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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
April 20, 1999

Death of David and Penny Mccall in Albania

Our deepest sympathy goes to the families and colleagues of David B. McCall and his wife, Joan Mills McCall, known as Penny, board members of Refugees International, who were killed April 18 in a car accident in Albania. We will always remember the McCalls with gratitude for all they accomplished for refugees throughout the world, including in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Balkans.

On the day they died, the McCalls were in Albania on a humanitarian assessment mission with the non-governmental organization that they had served for many years. They were killed, along with Yvette Pierpaoli, a citizen of France and a fellow relief worker, and their Albanian driver when their car slid off a rainswept mountain road some 50 miles north of Tirana. The McCalls and Ms. Pierpaoli were traveling to Kukes, Albania to explore the possibility of organizing radio broadcasts so that refugees of the Kosovo conflict could locate missing family members.

The Department of State informed the families of Mr. and Mrs. McCall of the deaths, and we are working with them to carry out their wishes regarding final arrangements.

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