries. I want to outline for you briefly. The basic principles that have guided President Clinton's initiative with respect to Russia. First we want to deliver quick and tangible benefits to the Russian people. If the faith that they demonstrated in last month's referendum is to be sustained. They must see that their beneficiaries of Reform and not its victims. And if Americans are to support this initiative we must and we will make sure that our Aid is not just well-intentioned but also well spent. A Congressional Delegation led by House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt recently saw firsthand how the United States is helping to make privatization work. They observed auction centers into Russian cities both funded by niaid and operated by Price Waterhouse auction centers to carry out the sale of state-owned Enterprises. Second we need to assist Russia's conversion to a market economy, ultimately increased interaction with the world's economy far more than us. Aid will transform Russia for its part. Russia's need Russia needs to establish the necessary legal and political conditions to attract foreign investment. Investment that we hope will include businesses that will create American jobs. For our part President Clinton has ordered a full review of coast of Cold War laws and regulations. Those were laws that were meant to restrict trade with the Communist Soviet Union, but now they only impede our relations with a democratic Russia to the maximum extent possible consistent with our interest here in the United States. American Market should be completely open to competitive Russian products and similarly Americans be allowed to export our goods and Technology to Russia. As a third principle, we want to dramatically expand efforts to send American Business and Trade union officials farmers and Community leaders to Russia. We want to increase contact and cooperation between our armed forces and the Russian military we want to bring tens of thousands of Russians the United States where they can experience the sights sounds and practices of a thriving democracy in a market economy these two countries which have lived in relative isolation for the last 40 years now have an opportunity to draw closer together through the interaction and interchange of our citizens from students to mature businessmen. Our exchange programs will place a special emphasis on the younger generation of Russians and Americans and rightly. So, I hope that each of you will consider taking part in one of these programs. As a fourth principle our assistance to Russia must reinforce United States security this approach means helping Russia and its neighbors dismantle their dangerous nuclear arsenals. This is simply the best security that our money can buy V our assistance efforts must not take place in isolation, but must be part of a larger problem larger partnership between Russia and the International Community. That is why President Clinton's strategy to support Russia's democracy is tied to a large-scale multilateral initiative with our principal industrial Partners around the world. This multilateral program was announced last month in Tokyo at a quite extraordinary meeting of foreign and finance ministers from the seven major industrialized countries and Russia at that meeting Russia's representatives and their young and very able outlined a bold new program to control Russia's money supply to cut its budget deficits to undertake even more fundamental economic reform inflation must be brought under control and Russia and I'm glad to say there are some signs that had maybe finally commenting on it coming under control. In response to such actions the world's leading democracies and working through the international monetary fund and the World Bank announced their Readiness to provide Russia with financial support financial support 15 billion dollars of Russian foreign debt has been rescheduled so they can handle it the multilateral package announced at Tokyo amounts to more than 28 billion dollars to help Russia stabilize. Its currency Finance critical Imports and divest itself of Highly inefficient State Enterprises. The disbursements of these resources will be closely linked to Russia's progress and economic reform in contrast to Prior assistance efforts that Tokyo program sets realistic standards for Russia's performance. We plan to match Russia's progress with a prompt infusion of resources that will reinforce reform and will benefit Russian people at the Grassroots level. At the meeting in Tokyo and April United States committed itself to going beyond the pledges we made at Vancouver. We put forth we put on the table a 1.8 billion dollar additional proposal to support efforts for reform in Russia. I'm very pleased to tell you that only yesterday the funding for that proposal was approved by the house subcommittee that oversees these matters chaired very efficiently and effectively by Dave OB from your neighboring state of, Wisconsin. I'm also pleased to say that the support for Russia in Congress is bipartisan. It crosses the Isles it enables us to make the kind of progress necessary to achieve the goals. We've set out. We made important progress. We made important progress in the days since Vancouver and I'm hopeful and confident that we can sustain that progress until the summit meeting in July when we hope to get another burst of enthusiasm and commitment to supporting free markets and democracy and Russia. only closest allies can really get together to help Russia in the way that our allies are moving together to assist at the present time. They know that it's in their interest as well Canada Germany, Japan and Great Britain of each denounced substantial Aid packages in the last two months. We hope that by The Summit in Tokyo in July will be able to announce our agreements with the Allies to support the creation of a special privatization fund. We will work closely in this effort with Japan and Germany and we hope that Japan has the host of the Tokyo meeting realizes the leading role. It can play not only in Tokyo this summer, but thereafter it helping deliver the kind of total package that will secure Russia's place in the community of Nations. (00:31:11) Now I think (00:31:12) all of us in Washington realize that asking American taxpayers to help Russia is not an easy request, especially when we pay when we Face important challenges here at home. But I disagree with those who think it's wrong or politically unwise to ask the American people to support a program. That is so clearly in our national interest. That's why we are asking and that's why we were asking now, I urge you to support the president's plan to help Russia democracy succeed. I'm convinced this investment in Russia's