MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY CLINTON TO CROATIAN

UNCLAS STATE 038024


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL HR
SUBJECT: MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY CLINTON TO CROATIAN
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DURDA ADLESIC


1. PLEASE DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY
CLINTON TO CROATIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DURDA ADLESIC.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DOES NOT PLAN TO RELEASE THE
TEXT OF THE MESSAGE BUT HAS NO OBJECTION IF THE
GOVERNMENT OF CROATIA WISHES TO DO SO. THERE WILL BE NO
SIGNED ORIGINAL.


2. BEGIN TEXT:

DEAR MADAM DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER REGARDING THE SITUATION OF
WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS ON
BEHALF OF THE INCARCERATED RAPE VICTIMS IN AFGHANISTAN.
YOUR DESCRIPTION OF YOUR CONVERSATION WITH THEIR
CHILDREN TOUCHED ME DEEPLY. YOUR EXPERIENCE UNDERSCORES
THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ENGAGEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN
AFGHANISTAN.

AT A RECENT MEETING WITH WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS AT THE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN IN THE HAGUE, I
DELIVERED MY GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THIS MATTER:
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE A CENTRAL PART OF AMERICA'S FOREIGN
POLICY IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. THE ROLES AND
RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN ANY SOCIETY ARE A KEY INDICATOR OF
THE STABILITY AND POTENTIAL FOR PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND
DEMOCRACY OF THAT SOCIETY. STRENGTHENING WOMEN'S RIGHTS
IN AFGHANISTAN IS NOT ONLY A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, BUT
ALSO THE SMART STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER
NATIONS TO PURSUE. I WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THIS AND
VERY MUCH WELCOME YOUR CONTINUED COLLABORATION THROUGH
ISAF AND OTHER AVENUES.

THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF CONGRATULATION ON
MY APPOINTMENT.

SINCERELY,

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON


END TEXT.

CLINTON