It is neither wise nor fair to expect the men and women of our Foreign Service to represent the Nation with a sword of Damocles over their heads.

I'm looking forward to this meeting with President Gorbachev at Malta.

I am proud to nominate Harriet Winsar Isom to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic of Benin.

I would welcome this as a very encouraging first step.

I'm pleased to have been greeted by him outside.

We hope that this delay in getting out of the car will be matched by your delay in leaving our country.

I deeply appreciate your contributions to the conduct of our foreign policy.

We wish you well and express again the great value of the friendship that exists between our two people.

The United States has indicated that it would be willing to host a meeting to review these issues if that should seem desirable.

The United States wishes to underscore improving relations with this important central African country.

We hope that the resumed talks will be conducted on a serious, sustained and productive basis and will lead to a just and lasting settlement of all outstanding issues.

I welcome the resumption of the Cyprus intercommunal talks.

We urge all nations, the Soviet Union and all nations, to refrain from any interference or involvement in this conflict.

The best weapons are those that are never fired in combat, and the best soldiers are those that never shed their blood on the field of battle.

Well, I've always been concerned about the hostages, but not because of this.

Our only hope is that the two nations can resolve the disputes between them peacefully.

I will nominate Sally Angela Shelton, of Bellaire, Tex., to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to St. Lucia.

The United States is not going to apologize.