[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.