Try our new search engine

Clinton Finds Obstacles, Opportunities On World Stage

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AllPolitics, Nov. 23) -- With a Republican-led Congress back home, domestic accomplishments are likely to prove harder to achieve in the final three years of Bill Clinton's presidency.

So he is looking more frequently to the international stage to make his mark.

As the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum begins its meeting in British Columbia on Monday, Clinton's personal prestige and America's global leadership are being put to the test.

Calming Asian financial markets is the summit's top priority. A multi-billion dollar international bailout is in the works. And Clinton says there is no need for panic.

"We have a few little glitches in the road here; we're working through them," Clinton said Sunday at a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

And there are land mines. Chretien is pushing an international ban on land mines, but the United States is refusing to sign it. Clinton said that while he backs the idea, a land mine ban would put U.S. troops in South Korea at risk.

Free trade is a major U.S. theme at these meetings, but Clinton is a bit defensive on this issue. He arrived in Vancouver with a weakened hand, after Congress -- led by his fellow Democrats -- refused to give him expanded trade negotiating authority.

The president also was embarrassed by Congress' rejection of his request for $3.5 billion in additional financing for the International Monetary Fund.

On the showdown between the United Nations and Iraq over weapons inspectors, Clinton said at the news conference that "the crisis may not be over."

"It is clear that there is a massive amount of work that has to be done there, especially in the chemical and biological areas in order for (the U.N. Special Commission) to fulfill the mandate that has been given by the U.N.," Clinton said.

Next week, the global warming debate takes center stage in Kyoto, Japan.

The United States and industrial allies are pushing developing nations like China to commit to curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

CNN White House Correspondent John King contributed to this report.

In Other News:

Weekend Nov. 22 & 23, 1997

• Clinton Finds Obstacles, Opportunities On World Stage
• Clinton Denounces Denver's Racial Violence
• Report: Memo Recommends Against Probe Of Gore