Nomination of Eric M. Javits To Be United States Ambassador to Venezuela July 6, 1989 The President today announced his intention to nominate Eric M. Javits to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Venezuela. He would succeed Otto J. Reich. Mr. Javits currently serves as a senior partner with the firm of Javits, Robinson, Brog, Leinwand and Reich, P.C., and has been an attorney with the law firm of Javits and Javits since 1958. He is actively involved in several civic organizations. In 1981 Mr. Javits received Spain's Isabela La Catolica decoration from King Juan Carlos. Mr. Javits graduated from Columbia College (A.B., 1952) and Columbia Law School (J.D., 1955). He was born May 24, 1931, in New York, NY. He is married, has two children, and resides in New York City. Nomination of Michael G. Sotirhos To Be United States Ambassador to Greece July 6, 1989 The President today announced his intention to nominate Michael G. Sotirhos to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Greece. He would succeed Robert Vossler Keeley. Since 1985 Mr. Sotirhos has served as Ambassador to Jamaica. He served as a member of the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration, 1976, and as a member of the National Voluntary Service Advisory Council, 1973-1975. He is founder and former chairman of Ariston Group, Inc., an international commercial interior design firm. Mr. Sotirhos graduated from City College of New York (B.B.A., 1950). He was born November 12, 1928, in New York. Mr. Sotirhos is married and has two children. Remarks at a White House Symposium on Eastern Europe Please be seated, and let me just welcome you to the White House for what we consider a very important get-together. Now, this Sunday, as you know, I'm going to sail forth on Air Force One heading for Warsaw, going to a couple of stops in Poland and then to Hungary. And this is an extraordinary time in east-central Europe, a time, that you know better than I, I'm sure, of unprecedented change and, I'd say, unparalleled opportunity in East-West affairs. Certainly, I view it as a time of unparalleled opportunity for the United States, with our interest in Poland and our interest in Hungary as it is. And Poland-we've just witnessed the freest elections in the postwar era and then the creation of this freely elected Senate in which candidates backed by Solidarność swept-what was it, 99 out of the 100 seats. Under the terms of the roundtable agreement, these developments mark a true new beginning in the political affairs of Poland. And they hold promise for the transfer of Poland towards democracy, national self-determination. Hungary also is on the path to democratic reform. The pattern is different. Really, they've been out front on the economic side of Eastern European countries, but the changes there are just as fundamental, equally as promising. And as the Communist Party undertakes a profound reappraisal of its role in Hungary, the outlines of a multiparty system-genuine political pluralism-are taking shape. The Hungarian economy, already the most open in Eastern Europe, is moving toward a free market, toward rejoining the whole world economy. So, these are historic times. And what's at stake is not just movement towards economic and political liberalization in Poland and Hungary but the prospect of ending the postwar division of Europe. And Poland and Hungary-yes, they're leading the way, but they face enormous economic and political problems. And they need our support in their efforts if they are to succeed. Simply showing our sympathy and our encouragement is not enough. We cannot solve all the problems that the Poles and Hungarians face, but we've got to be actively engaged. And we need to hold out the promise of an alternative future for central and Eastern Europe, a peaceful transition that should be our goal, a peaceful transition to a democratic future. And we need to back up that promise with some practical assistance. So, in just a few days, I'm going to be speaking to the people of Poland and Hungary about what more the United States and other Western governments can do to help. But my message to you today is simply this: The movement toward democracy takes more than governments alone. Democracy's great strength lies in its private and public institutions, the institutions that you all-almost to a man and a woman-represent. What you do can make the difference for democracy in Hungary and Poland; it's what you do. And I've asked you here because all of you can help open avenues of cooperation between East and West. And I call on the American business community to encourage the movement toward free markets by working with private sector enterprises in Hungary and Poland. Private enterprise has been the engine of economic growth in the United States, and the key to prosperity in Poland a ry. So, help it thrive. And I call you in the educational communit these private foundations to expa changes with Hungary and Pol the lines of communication betw can universities and the great learning in Budapest and W Krakow, and let's learn from I want to see workers in Hung as those in Poland, benefit from t of American trade unions. Ame and Solidarność have forged a s tionship, a great chapter in the international labor. But there's to do, and it will be vitally impor successful transformation of P Hungary. Together, right in this room, cross-section of the institutions democracy work and that give really, if you will, to the word "de You're freedom in action, and yo others along the path to freedo mocracy. And so, in a few minutes you'r hear from members of my adm from some of the leading exper ern Europe. And I'm going to trouble for this, but in addition t ers here-Carla, our