Vol. 18, No. 36	July 8, 1999

Kosovo conference July 12

A conference on "The Kosovo Humanitarian Crisis: Supporting International Relief Efforts" will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, July 12, on the Wilmington Campus.

The first of its kind in the country, the conference is free and open to the public.

Mark Huddleston, political science and international relations, will open the program with an overview of the political development of the crisis. Speakers include Paul Giannone, director for preparedness and planning for CARE; Genevieve Abel, analyst for Catholic Relief Services; and Ande Miller, operations manager, disaster services of the American Red Cross. U.S. Senator Joseph Biden also has been invited to speak.

The conference focuses on the particular role of these three pivotal humanitarian organizations working in the Balkans. All three have been deeply involved in humanitarian relief operations during the last three months and will continue involvement as refugees return to their war-ravaged land.

"The presenters have worked for months in different parts of the region. They are not only ready to share their eyewitness accounts and their insight on the human feelings and passion likely to develop, but also their understanding of what should be the practical steps and projects to comprise a consistent policy for the region," Klara Sogindolska, conference organizer, said.

"The end of the conflict in Yugoslavia is just the beginning of a new political and economic spasm of return, reconstruction and reconciliation for the people of the area," she added. The conference is cosponsored by the International Council of Delaware and the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration. For additional information, call 831-8971.