[House Document 107-282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-282


 
 REPORT ON CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS 
                               IN KOSOVO

                               __________

                             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 KOSOVO




    November 19, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, November 15, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress dated May 
17, 2002, I provided information regarding the continued 
deployment of combat equipped U.S. military personnel as the 
U.S. contribution to the NATO-led international security force 
in Kosovo (KFOR) and to other countries in the region in 
support of that force. I am providing this supplemental report 
prepared by my Administration, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution (Public Law 93-148), to help ensure that the 
Congress is kept fully informed on continued U.S. contributions 
in support of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo.
    As noted in previous reports, the U.N. Security Council 
authorized member states to establish KFOR in U.N. Security 
Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999. The mission of KFOR 
is to provide a military presence in order to deter renewed 
hostilities; verify and, if necessary, enforce the terms of the 
Military Technical Agreement (MTA) between NATO and the Federal 
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY); enforce the terms of the 
Undertaking on Demilitarization and Transformation of the 
former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA); provide day-to-day 
operational direction to the Kosovo Protection Corps, and 
maintain a safe and secure environment to facilitate the work 
of the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
    Currently, the U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is 
approximately 4,350 U.S. military personnel, or approximately 
15 percent of KFOR's total strength. An additional 266 U.S. 
military personnel are deployed as the National Support Element 
in Macedonia, with an occasional presence in Albania and 
Greece. In the past 6 months, 19 non-NATO contributing 
countries have joined NATO forces in providing military 
personel and other support personnel to KFOR.
    The U.S. forces are assigned to a sector principally 
centered upon Gnjilane in the eastern portion of Kosovo. For 
U.S. KFOR forces, as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and 
secure environment remains the primary military task. United 
States forces conduct security patrols in urban areas and in 
the countryside throughout their sector. Approximately 60 
percent of KFOR personnel are dedicated to patrolling, manning 
checkpoints, and mounting border and boundary patrols. The KFOR 
forces operate under NATO command and control and rules of 
engagement.
    The UNMIK continues to make progress in establishing the 
necessary structures for provisional democratic self-government 
in Kosovo. The Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, 
including a President, Prime Minister, and Kosovo Assembly, 
have been in place since March 2002, and municipal elections 
were successfully held for a second time on October 26, 2002. 
The KFOR coordinates with and supports UNMIK at most levels, 
provides a security presence in towns, villages, and the 
countryside, and organizes checkpoints and patrols in key areas 
of Kosovo to provide security, protect minorities, resolve 
disputes, and help instill in the community a feeling of 
confidence. Intensified, robust KFOR patrolling on the 
Macedonia/Kosovo border was a key factor in reducing violence 
in Macedonia and ensuring successful elections. At the same 
time SFOR is supporting, within its means and capabilities, the 
provision of humanitarian relief, public safety and order, and 
the maintenance of essential civic works resources.
    NATO continues formally to review KFOR's mission at 6-month 
intervals. These reviews provide a basis for assessing current 
force levels, future requirements, force structure, force 
reductions, and the eventual withdrawal of KFOR. NATO has 
adopted the Joint Operational Area plan to regionalize and 
rationalize its force structure in the Balkans. The KFOR has 
transferred full responsibility for public safety and policing 
to the UNMIK international and local police forces in every 
area except Kosovaska Mitrovica, where the responsibility is 
shared due to security concerns. The UNMIK international police 
and local police forces have also begun to assume 
responsibility for guarding patrimonial sites and establish 
border-crossing checkpoints.
    The continued deployment of U.S. forces have been 
undertaken pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct 
U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief 
Executive. I appreciate the continued support of the Congress 
in these actions.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                
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