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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet Clinton Library DOCUMENT NO. SUBJECT/TITLE DATE RESTRICTION AND TYPE 001. letter President Clinton to President Meidani (5 pages) 06/15/1999 P1/b(1) COLLECTION: Clinton Presidential Records First Lady's Office Melanne Verveer OA/Box Number: 20018 FOLDER TITLE: Albania 2013-0534-S ry1536 RESTRICTION CODES Presidential Records Act [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)] Freedom of Information Act [5 U.S.C. 552(b)] P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA] b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA] P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA] b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA] an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA] P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA] financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA] b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President information [(b)(4) of the FOIA] and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA] b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA] personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA] b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA] C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of of gift. financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA] PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C. b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information 2201(3). concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA] RR. Document will be reviewed upon request. IMMEDIATE UNCLASSIFIED filialbone WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM PAGE 01 OF 02 PRT: FIRSTLADY SIT: BRADEN FLANAGAN HURLEY SCHULTE WEISS SIT: NSC <PREC> IMMEDIATE <CLAS> UNCLASSIFIED <DTG> 211409Z APR 99 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8230 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC UNCLAS TIRANA 001413 DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - HYDE E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: PREL, PGOV, AL, SR SUBJECT: LETTER TO FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON FROM ALBANIAN FIRST LADY LIDRA MEIDANI 1. FOLLOWING IS A LETTER SENT TO THE EMBASSY APRIL 21 BY ALBANIAN FIRST LADY MEIDANI TO BE FORWARDED TO FIRST LADY CLINTON. THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH AND IS DATED APRIL 19. BEGIN TEXT: DEAR MRS. CLINTON, IT HAS BEEN WITH SPECIAL PLEASURE I HAVE HEARD OF YOUR PERSONAL ACTIVITY TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERINGS OF THE DEPORTEES FROM KOSOVA THROUGH COLLECTION OF AIDS FOR THEM AND THE SENSIBILIZATION OF THE PUBLIC OPINION ON THEIR DRAMA. THIS CONTRIBUTION OF YOURS HELPS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO BECOME AWARE OF THE DIMENSIONS AND NATURE OF THE CONFLICT TAKING PLACE IN THE BALKANS, WHERE YOUR COUNTRY IS LINED WITH THE GOOD, THE HIGHEST HUMAN VALUES OF DEMOCRACY AGAINST THE BAD, THE VIOLATION OF THESE VALUES AND THE DICTATORSHIP. THIS CONTRIBUTION REVEALS ALSO THAT THIS CRIMINAL REGIME WHICH IS BEING HIT BY AN ALLIANCE PROTECTIVE OF PEACE AND STABILITY, IS BRINGING ABOUT A MASSACRE SEVERE AND BASE AGAINST WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. YOU HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ON IT AT THE MEETING YOU HAD WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF KOSOVA CIVIL SOCIETY WHO HAD JUST ESCAPED THE WAR. UNCLASSIFIED IMMEDIATE UNCLASSIFIED WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM PAGE 02 OF 02 DEAR LADY, MY PEOPLE AND I ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THE SENSITIVITY YOU HAVE COHERENTLY SHOWN TO THIS HUMAN TRAGEDY WHICH OCCURS AT THE VERY HEART OF THE DEMOCRATIC EUROPE. I PERSONALLY BEAR TESTIMONY TO THIS SENSITIVITY DEMONSTRATED IN THE "WOMEN OF THE 21ST CENTURY" CONFERENCE IN SOFIA. MY COUNTRY WHICH IS RECENTLY UNFOLDING THE HIGHEST HUMAN VALUES IS CLOSELY FEELING THE SUPPORT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY HOPE THAT THE CONFLICT WHICH FINDS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE FRONT THE USA AND MY COUNTRY - THE OPEN ALBANIA ASPIRING FOR DEMOCRACY - WILL PUT AN END TO THE ATROCITIES, THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND WILL ENABLE THESE PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES TO REBUILD A NEW LIFE IN A DEMOCRATIC MULTIETHNIC SOCIETY IN THEIR KOSOVA. LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU IN MY COUNTRY, SINCERELY, /S/ LIDRA MEIDANI END TEXT. LINO <^SECT>SECTION: 01 OF 01 <^SSN>1413 <MSGID> M3813924 UNCLASSIFIED Withdrawal/Redaction Marker Clinton Library DOCUMENT NO. SUBJECT/TITLE DATE RESTRICTION AND TYPE 001. letter President Clinton to President Meidani (5 pages) 06/15/1999 P1/b(1) COLLECTION: Clinton Presidential Records First Lady's Office Melanne Verveer OA/Box Number: 20018 FOLDER