Clinton expects G-7 action to fight terrorism
U.S. proposes changes following Saudi attack
June 27, 1996
Web posted at: 11:15 a.m. EDT (1515 GMT)PEROUGES, France (CNN) -- With the bombing in Saudi Arabia on his mind, President Clinton said Thursday he expected G-7 participants to approve "40 very specific" U.S.-proposed measures to track, capture and punish terrorists. (255K AIFF or WAV sound)
The leaders from the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, Italy, Canada and France -- the group of seven -- were to open an economic summit later in the day in Lyon, France.
Addressing a crowd in the rural village of Perouges, northeast of Lyon, Clinton repeated his pledge that the United States "will not rest in our efforts to discover who is responsible (for Tuesday's bombing that killed 19 servicemen), to track them down and bring them to justice."
Historic surroundings
Perouges was freed from Nazi occupation by U.S. and French resistance forces in 1944. In his speech, Clinton challenged world leaders to "rally the forces of tolerance and freedom" against terrorism, calling for the same kind of allied solidarity that existed during World War II.
"Fifty-two years ago, the French resistance worked here in common cause with American GIs to win your freedom back. Now, we must join together to face down a new threat to our freedom," Clinton said.
Perogues Mayor Guy Passarat de la Chapelle welcomed the president and Hillary Rodham Clinton and introduced them to an audience that included World War II veterans. The mayor presented Clinton with an honorary medal and called for a moment of silence for the victims of the Saudi bombing.
Clinton spoke beneath the so-called Tree of Liberty in Perouges, which was planted in 1792 after the French Revolution.
Surrounded by American flags, the president declared, "We must rally the forces of tolerance and freedom everywhere to work against terrorism." (230K AIFF or WAV sound)
Clinton to attend memorials
Clinton was to meet Thursday afternoon with French President Jacques Chirac, British Prime Minister John Major and Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. In the evening, the G-7 leaders were expected to issue a statement condemning the Saudi attack and other acts of terror.
The president planned to leave the summit earlier than planned to attend memorials for the slain servicemen. He is to fly Saturday to Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for a Sunday morning memorial service.
A second service is planned Sunday afternoon at Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Correspondents Jill Dougherty, Wolf Blitzer and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Grieving families await bodies of Saudi blast victims - June 27, 1996
- G-7 leaders assemble amid protests, renewed concern about terrorism - June 27, 1996
- Yeltsin to skip G-7 conference - June 19, 1996
- G-7 expresses concerns about global economy, Russia - January 21, 1996
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