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9805332
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26457815-20080994F-Seg3-016-020-2024
[Kosovo]
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Case Number: 2008-0994-F-3
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the Clinton Presidential
Library Staff.
Original OA/ID Number:
2051
Document ID:
9805332
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
V
45
5
7
1
UNCLASSIFIED
RECORD ID: 9805332
NSC/RMO PROFILE
RECEIVED: 27 JUL 98 17
TO: PRESIDENT
FROM: LEE, BARBARA
DOC DATE: 16 JUL 98
SOURCE REF:
KEYWORDS: KOSOVO
CO
PERSONS:
SUBJECT: CONCERN RE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
ACTION: SEE 9805208 FOR FINAL ACTION
DUE DATE: 07 AUG 98 STATUS: C
STAFF OFFICER: DOWLING
LOGREF: 9804704 9805208
FILES: WH
NSCP:
CODES:
DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION
FOR ACTION
FOR CONCURRENCE
FOR INFO
COMMENTS:
DISPATCHED BY
DATE
BY HAND W/ATTCH
OPENED BY: NSDRS
CLOSED BY: NSVJD
DOC 1 OF 1
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
RECORD ID: 9805332
ACTION DATA SUMMARY REPORT
DOC ACTION OFFICER
CAO ASSIGNED ACTION REQUIRED
001 DOWLING
Z 98072717 PREPARE MEMO FOR BERGER
001
X 98082009 SEE 9805208 FOR FINAL ACTION
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
RECORD ID: 9805332
NSC/RMO PROFILE
RECEIVED: 27 JUL 98 17
TO: PRESIDENT
FROM: LEE, BARBARA
DOC DATE: 16 JUL 98
SOURCE REF:
KEYWORDS: KOSOVO
CO
PERSONS:
SUBJECT: CONCERN RE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
ACTION: PREPARE MEMO FOR BERGER
DUE DATE: 07 AUG 98 STATUS: S
STAFF OFFICER: DOWLING
LOGREF:
FILES: WH
NSCP:
CODES:
DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION
FOR ACTION
FOR CONCURRENCE
FOR INFO
DOWLING
COVEY
RUDMAN
5208
COMMENTS: IF FINAL REPLY CANNOT BE PREPARED BY DUE DATE, AN INTERIM RESPONSE
MUST BE PREPARED FOR MARA RUDMAN'S SIGNATURE.
DISPATCHED BY
DATE
BY HAND W/ATTCH
OPENED BY: NSDRS
CLOSED BY:
DOC 1 OF 1
UNCLASSIFIED
2108 RAYBURN BUILDING
ARBARA LEE
WASHINGTON, DC 20515-0509
DISTRIC:, CALIFORNIA
(202) 225-2661
Congress of the United States
5332
house of Representatives
Hashington, DC 20515-0509
July 16, 1998
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing to share my concern regarding the situation in Kosovo. As the representative
of a well-informed, engaged and involved constituency, my thoughts reflect the concerns
of those who provide humanitarian supplies, as well as moral and spiritual support to the
embattled people in Bosnia and Kosovo.
In my opinion, the current situation in Kosovo requires urgent and timely United States
involvement, direction and guidance.
As you are aware, for months Serbian forces have not allowed food and medicines to
reach the people in the areas of conflict in Kosovo. In spite of the war that is going on in
the region, women still need to give birth to babies, and illness and infection need to be
treated.
In 1989 massive numbers of Serbian troops were moved into Kosovo. Albanian students
were forced out of the University and secondary educational system. Almost all of the
Albanian civil servants in Kosovo were fired. Throughout the war in Bosnia, people in
Kosovo adopted a nonviolent strategy assuming that their desires for a return to normalcy
at the end of the war would be settled along with the Bosnia-Croatia-Slovenia situation.