TITLE: Albania 2013-0534-S ry1536 RESTRICTION CODES Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)] Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)] P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA] b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA] P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA] b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA] an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA] P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA] financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA] b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President information [(b)(4) of the FOIA] and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA] b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA] personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA] b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA] C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of of gift. financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA] PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C. b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information 2201(3). concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA] RR. Document will be reviewed upon request. She he THE WHITE HOUSE will WASHINGTON be sent as a cable Dear Mrs. Meidani: Thank you for your heartfelt letter. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. The world has watched the heroic and selfless efforts of the Albanian people to open their hearts and homes to the Kosovar refugees. Your generous response to the crisis is an example for all people. I understand how difficult it must be to take in so many refugees and want to assure you that Albania will not be left alone. We will do everything we can to help and remain confident that the war will end on terms that allow the refugees to return home safely. 1am hopeful that a visit to Albanea With appreciation and best wishes, I am in the near future Sincerely, may be possible and Mrs. Kidra Meidani until First Lady of the then, I Republic of Albania will look Tirana fraund to seeing you. 1 002 04/21/99 WED 11:56 FAX 202 647 5661 UNCLASSIFIED Printed By: Andrew G Hyde 04/21/99 12:36:03 PM TIRANA 1413 From: AMEMBASSY TIRANA MRN: 1413 Date/Time: 211409Z APR 99 Subject: LETTER TO FIRST LADY HILLARY ICNbr: TED3556 Precedence: IMMEDIATE CLINTON FROM ALBANIAN FIRST LADY LIDRA MEIDANI Cable Text: TED3556 ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 ACQ-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-01 ADS-00 MOFM-04 MOF-03 M-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 $SO-00 TRSE-00 USIB-00 SA-01 SNI8-00 NISC-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 SSAS-00 SSR-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /018W BEDICE 211559Z /38 o 211409Z APR 99 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8230 WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO NSC WASHDC UNCLAS TIRANA 001413 DEPT FOR EUR/SCE - MYDE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BREL, PGOV, AL, SR SUBJECT: LETTER TO FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON FROM ALBANIAN FIRST LADY LIDRA MEIDANI 1. FOLLOWING IS A LETTER SENT TO THE EMBASSY APRIL 21 BY ALBANIAN FIRST LADY MEIDANI TO BE FORWARDED TO FIRST LADY CLINTON. THE LETTER was WRITTEN IN ENGLISH AND IS DATED APRIL 19. BEGIN TEXT: DEAR MRS. CLINTON, IT HAS BEEN WITH SPECIAL PLEASURE I HAVE HEARD OF YOUR PERSONAL ACTIVITY TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERINGS OF THE DEPORTEES FROM KOSOVA THROUGH COLLECTION OF AIDS FOR THEM AND THE SENSIBILIZATION OF THE PUBLIC OPINION ON THEIR DRAMA. UNCLASSIFIED 1 1 003 04/31/99 WED 11:57 FAX 202 647 5661 UNCLASSIFIED THIS CONTRIBUTION OF YOURS HELPS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO BECOME AWARE OF THE DIMENSIONS AND NATURE OF THE CONFLICT TAKING PLACE IN THE BALKANS, WHERE YOUR COUNTRY IS LINED WITH THE GOOD, THE HIGHEST HUMAN VALUES OF DEMOCRACY AGAINST THE BAD, THE VIOLATION OF THESE VALUES AND THE DICTATORSHIP. THIS CONTRIBUTION REVEALS ALSO THAT THIS CRIMINAL REGIME WHICH IS BEING HIT BY AN ALLIANCE PROTECTIVE OF PEACE AND STABILITY, IS BRINGING ABOUT A MASSACRE SEVERE AND BASE AGAINST WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. YOU HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ON IT AT THE MEETING YOU HAD WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF KOSOVA CIVIL SOCIETY WHO HAD JUST ESCAPED THE WAR. DEAR LADY, MY PEOPLE AND I ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THE SENSITIVITY YOU HAVE COHERENTLY SHOWN TO THIS HUMAN TRAGEDY WHICH OCCURS AT THE VERY HEART OF THE DEMOCRATIC EUROPE. I PERSONALLY BEAR TESTIMONY TO THIS SENSITIVITY DEMONSTRATED IN THE "WOMEN OF THE 21ST CENTURY" CONFERENCE IN SOFIA. MY COUNTRY WHICH IS RECENTLY UNFOLDING THE HIGHEST HUMAN VALUES IS CLOSELY FEELING THE SUPPORT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY