George H.W. Bush: “I have two brief statements. In addition to yesterday's meeting with our national security advisers on the situation in…”

“I have two brief statements. In addition to yesterday's meeting with our national security advisers on the situation in Iraq, which has been widely reported, I spent considerable time today reviewing the antidrug fight in our communities. Jim Burke, who heads the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, gave me a very thorough and encouraging report at Camp David about the progress that our Nation is making in turning away from the drug culture. It's happening; America is turning off drugs. Problems remain, to be sure, but impressive progress is being made on the demand side of the equation, particularly among our youth. So he and I today reviewed the data that shows a cultural change is taking place. Kids are rejecting drugs. There's been a 56 percent drop in use by 13- to 17-year-olds in one study, a drop of 48 percent among this group in another. So these are very important trends. In our workplace programs, people are really putting out the effort. Virtually 90 percent of our major companies have highly effective programs, and companies are expanding a program called Drugs Don't Work. Our country's getting the message. At least 900 communities across the country have organized antidrug coalitions, and more of them are being formed every day. Now, we still have a serious drug problem in the United States, with an estimated 6 million addicts. This drug problem is embedded in every other social issue that we're dealing with as a Nation. So we've got to do more. But I was very pleased with Mr. Burke's report on behalf of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Iraq Now, on Iraq: Iraq's belated announcement that it will allow the United Nations Special Commission to carry out an inspection of the Agricultural Ministry in Baghdad does not alter the fact that for some 3 weeks Saddam Hussein flagrantly violated U.N. Security Council Resolution 687. Nor does this announcement change the fact that Iraq deliberately and callously harassed and abused the U.N. inspectors seeking to carry out their mandate. That mandate: Immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, unrestricted access to any site the U.N. deems warranted for inspection. And yes, now, once again, Saddam Hussein has caved in. While Saddam has bent to the will of the U.N., the question remains whether after this delay a truly effective inspection of the Ministry is still possible. The real test of his behavior will be in future U.N. inspections. Behavior along the lines we've just witnessed will not be tolerated. Saddam has long pursued a pattern of willful noncompliance and obstruction of the United Nations Special Commission. For over a year he has lied about the extent of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction pro- grams and sought to conceal them from the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Now, this is unacceptable. Iraq must and will be held to the standard of full compliance with Security Council Resolution 687. Saddam's violation of the will of the international community, as expressed in the United Nations Security Council resolutions, continues in other important areas. Iraq has refused to participate in the work of the Iraq-Kuwait Border Commission. Iraq has refused to account for Kuwaiti citizens seized during the occupation of the emirate and to return property that was stolen by the occupiers. Iraq has not renewed the memorandum of understanding with the U.N. and has stepped up its harassment of U.N. officials and humanitarian agencies operating in the country. Saddam has stepped up his persecution of the Iraqi people in flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 688, including recent use of jet fighters against the Shia and maintaining a blockade of the Kurds. Iraq has refused to accept U.N. Security Council Resolutions 706 and 712, which would allow for that sale of oil for food and medicine, choosing instead to have the Iraqi people suffer unnecessarily, denying them food. The international community cannot tolerate continued Iraqi defiance of the United Nations and the rule of law. There is too much at stake for the region, for the United Nations, and for the world. I'll just take a couple of questions, just a couple of questions here.”