[House Document 106-281]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-281
REPORT ON PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS IN
THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TRANSMITTING
A 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
September 6, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on International
Relations and ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, July 25, 2000.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of January
25, 2000, I provided further information on the deployment of
combat-equipped U.S. Armed Forces to Bosnia and Herzegovina 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.
In Resolution 1305 of June 21, 2000, the U.N. Security
Council authorized member states to continue SFOR for a period
of 12 months. The mission of SFOR is to provide a continued
military presence in order to deter hostilities, stabilize and
consolidate the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contribute to
a secure environment and provide, within its means and
capabilities, selective support to key areas and key civil
implementation organizations.
The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia and
Herzegovina has been reduced from approximately 6,200 to 4,600
personnel since may last report. United States personnel
comprise 19 percent of the total SFOR force. In the first half
of 2000, 18 NATO nations and 16 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, U.S.
military personnel are deployed to other countries in the
region in support of those efforts. Specifically, approximately
1,000 U.S. military personnel are presently deployed to
Hungary, Croatia, and Italy in order to provide logistical and
other support to SFOR. The U.S. forces continue to support SFOR
efforts to apprehend persons indicted for war crimes. In the
last 6 months, U.S. forces have sustained no combat-related
fatalities.
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
Herzegovina, 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.