[House Document 104-239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

104th Congress 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 104-239


 
 FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF COMBAT-EQUIPPED UNITED STATES 
        ARMED FORCES TO THE REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  From

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

HIS FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF COMBAT-EQUIPPED UNITED STATES 
ARMED FORCES TO THE REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AS WELL AS OTHER 
 STATES IN THE REGION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN AND SUPPORT THE NORTH 
  ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)-LED IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (IFOR)




 June 25, 1996.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, DC, June 21, 1996.
Hon. Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of December 
21, 1995, I provided further information on the deployment of 
combat-equipped U.S. Armed Forces to the Republic of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina as well as other states in the region in order to 
participate in and support the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO)-led Implementation Force (IFOR). I am 
providing this follow-up report, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution, to ensure that the Congress is kept fully informed 
on continued U.S. contributions in support of peacekeeping 
efforts in the former Yugoslavia.
    We and other countries are working in concert to encourage 
the parties to fulfill their commitments under the peace 
agreement and to usher in a new era of cooperation. In 
accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1031 
and the North Atlantic Council decision of December 16, 1995, 
IFOR continues to carry out its mission to monitor and ensure 
compliance by all parties with the military aspects of the 
peace agreement initialed in Dayton and formally signed in 
Paris on December 14, 1995. Consistent with the accomplishment 
of its principal task, IFOR is also assisting various aspects 
of civilian implementation, including elections support, 
support to the International Criminal Tribunal, and the 
facilitation of freedom of movement of civilian persons. NATO 
has also agreed and IFOR stands ready to provide emergency 
support to the United Nations Transitional Administration in 
Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES). One year ago, war raged throughout 
Bosnia. Today, the killing has ended and peace is taking hold.
    Approximately 17,000 U.S. military personnel remain 
deployed in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina under NATO 
operational command and control as part of a total IFOR 
contingent of about 60,000. Most of these U.S. personnel are 
assigned to a sector surrounding Tuzla. In addition, 
approximately 5,500 U.S. military personnel are deployed in 
Hungary, Croatia, Italy, and other states in the region in 
order to provide logistical and other support to IFOR. These 
personnel remain under U.S. command and control and rules of 
engagement.
    Many of the U.S. forces participating in IFOR are from U.S. 
Army forces who are stationed in Germany. Other participating 
U.S. forces include special operations forces, airfield 
operations support forces, air forces, and reserve personnel. 
An amphibious force is normally in reserve in the Mediterranean 
Sea, and a carrier battle group remains available to provide 
support for IFOR's air operations.
    Thus far, U.S. forces have sustained one fatality, which 
occurred when a soldier was killed by a mine. One soldier was 
also slightly wounded by sniper fire in an isolated incident, 
one soldier was wounded after interrupting an attempted break-
in at a storage facility, and several were injured, one 
seriously, when their vehicle struck a mine. Several other 
deaths have occurred because of accidents. The IFOR's mission 
for 1 year ends in December 1996, at which time it will begin 
withdrawal. At present, it is our intention that IFOR will 
complete the withdrawal of all troops in the weeks after 
December 20, 1996, on a schedule set by NATO commanders 
consistent with the safety of troops and the logistical 
requirements for an orderly withdrawal.
    A U.S. Army contingent remains deployed in the Former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as part of the United Nations 
Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). This U.N. peacekeeping 
force observes and monitors conditions along the border with 
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, effectively contributing to 
the stability of the region. Several U.S. Army support 
helicopters are also deployed to provide support to U.S. forces 
and UNPREDEP as required. Most of the approximately 500 U.S. 
soldiers participating in these missions are assigned to the 
2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor, 1st Infantry Division. A small 
contingent of U.S. military personnel is also serving in 
Croatia in direct support of the UNTAES Transitional 
Administrator.
    The U.S. naval forces continued, until recently, to assist 
in enforcing the U.N.-mandated arms embargo and economic 
sanctions as part of NATO's participation in Operation ``SHARP 
Guard.'' Since the arms embargo has been terminated and 
economic sanctions have been suspended, U.S. naval activities 
in support of Operation SHARP Guard have ceased. Operation 
SHARP Guard, however, will not be terminated until economic 
sanctions are terminated and U.S. naval forces will remain on 
call to provide assistance again should economic sanctions be 
reimposed.
    It is in the U.S. national interest to help bring peace to 
Bosnia. Through American leadership and in conjunction with our 
NATO allies and other countries, we have seen real progress 
toward sustainable peace in Bosnia. We have also made it clear 
to the former warring parties that it is they who are 
ultimately responsible for implementing the peace agreement.
    I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in 
these operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to 
conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and 
Chief Executive, and in accordance with various statutory 
authorities. I am providing this report as part of my efforts 
to keep the Congress fully informed about developments in the 
former Yugoslavia. I will continue to consult closely with the 
Congress regarding our efforts to foster peace and stability in 
the former Yugoslavia.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.