Remarks with Village Business Owner

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Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity with Village Business Owner

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Kampala, Uganda)

___

For Immediate Release

March 24, 1998

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH
VILLAGE BUSINESS OWNER

Foundation for International Community Assistance
Wanyange, Jinja District, Uganda

THE PRESIDENT: You know, one thing I did not say in my remarks I thinkI should point out here, just because of the press here, in explaining thisto people -- all these people who get these loans, they don't have balancesheets, most of them. They don't have an asset and liability sheet forwhich they could get a normal commercial loan. What they have is provenskills and a good reputation for being responsible.

The repayment rate in this FINCA program and throughout all theseprograms across the world is 98 percent -- 98 percent of these loans arepaid back on time. And that's why I say we do $2 million -- I wish we weredoing $100 million. I mean, I can't think of anything else where we haveinvested money that has a 98 percent success rate. It's a stunning thing,just because of this fine woman and people like her all around the world.It?s an amazing thing.

Good for you.

We want to see your baby. (The baby is named after the President.)

MRS. CLINTON: Will you bring your baby down?

MRS... MUSEVENI: How old is he?

MOTHER: Two days.

THE PRESIDENT: My boy, Bill. Oh, he's beautiful. Look at all thishair. I was completely bald until I was two.

Your fourth child? Thank you for doing this. Why did you name thischild after me?

MOTHER: I was expecting two things this month, the baby and the visitof the President. And I got both.

THE PRESIDENT: Look how beautiful he is. He just woke up. Thesmartest person here.

Q Mr. Clinton, what else has impressed you today?

THE PRESIDENT: About this stop? Well, the income that -- these arepeople that start out borrowing $50 in American money. They pay it back,they get another loan; they pay it back, they get another loan. It's likethey're making all these markets -- or entrepreneurs -- you can turn acountry around doing this if you have enough. But it really proves thatpeople should not be written off just because they happen to be born andgrow up in a poor area.

It proves that they are people of intelligence and energy andcharacter, everywhere in the world. All they need is a chance. Andinsofar as we give them a chance, we strengthen nations and we strengthenour future. And in our case, the American people are better off. It's afabulous thing. And I got a little boy out of it.

He's beautiful. Thank you so much.

Q Mr President, we haven't yet had the opportunity to ask you aboutyour decision to invoke executive privilege, sir. Why shouldn't theAmerican people see that as an effort to hide something from them?

THE PRESIDENT: Look, that's a question that's being asked and answeredback home by the people who are responsible to do that. I don't believe Ishould be discussing that here.

Q Could you at least tell us why you think the First Lady might becovered by that privilege? Why her conversation might fall under that?

THE PRESIDENT: All I know is -- I saw an article about it in the papertoday. I haven't discussed it with the lawyers. I don't know. You shouldask someone who does.

Q There is speculation, sir, you're glad to be out of Washingtonfor a couple weeks. Is that the case?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm glad to be doing the business of the UnitedStates and the people. I've looked forward to this for years. And I thinkmost Americans want me to do the job I was elected to do. And so I'm goingto try to do what most people want me to do.

Q What was your reaction to the crowd yesterday? We saw -- thepictures were pretty dramatic.

THE PRESIDENT: I thought it was wonderful. I've never seen so manypeople at an event. But what I was concerned about, there were two peoplethere who were just wedged between the crowd and the barrier, and I wasafraid they would be hurt or perhaps even killed, if we didn't get room forthem. And they got them out and it was fine. It was a wonderful day. Iloved it. Q Have you talked to Boris Yeltsin, Mr. President? THE PRESIDENT: No.

Africa Trip Speeches

First Lady Remarks at December 31st Women's Movement Daycare Center

First Lady Remarks at Makerere University

Remarks to the People of Rwanda

FINCA Women's Project

Remarks to the People of Ghana

Opening of the Ron Brown Center

Remarks at TechnoServe Peace Corps Project Site

Interview by the Discovery Channel

Remarks to the Community of Kisowera

Remarks at Reception

Photo Opportunity with the Presidents