Kosovo was hardly mentioned in the Dayton peace accords and clearly was not part of the
negotiated settlement. Human rights abuses, as well as deterioration of educational and
medical services in Kosovo, are serious violations of international agreements and the
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Albanians students have been denied education in their own language in secondary and
higher education since 1989. The Albanian parallel government established parallel
schools that met in homes, and empty buildings. The students began a nonviolent
campaign to regain access to their schools, which continues to this day but has been
entirely eclipsed by the violence of a small, but rapidly growing group of armed
resistance fighters, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). An education agreement was
signed by all parties almost two years ago promising to return secondary schools and parts
of the University to Albanian students.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
UNCLASSIFIED
RECORD ID: 9805332
NSC/RMO PROFILE
RECEIVED: 27 JUL 98 17
TO: PRESIDENT
FROM: LEE, BARBARA
DOC DATE: 16 JUL 98
SOURCE REF:
KEYWORDS: KOSOVO
CO
PERSONS:
SUBJECT: CONCERN RE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
ACTION: PREPARE MEMO FOR BERGER
DUE DATE: 07 AUG 98 STATUS: S
STAFF OFFICER: DOWLING
LOGREF:
FILES: WH
NSCP:
CODES:
DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION
FOR ACTION
FOR CONCURRENCE
FOR INFO
DOWLING
COVEY
RUDMAN
COMMENTS: IF FINAL REPLY CANNOT BE PREPARED BY DUE DATE, AN INTERIM RESPONSE
MUST BE PREPARED FOR MARA RUDMAN'S SIGNATURE.
DISPATCHED BY
DATE
BY HAND W/ATTCH
OPENED BY: NSDRS
CLOSED BY:
DOC 1 OF 1
UNCLASSIFIED
Page Two
To: President William J. Clinton
Re: Kosovo
July 16, 1998
The Serbian side has systematically ignored this agreement. At the present, only one
badly damaged building has been returned to the Albanian University students. Before
the Albanians will trust any further negotiations, the schools agreement must be honored
by the Serbian regime.
Before March, 1998 nonviolence was embraced by the vast majority of Albanians in
Kosovo. However, as the Serbian forces intensified the attacks on many communities in
Kosovo, the appeal of a violent strategy increased.
Frustration with the increased hostility and violence from the Serbian forces meant that
the KLA began to draw support away from the nonviolent leadership. The media gave
broader coverage of the increased violence in Kosovo although it had ignored the violent
movement for many years. This communicated to the Albanian Kosovars that a violent
strategy could be more effective on the global stage. The moment for nonviolent
solutions is passing as warfare continues to escalate and hundreds are killed and tens of
thousands are driven from their homes. The citizenry is increasingly feeling the need and
the willingness to fight .
I believe that it is crucial now that the international communities ensure that humanitarian
aid can reach Pristina as well as the villages and towns all over Kosovo that are under
attack. This would communicate to the people of Kosovo that they are not alone and that
the world cares. It would also enable respected members of the international
humanitarian aid community to assess the current situation within Kosovo and
disseminate information to the rest of the world. In addition, it would strengthen those in
Kosovo supporting a nonviolent resolution to the conflict. In my opinion, our reticence
will only serve to strengthen the forces within Kosovo supporting war and their goal of
complete independence.
The UN should impose a no-fly zone. The Kosovar Albanian villagers have no recourse
against Serbian attacks with helicopter gun ships. A no-fly zone would send a signal to
Belgrade that the west will not countenance this aggression. The political forces in
Montenegro are also growing stronger and that country is becoming more interested in
independence itself. A "Balkania" proposal is circulating in Kosovo that Serbia,
Montenegro, and Kosovo assemble to form a federation in which each state is
autonomous with its own police force, its own education system, and its own
constitutional Assembly. It is thought that some form of this proposal could be the basis
for a negotiated settlement. However, until the schools agreement is implemented and
other agreements are kept, it will be very difficult for the Albanians to have confidence in
any negotiations concerning the long-term resolution to this problem.
Page Three
To: President William J. Clinton
Re: Kosovo
July 16, 1998
Things are changing very rapidly in this environment as approximately ten Albanians per
day lose their lives. It is not known how many Serbian people are losing their lives, as
they do not release casualty figures. Presently ethnic cleansing continues.
