MEETING WITH STATE DEPARTMENT (TOM LMITOS’ OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 30,

1988, 11:30 AM)

Present:

Tom Lantos

Bill Broomfield

Ben Gilman

Joe DioGuardi

Tim Deal, Director, State Department East European and Yugoslavia Office

Jack

Seymour, Deputy Director, State Department East

European and Yugoslavia Office

JOE: Opens meeting by thanking Tom for maintaining leadership on the Albanian issue. Joe then outlines our strong concerns about recent events as follows:

Situation in Yugoslavia is deteriorating to a point where differences between various ethnic minorities might be beyond repair.

Serbians, under Stalinist leader Slobodan Milosevic, leader of the Serbian League of Communists, are becoming more nationalistic. Widespread anti-Albanian street protests led by the Serbs produce slogans such as "We want the Russians" and "Death to the Albanians".

Serbian dominated press propagates racism and hyperbole directed specifically at ethnic Albanians.

The Yugoslav government has rejected any substantial reform or broader dialogue with ethnic Albanians, while tolerating a Serbian backlash.

Albanians now enjoy less political, social and economic rights than in the past; face systematic discrimination in all walks of life and have, no opportunity to express their views or give their side of the story to the Serbian controlled media.

Kosovo no longer fully enjoys limited autonomy it was given under the 1974 constitution. Milosevic continues attempts to place Kosovo under Serbia’s full control.

In addition to continued alienation of Albanians, there is concern with allegations of Albanian discrimination and harassment of ethnic Serbs and Montenegrins in Kosovo.