democracy is essential for America's future security. I'm especially asking young people like you here today to make your choice. I am not among those who thinks your generation is disengaged or cynical or apathetic to what happens in the world around you don't let your critics tell you short I believe you deserve more credit and I ask you today to help prove me, right? I asked you to think about telling your parents your peers and your representatives in Congress that you understand the vital link between the success of Russian democracy and America's long-term security. You understand that freedom abroad means opportunity in America. You understand that assistance to our friends in Russia is insurance against having enemies in Russia. If we do not act today your generation May inherit an America of few choices in many burdens, you may inherit an America of lost opportunities. We may never build a national service program if we miss the opportunity now, we may never be able to fund a Head Start program for a full for poor children funded as fully as we want to (00:33:01) do (00:33:03) if we miss the opportunity today, we may never be able to afford the Technologies. We need to clean up our environment unless we help Russian democracy. We will pay the price and my responsibilities together with you is not to let that happen. (00:33:20) We've (00:33:20) come so far we've spent so much we've earned the promise of a safer Freer and better world to retreat now would be to walk away from nearly a half-century of American leadership sacrifice and commitment. Our purpose over the last half century was to arrive right where we are today to be able to ask the American people to form a partnership with Russia because his it is in America's most fundamental National interest. That's why we asked that's why I asked that's why we are confident Congress and the American people each of you will respond affirmatively when we make this request to measure up to our mutual responsibilities by supporting democracy and freemarkets in Russia, because it is in our own National self-interest. Thank you very much. (00:34:14) Secretary of State Warren Christopher speaking from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis secretary now taking the Applause of the standing room only audience here at the cabman concert hall. If you understood Minnesota School of Music this event organized and sponsored by universities Humphrey Institute of public affairs. Here are the questions for (00:34:36) mr. Secretary. The first question from the audience is the following will the u.s. Insist upon the removal of all nuclear weapons in the Commonwealth of independent states. And if not, what's a Curative measures will be employed to safeguard their use (00:34:53) Well, we are on the road to the removal of all nuclear weapons from the independent states and their concentration in Russia. The agreements reached by the nations of the former Soviet Union is to become members of the non-proliferation treaty to ratify start one that is the commitment of those of the newly independent states, which have nuclear weapons. We're moving in that direction. There's been progress in Kazakhstan. There's been progress and in Belarus and we are hopeful that the legislature and Ukraine May soon ratify start one and it will be moving in the direction of concentrating the nuclear weapons in in Russia and adding that element of security to us that is a high priority of the Clinton Administration and it's one that we'll be working toward. The fundamental tenets of our program of providing aid for the countries of the former Soviet Union as well as (00:35:59) Russia. A high-ranking state department official was quoted as saying that the US will relinquish its role as the world's policeman. I am interested in your (00:36:11) reaction. My own view is that the United States responsibilities for world leadership are undiminished. We're determined as I said in my remarks to lead. Our responsibility to lead is probably greater now than it's ever been because the are we are the nation we are the world's sole superpower. We will try to lead wisely and judiciously but lead we will and make no doubt about that. The United States will take action unilaterally when necessary in some instances will proceed with our with our friends and allies around the world and those instances, of course, we will consult with them. But our leadership is undiminished and we are determined that United States will fulfill its responsibilities in the world. So those views are not consistent with My Views My Views are that the United States role is a tremendously important one for the world and we do not intend to Forfeit our responsibilities (00:37:15) In regards to the situation in Bosnia, where do you and the Clinton Administration stand on committing United States Ground Forces? (00:37:26) I see the questions are very good today. Since this is the Hubert Humphrey school. Maybe you will indulge me if I take a moment to put this question in somewhat greater context to the country of Bosnia-Herzegovina was formed only a little bit more than a year ago. It's a small country smaller than our state of West Virginia and it's populated by three groups the Muslims the crow assets and the serbs they are groups of ancient rivalries of ancient hatreds. They have different religions. They have different customs and they've been fighting each other for centuries. Not long after the country was formed a little bit more than a year ago war broke out between the three of them and it's been going on since then. And it's been a bloody war filled with atrocities that are quite unspeakable the serbs aided by the serbs from neighboring Serbia have been winning that war because they were left with a tremendous advantage of armament of heavy weapons ten or twelve to one advantage and the arms embargo has no doubt unintentionally operated to freeze that advantage in favor of the Bosnian serbs and against the Muslims now, it's in that setting that United States has tried to be helpful on this problem. It's a problem. We inherited from the prior Administration and without putting too fine a point on it. It's a problem would have been dealt with much better in 1992 the 1993, but we're here and we're trying to do our best on the problem President Clinton has approached this problem with two fundamental precepts first that we Act multilaterally that is we would act with our allies and not alone. It's a problem that's in the center of Europe. It's a problem that Europe knows a lot about and so we determined that it was appropriate for us in this instance. As I say, it's an exception probably than the rule that we would act multilaterally with our allies and second the president determined that we would not