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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release July 29, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Samuel Berger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, today announced the appointment of Miriam E. Sapiro as Special Assistant to the President and Counselor for Southeast European Stabilization and Reconstruction. Ms. Sapiro will be the coordinator responsible for U.S. efforts to strengthen democracy, economic development and security in Southeast Europe through the Stability Pact and other mechanisms. Her appointment reflects the importance the President places on the creation of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous region integrated with the rest of Europe.

For the past two years, Ms. Sapiro has been a Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council Staff. Prior to joining the NSC in 1997, she served on the Policy Planning Staffs of Secretary Albright and Secretary Christopher, where she was responsible for European security issues. She was a member of the U.S. team that negotiated the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords. From 1988 to 1995, she worked for the State Department's Legal Adviser in several offices, including Political-Military Affairs, European Affairs, and Human Rights and Refugee Affairs.

Ms. Sapiro attended Williams College, New York University School of Law and Oxford University. She is the recipient of two Superior Honor Awards from the State Department. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and son.

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