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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                       (Raleigh, North Carolina)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                      July 30, 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

National Security Council Staff Realignment

To enhance the ability of the National Security Council staff to address the dynamic security environment the United States will face in the 21st century, Samuel Berger, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs today announced the completion of a realignment of NSC offices. Two new offices have been established: Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs, and Transnational Threats.

On May 22 at the Naval Academy commencement, President Clinton announced the signing of presidential directives on combating terrorism (PDD-62) and critical infrastructure protection (PDD-63) and named the first National Coordinator for Infrastructure Protection and Counter-Terrorism, Richard Clarke. The National Coordinator heads the NSC's office for Transnational Threats, which integrates the Government's policies and programs on unconventional threats to the United States and Americans abroad: attacks on our infrastructures, cyber systems and government operations; terrorism; and attacks with weapons of mass destruction. This office also coordinates efforts to address other transnational threats such as international crime and narcotics trafficking and has special responsibilities for regional security.

The NSC's office for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs has been expanded and re-designated as Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs. It will be headed by Special Assistant to the President Eric Schwartz. In addition to its current areas of responsibility, which include human rights and democracy promotion; international broadcasting; and humanitarian assistance, refugees and migration, the office will take on responsibilities for United Nations affairs, international peace-keeping, and sanctions policy. By merging responsibilities for international peacekeeping and United Nations political affairs on the one hand, and international humanitarian assistance and human rights, on the other, the NSC will be better able to coordinate the U.S. government's response to and management of complex crises.

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