[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 56 (Monday, April 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H4111-H4112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       GOOD NEWS REGARDING BOSNIA

  (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, this is the fifth speech I am giving on 
Bosnia. It contains good news.
  In my last address I stated that on March 28 I sent a letter to the 
President regarding the New York Times report that the United States is 
being urged to stay in Bosnia longer than a year. This would break the 
word of the administration and of the Secretary of State, who said that 
the American forces would be in Bosnia for only 1 year.
  The Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, said that 1-year 
limitation would give the warring parties the opportunity to have peace 
but it would not be a guarantee. Mr. Speaker, I have heard from the 
President today with a letter dated April 22. He clearly states that 
the IFOR mission should be complete in about a year. This is good news, 
and it is in contrast with the New York Times article.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record my March 28 and the President's 
April 22 letters.


[[Page H4112]]




                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, March 28, 1996.
     The President,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: The March 21 edition of the New York 
     Times reported the U.S. and NATO are being urged to keep our 
     forces in Bosnia after the end of the year. International 
     civilian and military authorities are alleged to be pressing 
     for continued NATO presence beyond our scheduled departure.
       To keep American troops in Bosnia past the announced date 
     of departure at the end of 1996 would be a major mistake. 
     First, it flies in the face of a clear statement by Secretary 
     of State Warren Christopher: ``This is not a permanent 
     commitment. This is approximately a one-year commitment. . . 
     . If it can't be done in a year, perhaps it can't be done in 
     a longer period of time.'' Second, it breaks faith with our 
     American troops who are presently stationed in Bosnia, who 
     expect to return to their families in nine months. Third, it 
     contradicts what the American people were told about the 
     duration of the mission.
       American forces are facing a difficult and challenging 
     assignment in the NATO peacekeeping mission. The one-year 
     deployment was intended to provide an opportunity for peace, 
     not a guarantee of it. The people of Bosnia must assume the 
     responsibility of ensuring their own peace.
       Already, American and NATO peacekeepers are being diverted 
     from their original mission to the task of rebuilding Bosnia. 
     This assignment shifts the focus of our military forces from 
     peacekeeping to assisting in civil projects.
       Further, by several accounts, a cornerstone of the Dayton 
     agreement--the continuance of the Muslim-Croat Federation--
     appears severely weakened. The U.S. and NATO could well be in 
     a quandary if that alliance should crumble.
       The push to keep U.S. and NATO forces in Bosnia, the 
     expansion of mission assignments and the possible 
     disintegration of the Muslim-Croat Federation could compel us 
     to extend our commitment in Bosnia. We are on a slippery 
     slope toward a lengthy deployment of five or even ten 
     additional years.
       I commend Major General William L. Nash, Commander of the 
     American sector of NATO forces in Bosnia, who stressed his 
     determination to withdraw on schedule. He properly stated 
     that the burden for peace is ``on the shoulders of those folk 
     that live here.''
       Mr. President, if the people of Bosnia truly want peace, 
     one year is more than enough time to get it started.
           Very truly yours,
                                                      Ike Skelton,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 22, 1996.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Ike: Thank you for your letter expressing concerns 
     about American troops remaining in Bosnia beyond the end of 
     1996. I fully agree with you that we and the rest of the 
     international community can only provide the people of Bosnia 
     the opportunity for peace. The Bosnian people themselves must 
     assume the responsibility of ensuring a stable future.
       Our policy remains that IFOR should be able to complete its 
     mission in about one year. The major military tasks have 
     already been accomplished. In the coming months, IFOR will 
     help provide a secure environment so that civilian 
     implementation efforts can get firmly established, refugees 
     can begin to return, and free elections can be held under 
     OSCE supervision. It is our view that, with these efforts on 
     track, there will not be a need for a robust, NATO-led force 
     beyond a year.
       IFOR Commanders have the authority to support civilian 
     tasks, including provision of assistance to the War Crimes 
     Tribunal and other international organizations in their 
     humanitarian missions. IFOR has provided such support since 
     its arrival, and it will continue to do so, within the limits 
     of its resources and its primary mission of implementing the 
     military aspects of the Dayton accords. For example, IFOR 
     will provide training and support for civilian determining 
     efforts, in tandem with mine-clearance aimed at ensuring 
     IFOR's own safety. In this respect, military and civilian 
     efforts complement one another.
       Regarding the Federation, the parties recently signed an 
     agreement that outlines concrete steps with specific 
     deadlines that will strengthen the Federation and get its 
     institutions up and running. The main provisions include 
     abolition of customs duties, measures to facilitate return of 
     refugees and sanctions against local officials who refuse to 
     comply. The Bosnians and Croats have also agreed on a flag 
     and coat of arms for the Federation. The Federation 
     agreement, combined with Congressional approval of the $200 
     million supplemental and new steps by the parties to 
     cooperate with the War Crimes Tribunal, demonstrate new 
     momentum in the civil implementation of the Dayton accords.
       As I have said before, all of these efforts underpin my 
     commitment to complete IFOR's mission in about a year. Once 
     again, I thank you for your support for our efforts to help 
     the people of Bosnia achieve a lasting peace.
           Sincerely,
     Bill.

                          ____________________