Expand All Collapse All Extent 3 folders, approximately 295 pages Summary This collection includes Ambassador Richard Schifter’s files concerning Russia from his time serving in the Counselor’s Office on the National Security Council. It contains correspondence, articles, and reports regarding Western business, political, and cultural interactions in Russia. Scope and Content Note The materials in FOIA 2020-0263-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. This collection contains Richard Schifter’s files concerning Russia. Mr. Schifter was an Austrian-American attorney who had served in various roles in the State Department under President Reagan and the first President Bush. President Clinton appointed Ambassador Schifter to the National Security Council, where he served in the Counselor’s Office until 1997. He developed the originating idea for the Southeastern Europe Cooperative Initiative (SECI) during the aftermath of the Bosnian war to promote more robust cooperation and problem-solving within the region. The SECI was officially launched in December 1996. Ambassador Schifter passed away in December 2020. The files in this collection consist of a variety of correspondence, articles, and reports regarding Western business and cultural interactions in Russia. These include a Heritage Foundation overview of the 1993 Russian elections and correspondence from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili regarding military contacts with the Former Soviet Union. The files also contain an October 1993 World Bank Report, “ Russia – Joining the World Economy.” In addition, Ambassador Schifter’s records contain materials regarding the Russian response and role concerning the development of the SECI, including a copy of the December 1996 SECI Statement of Purpose and State Department cables. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in this collection area— Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. Staff and Office files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. Access Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22, as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions. Copyright Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (17 U.S.C. Chapter 1) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Provenance Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA). Processed by Staff Archivist, 2022. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2022-06-08 Container List The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2020-0263-F: Box 1 Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files National Security Council Counselor’s Office Schifter, Richard Russia, 1993-1996 [1] [OA/ID 681] Russia, 1993-1996 [2] [OA/ID 681] SECI [Southeastern Europe Cooperation Initiative] – Russia [OA/ID 863]