THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release February 25, 1993 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH CLOSE UP FOUNDATION STUDENTS FROM ARKANSAS The Oval Office 4:01 P.M. EST Q Mr. President, do you care to say any more about the operational details of the airlift? THE PRESIDENT: No. Q How about explaining to the American people why it's an important issue for the United States to undertake? THE PRESIDENT: What? Q Why is it an important mission for us to put people at risk for that? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'll say again, General Powell believes the risk is quite limited and not appreciably more than many training flights that our airmen do every year. It's important because we believe if -- number one, there are a lot of people over there who need the food and can't get it by road, so it's a humanitarian gesture. And secondly, we think if we do it we will be able to create a somewhat better climate for negotiations, and we're pushing to try to have good-faith negotiations. So we're hoping it works out. THE PRESS: Thank you. END4:03 P.M. EST