[House Document 106-44]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]






106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-44
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                   ADDITIONAL U.S. FORCES TO ALBANIA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

A REPORT TO INFORM YOU OF MY DECISION TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL U.S. FORCES 
  TO ALBANIA IN SUPPORT OF ONGOING NATO AIR OPERATIONS TO REDUCE THE 
    CAPACITY OF THE SERBIAN MILITARY AND SECURITY FORCES TO CONDUCT 
           OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS, PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 105-262




 April 12, 1999.--Referred jointly to the Committees on International 
Relations, Appropriations, and Armed Services and ordered to be printed

                               --------

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




                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, DC, April 4, 1999.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Further to my report to the Congress of 
March 25 and April 3, 1999, under section 8115 of the 
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-
262), this report is to inform you of my decision to deploy 
additional U.S. forces to Albania in support of ongoing NATO 
air operations to reduce the capacity of the Serbian military 
and security forces to conduct offensive operations.
    In particular, rotary wing, artillery, and tactical missile 
systems will be deployed to establish a deep strike task force 
in Albania to enhance NATO's ability to conduct effective air 
operations in Kosovo as part of the current NATO mission. In 
regard to the elements of section 8115(a) (1)-(8), I am 
providing the following to supplement information provided on 
these elements in my reports of March 25 and April 3, 1999.
    1 & 2. National Security Interests. I hereby certify that 
the deployment of additional forces to Albania as described 
above is necessary in the national security interests of the 
United States. This deployment will provide additional 
specialized forces to reduce the capacity of the Serbian 
military and security forces to continue repression and ethnic 
cleansing and to deter the threat to regional peace and 
security.
    3. Numbers. I anticipate that a substantial deep strike 
task force, comprised of rotary wing, artillery, and tactical 
missile systems, together with supporting and security 
elements, will be deployed to Albania for these purposes. There 
is not at this time a definitive number of U.S. military 
personnel who will be deployed as part of this task force, but 
I anticipate that, at a minimum, approximately 2,000 will be 
required. I will ensure that the Congress is informed in a 
timely manner about the deployment described in this report 
when the information is available.
    4. Mission/Objectives. The overall objective of our efforts 
with our allies in the region has been detailed in my previous 
reports of March 25 and April 3, 1999. The specific military 
mission of the strike task force deployed to Albania will be to 
support ongoing NATO air operations to reduce the capacity of 
the Serbian military and security forces to conduct offensive 
operations. The ground force component is for the support and 
security of the deep strike elements. The mission does not 
include any planned deployment of ground troops into the 
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
    5. Schedule. Although it is not possible at this time to 
determine how long NATO operations will need to continue, we 
are determined to sustain this effort along with our allies as 
long as necessary to meet our objectives.
    6. Exit Strategy. The duration of the requirement for this 
strike task force deployment to Albania will depend on the 
course of events, and in particular, on Belgrade's reaction to 
NATO operations.
    7. Costs. The costs of the deployment covered by this 
notice, like the costs of the U.S. contribution to NATO air 
operations, will be paid initially from FY99 Defense Operations 
and Maintenance appropriations. An estimate of likely costs for 
these deployments is being prepared, and I will ensure that it 
is provided to the Congress as soon as it is available.
    8. Effect on Morale, Retention and Readiness. In addition 
to the specific points I made on these matters in my reports of 
March 25 and April 3, I would only underscore and express my 
deep gratitude for the great pride, courage, professionalism, 
and enthusiasm of the men and women of our Armed Forces who are 
carrying out this critical mission.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
                                

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