Clinton discusses Cuban boy custody and his year in office
By Sonya Ross
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton said today he hopes U.S. and Cuban officials will not allow "politics or threats" to decide the fate of a 6-year-old Cuban boy caught in an international custody dispute. He rejected cutting off American aid to Russia in retaliation for its brutal campaign against the Chechen rebels.

In an hour-long news conference, Clinton summed up the achievements and disappointments of a year that began with the impeachment trial and neared its close with demonstrators rioting in Seattle against his trade policies.

Of the failed attempt by Republicans in Congress to remove him because of his involvement with a young intern, Clinton said, "The mistake I made was self-inflicted."

As for 1999, he said he was "profoundly disappointed" that Congress rejected some of his initiatives, but overall, "I'm gratified by what was accomplished." He cited: an agreement under which China could enter the World Trade Organization, the start of peace talks on the future of Cyprus, a conventional forces agreement with Moscow, and "debt relief for the poorest countries of the world."

Clinton also seized the opportunity to announce that Israel and Syria have agreed to resume peace negotiations. Talks are set to start next week in Washington.

Asked about the Cuban boy, Clinton said there are difficult decisions that must be made on whether Elian Gonzalez will live in the United States with his late mother's relatives or in Cuba with his biological father.

"I think all fathers would be sympathetic" to sentiments of Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, Clinton said, but "what is best for the child" is the highest concern.

"I don't think that politics or threats should have anything to do with it and, if I have my way, it won't," Clinton said.

He suggested that officials in both nations "try to take as much political steam out of it as possible" for the child's sake.

Discussing a variety of topics, Clinton also:

--Said that even though Vice President Al Gore is away a lot pursuing the Democratic presidential nomination, he remains an active player in Clinton administration decisions.

--Said he is looking forward to living in the new home he and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton purchased in Chappaqua, N.Y. -- which she referred to as "my house" when she confirmed that she would run for the U.S. Senate. He said he is reconciled to living apart from his wife temporarily.

"It's not the best arrangement in the world, but it is something we can live with for a year," he said.

--Sought to assure Americans that U.S. interests would not be hurt when the Panama Canal's operations are taken over by the government of Panama, with help from a company in Hong Kong. "I feel comfortable that our commercial and security interests can be protected under this arrangement," Clinton said.

--Said the country's racial problems "will stay at the center of my concerns," even though he has yet to release the report on race that he promised more than a year ago. He said he is rewriting the draft. "I don't want to put it out unless I think it can make a difference."

Clinton promised to pursue in 2000 one legislative goal he failed to attain in 1999: tighter gun restrictions.

The president said his administration is considering a lawsuit against gun manufacturers to recover costs of gun violence in public housing in hopes of getting the industry to "stop irresponsible marketing practices."

Clinton also said he thought it would be a mistake for the United States to cut off aid to Russia because of its military campaign in Chechnya. He said most U.S. assistance finances peaceful efforts such as advancing democracy, creating an independent media, and fostering student exchanges.

Halting aid would "alienate Russia from the international community, and that's a bad thing." But Clinton also said he has "no sympathy" for Chechen rebels, even though he has criticized as too heavy-handed Russia's efforts to stamp out the rebellion.

Clinton denied a political motive for his focus on labor and environmental issues at last week's inconclusive World Trade Organization meeting.

Critics have suggested Clinton was trying to boost the presidential campaign of Vice President Gore, who needs the support of both those traditional Democratic constituencies. The failure to launch a new round of global trade talks out of the WTO meeting in Seattle "has very little to do with my philosophy of trade," Clinton said.

Instead, three main blocs -- the Europeans, Japanese and Americans -- were not prepared to drop longstanding positions on agriculture, steel prices and other matters, Clinton said. Developing nations, he said, feel they have not gotten enough benefit from the last round of talks, he added.