Milan Panic to President Clinton re: Kosovo Crisis

38 77653 Republique Federale de Yougoslavie 2106 NSC le Premier Ministre (1992-93) Milan Panic # 256864 March 9, 1998 SENT VIA FAX AND FEDERAL EXPRESS Dear Mr. President: I am deeply troubled by the recent events in Kosovo. The more so due to the potential for regional conflict throughout the southern Balkans if we are unable to quickly promote a serious and sincere dialogue between Serbs and Albanians about the future of Kosovo. In the fall of 1992, as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, I met twice in Kosovo with Mr. Rugova and sent several of my ministers there to attempt to resolve the most burning issues. Milosevic and his agents blocked me at every turn. I was in Pristina with David Owen and Cyrus Vance and witnessed how they were treated with arrogance and callous falsehoods by Milosevic's agents, who posed as true representatives of the citizens of Kosovo. For six years I have argued that Milosevic is the problem and cannot perform a constructive role in any solution. Counting upon him to enforce the Dayton accords or to bring about a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo problem is like counting on the devil to eliminate sin. We should isolate Milosevic by making it clear to the Serbian nation that we do not recognize him as their legitimate leader. He has stolen a series of elections that would otherwise have produced legitimate democratically elected governments, which would have worked with us and the European community to protect the legitimate interests of the Serbian nation within the framework of peaceful regional solutions. I believe there is a growing awareness among the vast majority of Serbs, that Milosevic has brought them nothing but misery and that they cannot aspire to take their rightful place in the international community until he leaves the scene. They are waiting to hear from us. If we continue to treat Milosevic as the legitimate leader of Serbia, thereby permitting him to be depicted by his controlled media as an appropriate and respected partner for negotiations with us, how can we expect the Serbian people to react? The Amish have a term for it. We should shun Milosevic. Sincerely, Milon Ponic Milan Panic William Clinton President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 MP/jac