GEORGE BUSH

September 27, 1988

The Honorable Joseph J. DioGuardi

United States House of Representatives

325 Cannon Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Joe:

Thank you for bringing to my attention your concern with recent events in Yugoslavia. I, too, believe we should encourage the national government of Yugoslavia to do all it can to ensure the preservation of human and political rights and the autonomy of all nationality groups in Yugoslavia.

I am pleased and share your enthusiasm for the recent trends in Slovenia. Clearly, that Republic’s move towards a more liberal political and economic climate is most welcome. However, I remain concerned about ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. The Albanians are a proud and brave people whose rights must be protected.

It is important that all nations follow the prescriptions of the Helsinki Accords and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. I am hopeful that Yugoslavia, a signator, will do that. Where a national or ethnic group is in the majority, it must clearly remain enfranchised and to do otherwise would be a blow to the human and political rights sought for all men and women.

I think it is in the United States' interest to encourage the respect and preservation of human, political and civil rights. We should oppose those who would seek to stop it.

Sincerely,

George Bush