[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11901-S11902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I thank Senator Warner for speaking 
about Kosovo. I am disappointed that the Senate has not brought a 
resolution to the floor and had a debate about what our response should 
be as a Nation to what is happening in Kosovo. I think it is a profound 
mistake on our part not to have this discussion given the fact that we 
are going to adjourn within the next couple of days.
  Mr. President, I want to be held accountable. I think we should all 
be held accountable as to what our viewpoints are and what we think our 
country should or should not do.
  Mr. President, while there have been some indications in recent days 
that the slaughter of innocent civilians has slowed--at least 
temporarily--we cannot afford to turn our attention away from the 
situation there.
  President Milosevic claims to have ordered some units of his army 
back to their barracks, but it is too early to tell exactly what these 
actions mean and whether Milosevic actually intends to cease his brutal 
offensive against the Albanian Kosovars. There is considerable evidence 
that he may not be truly pulling back in accordance with Western 
demands, but rather taking halfway measures that would allow his troops 
and tanks to return to the fighting almost immediately. UN Secretary 
General Annan reported earlier this week that there is still a 
significant presence of Serb armed forces in Kosovo, and that some 
special police units are continuing punitive operations against the 
local population. I remain deeply skeptical about Milosevic's 
intentions.
  We have had too much experience with Milosevic to take his statements 
at face value and to assume that the killing has really ended. We have 
seen his defiance of world opinion and international law for years. 
Recently we were all shocked by the horrific massacres of civilians--
the massacre of women, elderly men, even young children and infants. 
These killings, attributed to Serb security forces, are an affront to 
the international community.
  Now it looks as if Milosevic may have ordered a partial withdrawal of 
his attack forces, hoping to avoid imminent military action by NATO. He 
may believe that if the killings stop for a time, the attention of NATO 
and the U.S. will turn elsewhere. We must not allow that to happen. We 
must keep our focus on the crisis in Kosovo, and not become distracted 
by other issues.
  Unless immediate action is taken to forestall a humanitarian tragedy, 
we may soon see even more disturbing and gruesome pictures from Kosovo. 
With an estimated 150,000 people in Kosovo living out in the open 
without any shelter and with winter approaching, international relief 
agencies now fear that tens of thousands of those displaced persons 
could face severe hardship and some even death from exposure unless 
they can return to their homes or be provided adequate shelter within 
the next couple of weeks.
  The situation on the ground in Kosovo is heartbreaking. According to 
a report from a representative of the International Rescue Committee 
who recently visited the Kosovo countryside, young children are 
wandering around in the hills barefoot or in ripped sandals. Extended 
families of several generations are sleeping 15 to 20 to a tent. The 
tents are clear plastic supported only by bent saplings. Mothers are 
desperate to return home. Even if their houses are burned they would 
rather sleep in tents in their own yards then in the inhospitable 
hills. But they are afraid to return home, because every time they try 
to return snipers shoot at them.
  As the IRC report relates, these displaced Kosovars are trying to 
survive in areas where there is no food, no shelter, no schools for the 
children, no latrine system, and no other basic infrastructure. They 
have only the clothes they were wearing when they fled in the summer. 
The children have diarrhea from the dirty water and lack of sanitation. 
Parents watch, worried, as their children vomit all night and become 
dehydrated. Soon they will also have to face snow and freezing cold.
  These appalling conditions cannot continue. We must get aid to this 
terrorized population swiftly. But we can only get relief to them if 
Milosevic ceases his repression and allows relief agencies unfettered 
access.
  The Administration and our NATO allies must keep the pressure on 
Milosevic to put an end to Serb military action in Kosovo and to comply 
with the demands of the UN Security Council resolution of September 23. 
That resolution demands that both parties cease hostilities and 
maintain a cease-fire. The resolution also calls on Belgrade to (1) 
cease all action by the security forces affecting the civilian 
population and order the withdrawal of security forces used for 
civilian repression; (2) allow free access for international diplomatic 
monitors in Kosovo and unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations 
and supplies to Kosovo and; (3) make rapid progress on a clear 
timetable in conducting autonomy talks with the Kosovo Albanian 
community.
  I have also been encouraged that NATO has instructed its military 
commanders to begin preparations for possible military action and that 
NATO members have informed NATO Command what forces and equipment they 
are prepared to supply for actions in the Kosovo region.
  I have always been a Senator who insists that military actions abroad 
should always be a last resort. I still hope and pray, as a Senator 
from Minnesota, that in this situation we will not have to resort to 
force. I view it as a last option if we cannot resolve this situation 
by diplomatic means. But I also recognize that we cannot rule out the 
use of force, including the use of air strikes, in this situation. If 
the killing resumes or if Milosevic prevents relief from getting to the 
displaced Kosovars and fails to comply with the UN resolution and the 
demands of the international community, we may have to resort to 
military action.
  I met with Milosevic once. I wanted to see firsthand the genocide of 
several years ago. He was the first and only person I have met that I 
would not shake hands with. I don't think he can be believed, and I 
think that we have to send him a forceful message.
  To prepare for possible implementation of more forceful options 
developed by NATO planners, we should continue to move forward now, 
under NATO auspices, with pre-deployment in the region of appropriate 
levels of NATO military equipment and forces. This would include such 
actions as pre-positioning aircraft and naval vessels, and deployment 
of necessary materiel to support NATO troops.
  These moves would be intended to send another clear message to 
Milosevic that he must comply with the UN Security Council Resolution 
immediately. If he does not respond we must be ready to take further 
steps to force compliance as necessary.
  At the same time, we need to take other actions to keep the pressure 
on Milosevic. The U.S. should press forward on an intensified 
multilateral effort, at the United Nations and through regional bodies 
like the European Union, to firmly tighten the existing sanctions 
regime on Serbia, to re-impose other sanctions lifted after signing of 
the Dayton Peace Accord, and to otherwise increase pressure on 
Milosevic to comply.
  We must also accelerate U.S. and NATO logistical support for the 
ongoing international humanitarian aid effort in Kosovo, including pre-
deployment of humanitarian supplies in Kosovo in anticipation of winter 
distribution by non-governmental organizations, while ensuring the 
safety and security of those who will rely on such aid.
  There must be no repeat of the disgraceful Bosnian ``safe haven'' 
disaster of Srebrenica.
  The U.S. and NATO must also press for immediate and unrestricted 
access in Kosovo for internationally-recognized human rights monitoring 
organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
in Europe, and increase aid and intelligence support to the 
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

[[Page S11902]]

  Mr. President, the U.S. and NATO are right to move forward now to 
send a clear and forceful message to Milosevic that he can no longer 
brazenly defy world opinion. The brutal slaughter of innocent non-
combatants in Kosovo must stop now. If it continues, the West must have 
the resolve to do what is necessary to bring it to an end. And, if 
necessary, I want to say as a U.S. Senator, I think there should be 
airstrikes.
  I wanted to speak out before we leave and I want the Record to show 
that I have spoken out. I wish that the U.S. Senate had brought this 
matter up. Other Senators would have very different points of view, and 
I understand that. But it really troubles me, saddens me, that the 
Senate as a body has not had a thorough discussion and debate about 
what is a life-or-death matter. I wanted to at least have a chance to 
speak out. I thank my colleague from Oklahoma for giving me some time.
  Mr. SPECTER. Parliamentary inquiry: I have been asked to propound a 
unanimous consent request which relates to another bill. Would it be in 
order at this time to ask unanimous consent that it may be considered 
separately?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator may make the request.

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