[House Document 106-100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-100
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A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT ON U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
__________
COMMUNICATION
FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TRANSMITTING
A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT TO ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT FULLY
INFORMED ON CONTINUED U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF PEACEKEEPING
EFFORTS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
July 19, 1999.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations
and ordered to be printed
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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
69-011 WASHINGTON : 1999
The White House,
Washington, July 19, 1999.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of January
19, 1999, I provided further information on the deployment of
combat-equipped U.S. Armed Forces to Bosnia and other states in
the region in order to participate in and support the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led Stabilization Force
(SFOR), which began its mission and assumed authority from the
NATO-led Implementation Force on December 20, 1996. I am
providing this supplemental report, consistent with the War
Powers Resolution, to help ensure that the Congress is kept
fully informed on continued U.S. contributions in support of
peacekeeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia.
The U.N. Security Council authorized member states to
continue SFOR for a period of 12 months in U.S. Security
Council Resolution 1247 of June 18, 1999. The mission of SFOR
is to provide a continued military presence in order to deter
renewed hostilities, stabilize and consolidate the peace in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and contribute to a secure environment to
facilitate the civilian implementation process to which SFOR
provides broad support within its means and capabilities.
The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia is
approximately 6,200. In the first half of 1999, all NATO
nations and 19 others, including Russia and Ukraine, have
provided military personnel or other support to SFOR. Most U.S.
forces are assigned to Multinational Division, North, centered
around the city of Tuzla. In addition, approximately 2,200 U.S.
military personnel are deployed to Hungary, Croatia, and Italy
in order to provide logistical and other support to SFOR. The
U.S. forces continue to support SFOR in efforts to apprehend
persons indicted for war crimes. In the last 6 months, U.S.
forces have sustained no fatalities.
The United Nations mandate for the U.N. Preventive
Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) in the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia expired on February 28, 1999, and it was not renewed
or extended. The U.S. military contingent that had been
deployed to Macedonia as part of UNPREDEP remained in Macedonia
under U.S. operational control in anticipation of providing
logistical support to U.S. forces that could support future
NATO operations in the area. That contingent subsequently
redeployed and was replaced with other U.S. forces more suited
for this possible support mission. The new contingent has been
incorporated into the U.S. national support element operating
in Macedonia that, as I reported in my letter to the Congress
of June 12, 1999, is supporting the International Security
Presence in Kosovo (KFOR).
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
Bosnia and other states in the region. 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.