HOPE THAT THE CONFLICT WHICH FINDS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE FRONT THE USA AND MY COUNTRY - THE OPEN ALBANIA ASPIRING FOR DEMOCRACY - WILL PUT AN END TO THE ATROCITIES, THE ETHNIC CLEANSING AND WILL ENABLE THESE PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES TO REBUILD A NEW LIFE IN A DEMOCRATIC MULTIRTHNIC SOCIETY IN THEIR KOSOVA. LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU IN MY COUNTRY, 11 SINCERELY, /s/ LIDRA MEIDANI END TEXT. LINO NNNN End Cable Text Printed By: Andrew G Hyde 04/21/99 12:36:03 PM UNCLASSIFIED 2 MAY 18 '99 05:27PM GEORGE SOROS OFFICE P.2/4 OPER.SOCIETY INSTITUTE 051 GEORGE SOROS To Mclanne- - Chairman ARYEH NEIER Have we neiponsled to President Glorge? Sile Albania May 18, 1999 Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton The First Lady of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500-2000 Dear Hillary, This is an important initiative which I fully support. The Tirana water issue could preempt a social explosion. With best regards. George Sords beloful if you region it would helpful if you Enclosure de effort by the Unite emment as PHOTOCOPY HRC HANDWRITING 400 West 59th Street, New York, New York 10019 Phone: 212. 548. 0600 Fax: 212. 548. 4679 Website: http://www.soros.org MAY 18 '99 05:27PM GEORGE SOROS OFFICE MAY-18 93 15:47 FROM: 2 TO:212 548 4622 3/4 PAGE 03 REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL May 18, 1999 Hillary Rodham Clinton The White House Washington. DC Dear Mrs. Clinton, Thank you for traveling to Macedonia at this critical juncture in the Kosovo crisis. Your presence did much to reassure the Macedonians and the refugees that they are not forgotten by the international community. Of course, an important element in keeping Macedonian borders open to refugees is the ongoing transfer of substantial numbers of refugees from Macedonia to Albania. For over a year now, Refugees International has been concerned to find ways to assist Albania -- the poorest country in Europe - to deal with the flood of refugees that has DOW reached epic proportions. As you know, the Albanians have responded with extraordinary generosity, with most of the refugee population housed by Albanian host families thus eliminating the need for many more refugee camps. However, given the weakness of Albania's infrastructure and economy, it will not be able to carry the load without strong external support. To follow up on your very useful trip to the region, it would be immensely helpful if you could take on the leadership of an effort by the United States government to shore up the capacity of Albania to continue to absorb large numbers of refugees. At your last briefing to the NGOs, you spoke about the importance of supporting the host family system. Already we see some families unable to carry their individual effort forward. There is also the problem of host communities impacted by the refugees. 1705 N STREET, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20036 TEL (202) 628-0130 FAX (202) 028-0810 EMAIL WEB HTTPUWW.REFINTL.ORG MAY 18 '99 05:27PM GEORGE SOROS OFFICE MAY-18 99 15:47 FROM: 2 TO:212 548 4620 P.4/4. PHOC: One important example of this is the strain that has been put on the ill- functioning Tirana water supply system. While the Europeans have addressed a part of this need, more needs to be done. For a relatively small investment by the United States, the water distribution problem for the Albanian capital, which is impacted by tens of thousands of refugees, could be dealt with fairly quickly and would help support a fragile government. We suggest that you call a meeting of all relevant US agencies/officials. including the Army Corps of Engineers, to look at effective ways to assist Albania as quickly as possible. Thank you again for your vital leadership on these issues. Sincerely, Fund a. OMA Lionel A. Rosenblatt President 05/20/99 THU 09:59 FAX 202 456 9140 NSC DEMOCRACY $ 002 SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS Kosovo Coordination Council May 19, 1999 It was decided that - OMB will compile funding plan for the supplemental, with input from the agencies. PRM will provide timeline for out-flows from Ft. Dix at next Council mtg. NSC will draft memo for the President on plan for Macedonia camp security. PRM will send cable authorizing Embassy/Tirana and JTF/Shining Hope to advise relevant agencies on the ground to move forward with plans to transfer refugees from Kukes to Camp Hope on a phased basis. PRM will send cable to Embassy/Tirana advising against Camp Hope "ribbon cutting" ceremony. IWG will review action needed to upgrade the over burdened water system in Tirana. IWG will identify appropriate individual to ensure link between U.S. textile companies operating in Macedonia that are willing to help supply the refugee relief effort, with relief 7 agencies who will make use of these locally produced goods.