very able Brent Scowcroft-I think he co the end of all this-and our oth here the top spokesman for the spokesman for the State Depar have a top spokesman for the O in the front row, Mr. Fred Zed addition to those who will be s part of the administration, I d thank Zbig Brzezinski, who has spurs in this national security are with great distinction, and I und has agreed to share a few tho you. So, when Bob and Larry and Brent and Fred get through, y interspersed a nonofficial, but a knows an awful lot about what to talk to you about. So, I'm looking forward to hope you'll find the next coupl exciting. And as I look back and and look] at the world and we se your interest in coming here. And I will try Note: The President spoke at 3:23 p.m. in Remarks on Signing the Proclamation Commemorating the July 7, 1989 The President. Well, let me just say that I am very pleased to see Ambassador de Margerie here, especially in the company of Senator Mathias. I'm looking forward very much to visiting France next week for the bicentennial-this marvelous celebration that I will be privileged to witness and be a part of-and then, of course, looking forward to the economic summit that will follow. I want to thank Senator Mathias, whose committee has done this outstanding work in encouraging Americans to celebrate the bicentennial of the French Revolution. And this proclamation that I'm about to sign commemorates both the bicentennial of the taking of the Bastille and the close ties between our two countries. And one example of these ties is the close connection between our Bill of Rights and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. And the themes of liberty and human rights which run through these two documents are fundamental to our two nations and to the people of Eastern Europe, where I'm going to be visiting next week, as well. And so, today, as 200 years ago, France and America are still partners in liberty. And thank you, Mr. Ambassador, thank you, Senator, for all you are doing to demonstrate this to the whole world. And now I might sit—we sign this first, I think. [At this point, the President signed the proclamation.] Reporter. Mr. President, would you take one question on your trip? The President. Nope. [Laughter] I took 30 of them yesterday. Come on. Q. But not from us. Ambassador de Margerie. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. I really look forward to it. Q. The Polish officials are afraid of inciting a riot in Poland. Any comment on that? The President. We'll be well received in Poland-no riot. Thank you, sir. Today the President submitted to the Congress legislation to ban congressional honoraria. The proposal calls for the elimination of honoraria over 18 months, with a 50-percent reduction in the statutory ceiling on honoraria in calendar year 1990 and a total ban effective January 1, 1991. Enactment of this legislation would result in the next Congress being honoraria-free. Approximately $19 million in honoraria was paid to Members of Congress over the last 2 years. The most common form of honoraria are fees accepted by Members of Congress from interest groups for speeches and appearances. Hidden honoraria also come in the form of payments for travel, meals, and lodging. Moreover, under cur bition on honoraria after January 1, 1991. Under the legislation being proposed today, as of January 1, 1991, Members of Congress and their staff would become subject to the same honoraria ban that currently applies to the executive branch. This would prohibit Members of Congress from diverting excess honoraria to charities and, absent specific statutory authorization, from accepting payment for travel, meals, and lodging. The President has previously recommended a 25-percent pay increase for Federal judges, and today he is submitting separate legislation calling for pay increases for certain specialized professionals and other senior officials in the executive branch. The proposal being made today to ban honoraria is linked to the enactment by Congress of a pay increase for its Members. The President will work with Congress toward this end. Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) I am submitting for your consideration and enactment the "Senior Executives Salary Act of 1989." This legislation would provide higher salaries to a small number of employees in positions requiring specialized and critical skills. It also provides for salary increases ranging from 8 percent to 25 percent for senior executive branch officials. In addition, the bill links receipt of the higher salaries to effective job performance. The bill is the executive branch counterpart to the judicial salary proposal (the “Judicial Salary Act of 1989"), which I submitted to the Congress in April calling for a 25 percent increase in the pay of Justices and judges. The pay of senior Government officials has eroded significantly in relation to the pay of executives in comparable jobs in the private and not-for-profit sectors of the economy. This pay gap is affecting the Federal Government's ability to attract and retain the skilled and motivated senior executives necessary to direct the complex, wide-ranging, and critical functions of the Federal Government. Prompt legislative action is needed to address pay deficiencies for employees with exceptional qualifications and to make pay more competitive at the senior levels of Government. It is equally important that we resolve issues connected with congressional pay and honoraria. I am also submitting today a proposal to ban congressional honoraria, and I want to work with the Congress to address compensation in all three branches of Government. Sincerely, GEORGE BUSH Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate. |