put our ground troops into Bosnia except to carry out a peace agreement that have been entered into in good faith between the parties. Within the context of those two basic principles. The president has LED and he has been effective. We have I think been effective in getting two of the parties to sign the van. So when agreement or helping to induce them to that we've established air drops and and flights to provide humanitarian Aid we persuaded our allies to establish a no-fly zone. We have stepped up sanctions enforcement generally speaking. We have been as effective as we could be within the context of the president's to precepts. We've also established together with other members of the security Council a war crimes tribunal approved only this week to try to remind those who were involved in these atrocities that they had to answer to the International Community. Most recently last week. Once again. We sought to lead we brought together our allies from Europe. That is France England Spain and Russia to discuss this matter and we announced a series of principles last him last Saturday in Washington under the leadership of the United States. They involved the creation of safe havens the attempt to establish a monitoring between the borders of Serbia and Bosnia to prevent further supplies from going into Bosnia. We're working hard at this problem. We have three goals at the present time one to increase the pressure on the serbs to roll back their gains second to contain the conflict and third to Stop The Killing and we'll continue to work at that providing leadership within the within the context of the president's two principles. But to answer the specific question United States does not intend to put troops on the ground in Bosnia accepted to implement a fully agreed peace agreement, it's a morass it's a quagmire and I think the context of our policy requires that we carry out do the best we can with the steps that we have. (00:42:05) Thank you Do you believe it is wise policy to attach human rights Provisions to the renewal of mfn status for China on June 4th, given the potential detrimental effects. It could have on us business Enterprise in Asia. (00:42:22) That's a very timely question and my answer will be a little easier because the president said this morning on the national television that he had decided to go ahead and extend the most Favored Nations treatment for China subject to Human Rights conditions, which are quite stringent. That is we will grant this preference of most Favored Nations. But only on the understanding that the China will improve its human rights policies between now and the next renewal which is a year from now, I think the president has decided wisely in this instance. I think that this approach will not interfere with the US business opportunities to China is a tremendous Market United States is interested in Asia. We're interested in maintaining good relationships with China. We're interested in having the China Market available to United States business. It has now the second largest Trade Surplus with you. State second only to Japan. So we are concerned about the trade aspects of the matter. But we're also concerned to pursue our our human rights policy our non-proliferation policy and our fair trade policy with China. So I think the president has decided wisely will grant most Favored Nations on on human rights conditions that and I would predict that that will not interfere with the pursuit of trade opportunities by us businesses in China. (00:43:53) Despite the end of the Cold War why has US policy towards Cuba remain unchanged for over 30 years. And do you agree that the continuance of the Embargo which also ultimately affects the Cuban people more adversely than it affects the Cuban (00:44:07) government. Our administration supports the Cuban democracy act which provides for a continuation of the Embargo but also provides for new opportunities for communication between the United States and Cuban citizens. We feel that despite the end of the Cold War that Castro or remains a relic of the past a someone who is mired in the Communist ideologies of an earlier day on until that is change. The United States does not Envision normal or customary relationships with Cuba. We would look forward to a different day. But as long as Cuba is as long as Cuba is governed by Castro and his devoted colleagues as long as he continues to impose a doctrinaire communism on Cuba. We think that it's best to follow the congressionally mandated Cuban democracy act looking for opportunities in Communication with that act (00:45:10) calls for it. Mr. Secretary, this is your last question comes from a high school student in your years of service. What have you learned about the role that terrorism has and will play in future foreign policy. (00:45:24) Well, that's a very good question and one that is constant worry toward me but me terrorism is one of the most significant phenomena and the coast pulled war post-cold war period it's a one of the worries that I think is come front and center now that the Specter of a threat from Russia has diminished so intensely. Terrorism by our adversaries around the world, especially in the Middle East is a threat to world peace and stability. There are a number of countries that are exporters of terrorism. I would put Iran near the top of that list supporting terrorist movements is movements in the region around Iran reach out like spokes to the Pitchfork to the countries around Iran a causing difficulty causing turmoil causing problems. And I think I would have to list that as one of the significant problems. We must address in this new era the state department since I arrived and that my Direction has formed a new Under secretary ship for Global matters for cross-cutting issues issues, like human rights and population and environment and one of those cross-cutting issues is Terrorism. We're going to be voting devoting more. Our resources and more of our power to trying to bring to an end the terrorism that has as rock the world and has been such an adverse influence. Let me say before I end what a tremendous pleasure. It's been to be here today at the questions where outstanding I wish I could stay and talk about them for a long time because they're questions that caused me to search Within Myself for the the answers that I must try to apply as I do my work day in and day out but it's been a tonic to come out here to Minnesota close to a place where I was at was born and raised in to be with you here to remember Hubert Humphrey and especially to be with my friend Fritz Mondale who's been a close friend and in many ways one of my strongest supporters and advisors over the years. So thank you ever so much for being such a breath of God.