[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.