[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE BLOODSHED IN KOSOVO

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I note that both Senator McCain and 
Senator Smith came to the floor to present their thoughts on Kosovo. I 
would really like to join them and second their remarks.
  Mr. President, it is estimated that at least 250,000 Kosovar 
Albanians have been displaced by the violence and bloodshed of the past 
several months, and that many are currently living in the forests, 
without access to adequate food, shelter or medical care. With winter 
soon approaching, we are on the verge of a major humanitarian 
catastrophe in Kosovo, which is the direct result of a cruel and 
intentional policy directed by President Milosevic and carried out by 
Serbian security forces in Kosovo.
  The time has come--indeed, it is my belief that the time came long 
ago--for the United States, our NATO allies, and the entire 
international community, to back with resolve that what happened in 
Bosnia must not be allowed to happen again in Kosovo. For too long, we 
have stood by passively while Milosevic has acted in bad faith. He has 
made numerous commitments to halt the violence, such as that contained 
in his joint statement with President Yeltsin on June 16, and he has 
honored none of them.
  In July, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution which 
called on the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal to indict President 
Milosevic for his crimes in Bosnia. That resolution has not yet been 
carried out. In my mind, the time has come for the United States to 
call an end to the charade of taking at face value the word of a man 
the U.S. Senate believes should be indicted as a war criminal.
  If thousands, or tens of thousands, of people in Kosovo now die 
because they have been systematically forced from their homes, forced 
into the forests, denied access to food, warmth, shelter and medical 
care, it is a crime worthy of the world's condemnation.
  With winter imminent in the Balkans, the U.N. Security Council is 
prepared to vote on a resolution threatening force under article 7 of 
the U.N. Charter unless Milosevic calls a cease-fire and negotiates 
with Kosovo's Albanian separatists.
  At the end of this week, Secretary Cohen will be meeting with other 
NATO defense ministers. According to press reports, the Clinton 
administration has already asked the North Atlantic Council to seek 
commitments of arms, material and troops from NATO members to complete 
plans for a multinational force.
  I hope and trust that this means that a plan of action to halt the 
violence and bloodshed in Kosovo--a plan with clear benchmarks for 
success and a clear exit strategy--will be at the top of the NATO 
defense minister's agenda.
  I trust that Secretary Cohen will take a strong leadership position 
at this meeting, and that Secretary Albright is taking an equal stand 
on this issue in discussions with her counterparts. Although I wish it 
were not the case, we have seen all too often that when Washington 
hesitates, our Europe allies become paralyzed.

  And, lastly, I hope and trust that this time NATO, acting in 
coordination with the United Nations, will develop a plan consistent 
with this pressing humanitarian need, which will be quickly 
implemented, and not just talked about.
  Mr. President, it took us 4 years to develop the courage to join and 
urge NATO to intervene in Bosnia at the cost of 200,000 dead and 2 
million displaced. Hundreds, if not thousands have already been killed 
in Kosovo, and hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes. 
What more needs to happen before the international community acts?
  There is no doubt that the search for peace in Kosovo has thus far 
proved elusive, and that finding a solution which provides Kosovar 
Albanians with full political rights and civil liberties will be 
difficult.
  But the time has come for the international community to take action: 
We must keep our promise not to allow Kosovo to become another Bosnia, 
and, unless Milosevic halts the violence immediately and unambiguously, 
to commit ourselves to the course of a much-needed humanitarian 
intervention in Kosovo.
  Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I yield the floor, and I suggest 
the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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