I respectfully suggest that maximum pressure be exerted on the combatants to stop the
violence immediately, to allow humanitarian aid into the villages as well as the cities, and
to implement agreements already made as a way of building trust. The time to act is now,
not after hundreds of people are killed and Kosovo lies in ruins.
Thank you for your continued monitoring of the situation and effort to develop a proper
course of action to prevent further ethnic killing in Kosovo will prevent a repetition of
our behavior in Rwanda.
Your consideration is greatly appreciated. I look forward to your response and to
working with you on this and other issues of critical concern.
Sincerely,
Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee
Member of Congress
BL/yl
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 24, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR GLYN DAVIES
NSC Executive Secretariat
FROM:
JANET MURGUIA
Legislative Affairs
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Attached are copies of letters sent to the President by
various Members of Congress. Since these letters address
national security issues, we would appreciate your assistance in
drafting the responses.
Thank you very much for your assistance. If you have any
questions, please call Peter Greenberger at x67500.
The following is a brief description of the letters:
1)
Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) and others, concerning the
current status of U.S.-Taiwan relations;
2)
Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA), concerning the
development of a stronger relationship with the
Nigerian government;
3)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), regarding the present
situation in Kosovo;
4)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), urging the President to
encourage Heydar Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan to
implement democratic reforms in his country;
5)
Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) and Benjamin A. Gilman
(R-NY), concerning the current U.S. policy toward the
government of the Republic of the Sudan;
6)
Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ), regarding the Administration's
policy towards combating international terrorism,
specifically the case of Alisa Flatow; and,
JUL 27 16:23
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 29, 1998
MEMORANDUM FOR GLYN DAVIES
NSC Executive Secretariat
FROM:
JANET MURGUIA
Legislative Affairs
SUBJECT:
PRESIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Attached are copies of letters sent to the President by
various Members of Congress. Since these letters address
national security issues, we would appreciate your assistance in
drafting the responses.
Thank you very much for your assistance. If you have any
questions, please call Peter Greenberger at x67500.
The following is a brief description of the letters:
1)
Sen. Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD), concerning the
President's trip to China and the Chinese optical fiber
industry,
2)
Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC), concerning the
President's trip to China and the Chinese optical fiber
industry,
3)
Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) and others, concerning the
United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM),
4).
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) and others, concerning the
President's trip to China and the illegal sale of human
transplant organs,
5)
Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and others, concerning
recent events in Kosova and other areas of the former
Yugoslavia,
6)
Rep. Thomas W. Ewing (R-IL), concerning the President's
trip to China and the Executive Development Center at
the University of Illinois,
7)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), concerning the the
President's trip to China and the issue of human rights
in China,
8)
Rep. Cynthia A. Mckinney (D-GA), concerning the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and weapons
proliferation in Europe,
9)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA), concerning the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the World Trade
Organization (WTO), and laws protecting endangered sea
turtles,
10)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) and others, concerning the
President's trip to China and the welcoming ceremony in
Tiananmen Square,
11)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and others, concerning the
President's trip to China and the issue of human rights
in China,
12)
Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT), concerning the
President's trip to China and His Eminence Ignatius
Cardinal Kung Pin Mei,
13)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), concerning the incarceration
of Lori Berenson in Peru; and,
14)
Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA), concerning the President's
trip to China and the issue of human rights in China.
Congress of the United States
house of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-0509
Barbara Lee
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
M.C.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
]
RECLI
1998 JUL 23
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Congress of the United States
Douse of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-0509
Barbara Lee
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
M.C.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
1993 JUL
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
PRESIDENTIAL/NSA CORRESPONDENCE
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
ACTION OFFICER: Dowling
LOG NUMBER: 5332
DUE DATE: 8-7
DATE STAFFED: 7-27
CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSED To:
PRESIDENT
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
FROM: Pep. be
PREPARE A RESPONSE FOR THE PRESIDENT'S OR NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISOR'S SIGNATURE WITHIN 10 DAYS. IF A LETTER DOES NOT REQUIRE A
RESPONSE, PLEASE RETURN IT TO RECORDS MANAGEMENT (RM 379) WITH
THIS FORM, ANNOTATED ACCORDINGLY.