Cohen to Meet with Foreign Leaders, U.S. Troops

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 1998 – Defense Secretary William Cohen departed Sept. 23 for high-level meetings in Europe and Africa and visits with U.S. troops in Macedonia.

Cohen's visit is slated to include the annual NATO informal defense ministerial meetings in Vilamoura, Portugal. In Skopje, Macedonia, he is scheduled to attend the Southeastern Europe defense ministerial and visit U.S. service members supporting the U.N. preventive deployment force.

In Bosnia, Cohen is expected to meet with Carlos Westendorp, the high representative of Bosnia, appointed to represent the international community by the Dayton Peace Agreement; the co-presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina; and U.S. forces supporting Operation Joint Forge.

The secretary is scheduled to meet with Moroccan leaders before returning to Washington Sept. 29.