UPDATE: JCPA Resolution on Kosovo, June 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Martin Raffel (#212/684-6950, x.206)
-Associate Executive Vice Chairman

JCPA Supports Military Intervention in Kosovo

(New York, March 24, 1999) - The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) has expressed support for the decision of President Clinton and U.S. allies in NATO to intervene militarily to curtail Serbian aggression in Kosovo. JCPA Chair Steven Schwarz asserted that, "the world has watched in horror as yet again the forces of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milocevic undertake a systematic campaign of 'ethnic cleansing', this time directed at the Albanian population." While acknowledging that the decision to launch a strike is an extremely difficult one, Schwarz stated that "U.S. national interests and moral values require such a response in this situation." The JCPA leader offered his prayers for "those brave men and women serving in our armed forces who are being called upon to carry out this important mission." Following is the full text of Mr. Schwarz's statement:

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) supports the decision taken by President Bill Clinton and our allies in NATO to intervene militarily to curtail the brutal Serbian aggression against civilians in Kosovo, and we hope this action will pave the way for a diplomatic solution of the conflict. The world has watched in horror as yet again the forces of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milocevic undertake a systematic campaign of "ethnic cleansing," this time directed at the Albanian population of Kosovo. The decision to launch a military operation that will result in casualties, possibly to U.S. and other NATO forces, is an extremely difficult one to make. We agree with the President that U.S. national interests and moral values require such a response in this situation. Our prayers go out for the safety and success of those brave men and women serving in our armed forces who are being called upon to carry out this important mission.

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The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the coordinating and planning body for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.