George H.W. Bush

I hereby proclaim February 16, 1990, as Lithuanian Independence Day.

I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm an important Executive order.

I therefore shall construe section 407 to be advisory.

The memorandum of understanding will help diminish the flow of U.S. light arms and other items to drug traffickers in the Andean countries.

I wouldn't be here if I didn't strongly support his efforts to fight drugs.

I owe it to the children of America to guarantee them that we will do everything we can to cut out the demand for narcotics in the United States.

The scourge of illicit drug trafficking and consumption respects no borders, threatens national security, and erodes the economic and social structures of our nations.

I certify that significant progress has been made in the negotiations.

The Parties undertake to support development and expansion of programs on comprehensive prevention.

I look forward to working with the Congress on the necessary legislation to implement Phase II of our economic recovery program for Panama.

These steps, along with the inspiring march of democracy in Eastern Europe, bring within sight the objective that I have stressed throughout the first year of my Presidency: a Europe that is whole and free.

This troop agreement is one of them.

This legislation is an important step in our continuing effort to cooperate with the Panamanian Government and the people there.

I want to thank Congress for acting rapidly on this legislation.

I am delighted that the 23 members of the Vienna negotiations on conventional forces in Europe accepted the NATO initiative.

I think it's just the opposite.

This convention helps equip the international community with the coherent, tough legal authority to stop the flow of illicit drugs.

I'd like to urge all nations to join the United States in ratifying this United Nations convention.

I'm pleased today to sign the United States instrument of ratification for the U.N. Convention Against Illegal Drugs.

It says something very important -- sends a message -- and that is that this scourge will stop.

Today liberty and hope are alive in the world as never before.

I do hereby proclaim the week of February 11 through February 17, 1990, as Vocational-Technical Education Week.

Through whatever way they get that feeling, whether it's a statement by the President, whether it's some legislative action, or whether it's some demonstration -- that's helpful.

I think his coming here evidences the fact that we see in him a new brand of leadership.

I think it's good that he's out there.