July 10, 1998

JOINT STATEMENT

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                      July 10, 1998


                              JOINT STATEMENT

                           U.S.-POLISH RELATIONS


     President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek of Poland met
today at the White House to discuss Poland's anticipated entry into NATO,
common efforts to advance regional cooperation in Central and Eastern
Europe and steps to deepen the close bilateral relations between the United
States and Poland.  Vice President Gore met separately with the Prime
Minister earlier today and hosted a luncheon for the Prime Minister, his
delegation and members of the Polish-American community.

     The President and Prime Minister Buzek stressed the paramount
importance of the U.S. Senate vote on NATO enlargement.  They welcomed
Poland's entry into the Alliance.  Prime Minister Buzek declared that this
step will fulfill the aspirations of the Polish people to belong to the
Transatlantic community, guaranteeing the security of a sovereign and
democratic Poland.  President Clinton responded that Poland's membership in
the Atlantic Alliance will advance the interests of the American people in
a secure, undivided Europe.  Both leaders agreed that NATO is the essential
foundation of transatlantic security and reaffirmed their support for
NATO's "open door" policy for aspiring new members, as an indispensable
instrument to strengthening stability and eliminating the old dividing
lines in Europe.

     President Clinton expressed strong support for Poland's strides in
building ties with its neighbors and efforts to promote stability,
democracy, and free market economics throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
The two leaders discussed efforts already under way to establish trilateral
economic cooperation among the United States, Poland and Ukraine, as well
as Poland's efforts to establish peacekeeping battalions with Ukraine and
Lithuania.  They resolved that, as allies, they should expand such common
efforts to strengthen democracy and regional stability.

     The President applauded Poland's active role as Chairman-in-Office of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and thanked
Prime Minister Buzek for Poland's strong contribution to the international
effort to create stability in the Former Yugoslavia.  He particularly
praised Poland's participation in both IFOR and SFOR in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

     President Clinton praised Poland for the bold, free-market reforms it
has pioneered since 1989 as proof that the legacies of communism can be
overcome.  Prime Minister Buzek expressed profound gratitude for the
American assistance provided during the difficult early years of its free
market transformation.  The leaders noted that Polish effort and sacrifice
combined with United States assistance has produced several important
successes in the transformation of the Polish economy.  They noted
particularly that:

     Poland?s progress in banking reform enabled the 10 contributing
     governments to authorize release to Poland in April of the $450
     million ($221 million U.S.) they had contributed to the Polish Bank
     Privatization Fund, set up in 1992.

     The Polish-American Enterprise Fund (PAEF) has used $257 million
     provided by the U.S. government for capital and technical assistance
     to great effect in supporting the emergence of Poland?s vibrant, free
     market economy.  The two leaders discussed the future of the PAEF.
     They agreed that final disposition of the PAEF?s assets can be
     achieved in ways that further enhance Polish-American relations and
     advance our mutual interests in building a prosperous and democratic
     Europe.

     The remaining U.S. government assistance is now being used to help the
     Polish government to continue this transformation in a number of
     critical areas, including local government and pension reform.

     Given Poland's remarkable progress and integration into the
competitive global economy, both governments took note of the new phase in
our economic relationship based on investment, trade and other forms of
cooperation, with private sectors in the lead.  Both governments pledged to
take steps to help bolster mutually beneficial trade and investment, noting
that the U.S. is already the leading foreign investor in Poland.  The U.S.
Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs
will visit Warsaw soon to develop this bilateral consultative mechanism on
economic issues in Polish-American relations.

     Poland and the United States welcomed their intense and regular
bilateral dialogue in other areas as well.  They noted the accomplishments
of our Bilateral Working Group on Defense Matters and agreed to continue to
use this as a key mechanism to prepare Poland for full integration into
NATO?s military structures.  They also agreed to hold regular consultations
on regional and global issues.

     Both governments will work to increase cooperation on law enforcement.
As part of this effort, the United States will work with Poland to conduct
cooperative prosecutor and police training in Poland and regionally to
strengthen our ability to combat transnational crime.  The United States
applauds Poland's efforts to develop a Polish International Training Center
for Specialist Police Forces which will serve an important role in regional
efforts to combat crime.

     The United States and Poland welcome the enlargement of the European
Union as an essential step in completing construction of a Europe that is
truly whole and free.  The United States supports timely accession of
Poland to the EU and looks forward to Poland's early and active
participation in the Transatlantic Dialogues.  Both governments pledge
their support for the further development of transatlantic cooperation
beneficial for all countries involved.

     The President also recognized Poland's considerable contributions to
multilateral peacekeeping efforts around the world and announced the U.S.
Government's readiness to use the Enhanced International Peacekeeping
Capabilities Initiative (EIPC) to further develop Poland's already strong
capabilities in this area.  The President expressed appreciation for
Poland's participation in the international coalition which pressed the
Iraqi government to comply with UNSC resolutions, as well as day-to-day
representation of U.S. interests in Baghdad.  The two leaders expressed
their determination to work together with other interested parties to
promote diplomatic resolution to this continuing challenge to stability in
the Persian Gulf.

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