USA: PRESIDENT CLINTON DEFENDS HIS FOREIGN POLICY

(9 Apr 1995) English/Nat

U-S President Bill Clinton has defended his foreign policy, including U.S. policy in North Korea.

During a three-day swing through California where he's trying to woo an electorate that will be crucial to his 1996 re-election hopes.

Clinton also called for an end to all weapons in schools.

U-S President Bill Clinton is conducting a three day rallying tour of California reminiscent of the hard fought campaign which led to his election.

This state holds one fifth of the electoral votes and it is these voters he must sway if he is to retain his presidency for a second term.

Speaking at a rally in Sacramento, California, Clinton defended a review of affirmative action programmes - programmes that give priority to women and ethnic groups.

SOUNDBITE:
"I'm pleading with you. Stand up for the affirmative action programmes that are good, that work, that bring us together. But don't do it in a way that gives them a cheap political victory. Do it in a way that reaches out and brings people in and says we care about you to."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton

Clinton also defended his international policy, which has come under attack from some people at home.

SOUNDBITE:
"And we have taken on a lot of tough issues to make our world more secure. From North Korea to Northern Ireland, to Haiti to Mexico. I've done a lot of things that weren't popular, but they were right to make this country more secure - to have this country have a better future."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton

The Democratic Party faithful seemed to enjoy what he said - one woman got quite carried away being in the President's presence.

The president seemed happy with the way his speech was received by most supporters.

Later, Clinton went onto Los Angeles to speak at a safe schools conference. He said children should feel safe in their schools and called for enforcement of zero tolerance of guns at school.

SOUNDBITE:
"The only way we can offer hope to people of a successful life in the face of all these changes - the only way we can tell people you can seize all these wonderful things about the global economy is if we can educate everybody. And the only way that we can do that is if we can make our schools safe and give childhood back to our children."
SUPER CAPTION: US President Bill Clinton

Clinton spent Saturday night at a fundraising dinner hosted by Hollywood director Stephen Spielberg. Couples attending the do paid 50-thousand dollars.

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