[House Document 104-79]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
104th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House
Document 104-79
ENFORCEMENT OF THE NO-FLY ZONE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
HIS FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES COMBAT-EQUIPPED
AIRCRAFT TO SUPPORT NATO'S ENFORCEMENT OF THE NO-FLY ZONE IN BOSNIA-
HERZEGOVINA
May 24, 1995.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations and
ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, May 24, 1995.
Hon. Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of November
22, 1994, I provided further information on the deployment of
U.S. combat-equipped aircraft to support efforts of the United
Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to
achieve peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On December
22, 1994, I also provided my fourth report on the continuing
deployment of a U.S. Army peacekeeping contingent as part of
the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia. I am now providing this follow-up report,
consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to ensure that the
Congress is kept informed about important U.S. contributions in
support of multilateral efforts in the former Yugoslavia.
U.S. combat-equipped fighter aircraft and other support
aircraft continue to contribute to NATO's enforcement of the
no-fly zone in the airspace over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In
accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 781, 786 and
816, this operation has since April 1993 enforced a ban on
flights not authorized by the United Nations Protection Force
(UNPROFOR). Enforcement of the no-fly zone has resulted in the
almost complete elimination of fixed-wing air to ground bombing
and other air combat activity within the zone, thereby greatly
limiting the scope of the conflict in the region. Military
personnel from 11 other NATO member nations have joined us in
this effort, which has involved almost 60,000 sorties since the
operation began. U.S. forces currently assigned to this
operation consist of approximately 100 tactical aircraft as
well as supporting tanker and other support aircraft.
The U.N. Security Council has established safe areas in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and has authorized Member States and
regional organizations, in close coordination with the United
Nations, to take all necessary measures, through the use of air
power, to support UNPROFOR in its mandate related to the safe
areas. The Council has also authorized Member States and
regional organizations, in close coordination with the United
Nations, to take all necessary measures to extend close air
support to protect U.N. forces in Croatia. More than 70 U.S.
aircraft, including those identified above, are available for
participation in authorized NATO missions for these purposes.
On March 31, 1995, the Security Council separated UNPROFOR
into three operations: The United Nations Confidence
Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO); the United Nations
Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia; and UNPROFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A
U.S. Army contingent remains deployed as part of UNPREDEP.
Through observation and monitoring along the Serbian border,
UNPREDEP continued to be effective in preventing the Balkan
conflict from spreading and thereby contributes to the
stability of the region. The approximately 500 U.S. soldiers
contributing to this mission are assigned to the 3rd Battalion,
12th Infantry, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
In addition to these operations, U.S. forces have conducted
more than 4,300 missions in support of the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees airlift to Sarajevo. U.S. medical and
other support personnel continue to provide critical services
in support of UNPROFOR and UNCRO. U.S. naval forces are also
continuing to assist in enforcing U.N. sanctions, subject to
the restrictions of the Nunn-Mitchell Amendment, as part of
NATO's participation in Operation SHARP GUARD.
The United States strongly favors a continued U.N.
peacekeeping presence in the former Yugoslavia and a
continuation of negotiations through the Contact Group.
However, given the increase in fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina
and Croatia, it may become necessary for NATO to assist in the
withdrawal of peacekeepers from these areas. Because of the
significant period of time needed to prepare and deploy the
necessary forces to support such a withdrawal, our senior
military commanders recommended that we take certain steps now
to preposition the necessary communications network in order to
be prepared to meet this contingency. Accordingly, on April 6,
1995, the North Atlantic Council authorized the Supreme Allied
Commander for Europe to assemble, train and deploy into Croatia
80 communications personnel. Twenty U.S. Soldiers are
participating in this operation.
These continuing efforts are being taken in conjunction
with our allies to implement the decisions of the U.N. Security
Council and the North Atlantic Council and to assist the
parties to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict. 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 in
accordance with various statutory authorities.
I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep
the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers
Resolution. I am grateful for the continuing support that the
Congress has provided, and I look forward to continued
cooperation with you in this endeavor. I shall communicate with
you further regarding our efforts to foster peace and stability
in the former Yugoslavia.
Sincerely,
William J. Clinton.