What Marc Rich Said

Following is the full text of a statement issued by fugitive financier Marc Rich and faxed to Reuters by an Israeli media relations firm.

The fax headed “Marc Rich & Co Holding GMBH, Baarestrasse 53-6304 Zug-Switzerland” is titled “Marc Rich’s First Response to the Pardon Granted Him by President Clinton.”

“ ‘The indictment against me in the United States was wrong and was meant to hurt me personally--the pardon granted by President Clinton remedied this injustice 18 years later,’ so says today businessman Marc Rich in response to the wave of media attention regarding the pardon granted him by President Clinton.

“Marc Rich stresses the fact that he was forced to decide to live outside the United States following the charges brought against him (while at the same time civil charges were brought against others), because he feared that his chances of receiving a fair trial in the wake of the negative antagonistic public opinion carefully created and orchestrated by the prosecution at the time were minimal.

“Marc Rich notes that the exile forced upon him due to the circumstances was not easy. Rich emphasizes his longing for uninhibited contact with his children and grandchildren. He recalls the heartbreak at the refusal of the American authorities to allow him to be with his daughter during her last days before succumbing to leukemia and later to attend her funeral, and the refusal to allow him to his father’s funeral as well.

“ ‘I do not consider the pardon granted by President Clinton as an eradication of past deeds--but as closing a cycle of justice and as a humanitarian act,’ says Rich.

“Rich notes that for more than 20 years he is proud to contribute to worthy causes and to share some of his economic success with tens of thousands of other people. ‘I am happy and proud of my contributions to people and cultural and medical organizations in Israel, the United States and around the world. It is unfortunate that these good deeds are now being described as calculating acts. I do not regret any of my actions. I am proud and happy to be able to bring a little joy and assistance to sick children, women and men less fortunate than myself,’ says Rich.”