[House Document 106-42]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]






106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-42
-----------------------------------------------------------------------



 
     USE OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA     

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 HIS NOTIFICATION DIRECTING U.S. ARMED FORCES TO COMMENCE A SERIES OF 
AIR STRIKES IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (FRY) IN RESPONSE TO 
  THE FRY GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUED CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE AND REPRESSION 
            AGAINST THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO




 April 12, 1999.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed

                               --------

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE                    
69-011                     WASHINGTON : 1999




                                           The White House,
                                    Washington, DC, March 26, 1999.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: At approximately 1:30 p.m. eastern 
standard time, on March 24, 1999, U.S. military forces, at my 
direction and in coalition with our NATO allies, began a series 
of air strikes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 
response to the FRY government's continued campaign of violence 
and repression against the ethnic Albanian population in 
Kosovo. The mission of the air strikes is to demonstrate the 
seriousness of NATO's purpose so that the Serbian leaders 
understand the imperative of reversing course; to deter an even 
bloodier offensive against innocent civilians in Kosovo; and, 
if necessary, to seriously damage the Serbian military's 
capacity to harm the people of Kosovo. In short, if President 
Milosevic will not make peace, we will limit his ability to 
make war.
    As you are aware, the Government of the FRY has been 
engaged in a brutal conflict in Kosovo. In this conflict, 
thousands of innocent Kosovar civilians have been killed or 
injured by FRY government security forces. The continued 
repression of Kosovars by the FRY military and security police 
forces constitutes a threat to regional security, particularly 
to Albania and Macedonia and, potentially, to Greece and to 
Turkey. Tens of thousands of others have been displaced from 
their homes, and many of them have fled to the neighboring 
countries of Bosnia, Albania, and Macedonia. These actions are 
the result of policies pursued by President Milosevic, who 
started the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, and moved against 
Slovenia in the last decade.
    The United States, working closely with our European allies 
and Russia, have pursued a diplomatic solution to this crisis 
since last fall. The Kosovo leaders agreed to the interim 
settlement negotiated at Rambouillet, but the FRY government 
refused even to discuss key elements of the peace agreement. 
Instead, the Government of the FRY continues its attacks on the 
Kosovar population and has deployed 40,000 troops in and around 
Kosovo in preparation for a major offensive and in clear 
violation of the commitments it had made.
    The FRY government has failed to comply with U.N. Security 
Council resolutions, and its actions are in violation of its 
obligations under the U.N. Charter and its other international 
commitments. The FRY government's actions in Kosovo are not 
simply an internal matter. The Security Council has condemned 
FRY actions as a threat to regional peace and security. The FRY 
government's violence creates a conflict with no natural 
boundaries, pushing refugees across borders and potentially 
drawing in neighboring countries. The Kosovo region is a 
tinderbox that could ignite a wider European war with dangerous 
consequences to the United States.
    United States and NATO forces have targeted the FRY 
government's integrated air defense system, military and 
security police command and control elements, and military and 
security police facilities and infrastructure. United States 
naval ships and aircraft and U.S. Air Force aircraft are 
participating in these operations. Many of our NATO allies are 
also contributing aircraft and other forces.
    In addition, since this air operation began, the U.S. 
Embassy in Skopje, Macedonia, has been subjected to 
increasingly hostile demonstrations by a large number of 
Serbian sympathizers. In response, I have authorized a unit 
consisting of about 100 combat-equipped Marines from USS NASSAU 
(LHA 4), which is supporting the air operations in Kosovo, to 
deploy to Skopje to enhance security at our embassy. These 
Marines will remain deployed so long as is necessary to protect 
our embassy and U.S. persons.
    We cannot predict with certainty how long these operations 
will need to continue. Milosevic must stop his offensive, stop 
the repression, and agree to a peace accord based on the 
framework from Rambouillet. If he does not comply with the 
demands of the international community, NATO operations will 
seriously damage Serbia's military capacity to harm the people 
of Kosovo. NATO forces will also use such force as is necessary 
to defend themselves in the accomplishment of their mission.
    I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional 
authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in 
Chief and Chief Executive. In doing so, I have taken into 
account the views and support expressed by the Congress in S. 
Con. Res. 21 and H. Con. Res. 42.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this 
action.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Bill Clinton.

                                
