[House Document 108-142]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-142

 
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 15, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, November 14, 2003.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of May 14, 
2003, 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 an international security 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) (which is now 
the Union of Serbia and Montenegro); enforce the terms of the 
Undertaking on Demilitarization and Transformation of the 
former Kosovo Liberation Army; 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, there are 17 NATO nations contributing to KFOR. 
The U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 2,100 U.S. 
military personnel, or approximately 11 percent of KFOR's total 
strength. Additionally, U.S. military personnel occasionally 
operate from Macedonia, Albania, and Greece in support of KFOR 
operations. Seventeen non-NATO contributing countries also 
participate with NATO forces in providing military personnel 
and other support personnel to KFOR.
    The U.S. forces are assigned to a sector principally 
centered around Gnjilane in the eastern region of Kosovo. For 
U.S. KFOR forces, as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and 
secure environment remains the primary military task. The KFOR 
forces operate under NATO command and control and rules of 
engagement. 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 to provide security, protect minorities, resolve 
disputes, and help instill in the community a feeling of 
confidence.
    The UNMIK continues to transfer non-reserved competencies 
under the Constitutional Framework document to the Kosovar 
Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). The PISG 
includes the President, Prime Minister and Kosovo Assembly, and 
has been in place since March 2002. Municipal elections were 
successfully held for a second time in October 2002.
    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 Operations Area plan to regionalize and 
rationalize its force structure in the Balkans. KFOR has 
transferred full responsibility for public safety and policing 
to UNMIK international and local police forces throughout 
Kosovo except in the area of 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 
established border-crossing checkpoints.
    The continued deployment of U.S. forces has 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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