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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 23, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT

I spoke twice this morning with Russian Federation Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, the second time when he was on his plane over the Atlantic Ocean en route to the United States. I informed him that Milosevic had rejected our efforts to reach a peaceful outcome in Kosovo and that Milosevic was launching escalated offensive actions against the men, women and children of Kosovo.

After discussing the worsening situation in Kosovo, Prime Minister Primakov decided to return to Moscow, and we agreed that we would postpone this week's meeting of the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission.

The Prime Minister and I are both committed to a strong bilateral relationship, and we are both convinced that work of the Commission helps strengthen that relationship. We will take up the important work of the Commission at a time when both sides can better focus their attention on the issues before us.

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