September 17, 1998

The Honorable Joseph J. DioGuardi

1607 Eagle Bay Drive

Ossining, New York 10562

Dear Joe

Thank you for your insightful letter. I appreciate your counsel on the situation in Kosovo, and I share your deep concern about the future of the region.

My Administration is working closely with our allies and partners on measures to help end the violence and promote a peaceful resolution. These measures include putting pressure on Milosevic by imposing new sanctions - - including an assets freeze, an investment ban, and a ban on flights by Yugoslav State Airlines; continuing diplomatic efforts to urge all parties to return to the negotiating table; and accelerating NATO contingency planning in case the situation continues to deteriorate. The NATO air exercise over Albania and Macedonia sent a clear message about international concern and resolve.

Moreover, we are determined that Milosevic must meet the demands of the Contact Group, including stopping repression and withdrawing security forces; allowing effective and continuous international monitoring; allowing full freedom of access for humanitarian organizations and working with them to facilitate the return of refugees; and making rapid progress in talks with the Kosovar Albanians.

Milosevic has pledged to do many of these things, most recently following his meetings with President Yeltsin in Moscow. He has not delivered on critical issues, however, and his actions increase the danger of an escalating conflict that could spill over into neighboring countries.

I will continue to do all I can to help bring a lasting peace to this troubled region.