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House of Representatives(914) 997-6440

SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS
ABUSE AND CONTROLWashington, DC 20515

Congress of the United States

House of Representatives

June 18 1986


Dear Colleague:

Yesterday, I introduced a concurrent resolution to express Congress's deep concern over the political and economic conditions facing ethnic Albanians living in Yugoslavia.

Despite more than 40 years of ongoing repression, most Americans are unaware of the dire situation facing Yugoslavia?s ethnic Albanian community. While Albanians constitute one of the largest ethnic groups within Yugoslavia, numbering 2 million people, due to political repression they are forced to endure some of that nation?s harshest economic circumstances. Albanians who express their cultural heritage are routinely fired from their jobs and are denied new employment opportunities. Many are thrown into jail. In fact, the majority of political prisoners in Yugoslavia are ethnic Albanians.

Incredibly, this systemic repression by the Yugoslav Government goes even further. Amnesty International has published allegations of torture and assassination of ethnic Albanians in exile by the Yugoslav secret police.

It is time for the United States Congress to let the Yugoslav Government know that their repressive tactics will not be tolerated. We invite you to join us in cosponsoring the resolution which appears on the back of this page. To join us in speaking out on human rights, please call Wayne Cimons at 5-6506.



Sincerely,

Joseph J. DioGuardi

Member of Congress

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