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