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1/30/00 2:00 p.m. Orzulak Mark, revised draft Maria, Mara PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON VIDEO REMARKS TO THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO CONCERNING NAVY TRAINING ON VIEQUES JANUARY 31, 2000 My fellow citizens: last April, there was a tragic accident at the Navy range on Vieques. I mourned the loss to the family of David Sanes (SAN-ness), and the suffering of the others injured that day. That terrible accident focused attention on the longstanding concerns of the island about training operations there. It led to a strong view in the Commonwealth that the Navy should end its training on Vieques. I understand that view. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I must do all I can to ensure that our servicemen and women get the very best training possible. I know that Puerto Rico understands that as well as anyone. Many Puerto Ricans have served with distinction in our armed forces. You have never turned your back on your duty to share in the defense of our nation. Since 1941, every action that our Atlantic fleet has been involved in started with Vieques training. The reason this is such a difficult issue is because right now, there are no alternative sites that give training comparable to Vieques. For the past nine months, we have been working closely with Governor Rosello and Resident Commission Romero-Barcello to find a solution that meets both our training needs and the needs of the people of Puerto Rico. Today, I am announcing a course of action that will give the people of Vieques themselves the right to determine the future of the island while - at the same time -- assuring that our training needs are met. Today I am announcing that by the first day of March in 2002 - and perhaps as early as this November - Vieques will hold a vote. In that vote, they will be asked to choose between one of two alternatives. If they choose the first alternative, the Navy will cease all training on Vieques and leave the island by May 1, 2003. If they choose the other alternative, training will continue on Vieques on terms proposed by the Navy. I believe this is the best way to resolve the impasse over Vieques, because it gives the people most affected by this decision - the people who actually live on the island - the right to determine for themselves which course of action we should take. In the meantime, until that vote is held, we are taking several other steps to ensure that our servicemen and women get the training they need. First, during the period leading up to the vote, I am ordering that training done on Vieques will be limited to non-explosive ordnance - meaning there will be no live fire. I am also directing the Navy and Marine Corps to cut in half the amount of time they will spend training. In 1998, our

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