[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 KOSOVO

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the closing hours of the 105th Congress 
are fast approaching. I could not let this Congress end without coming 
to the Senate floor to address the tragedy in Kosovo. It is a human 
crisis of immense proportion, and it poses an increasing threat to the 
United States and the global community.
  The last several years have been marked by Yugoslavian President 
Milosevic's steady escalation of political repression and violence 
against the people of Kosovo. Acting at Milosevic's behest, Yugoslav 
forces have driven nearly 400,000 Kosovar Albanians from their homes. 
Fourteen thousand homes and 400 villages have been razed. Over 700 
Kosovar Albanian men, women, and children have been killed.
  Within the last several weeks our newspapers have been filled with 
accounts of atrocities committed by Milosevic's units against scores of 
unarmed civilians. Among the list of crimes documented by international 
observers are politically motivated killings; massacres of women, 
children and elderly persons; torture; arbitrary arrest; detention 
without cause; denial of fair, public trial; and destruction of private 
homes.
  Further exacerbating this man-made crisis is the fact that winter is 
fast approaching, placing at peril the health and well being of tens of 
thousands of displaced persons who have managed to survive Milosevic's 
cruelties.
  After watching this recent string of atrocities, the international 
community was compelled to respond. On September 23, the United Nations 
Security Council adopted a resolution condemning the excessive use of 
force by Milosevic's thugs and demanding that he cease military actions 
against civilians, withdraw his security units, facilitate the safe 
return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes, permit 
unimpeded access of humanitarian organizations to the people of Kosovo, 
and engage in meaningful negotiations on Kosovo's final status.
  Diplomacy has been and should continue to be a major component of our 
response to this situation. But we must also acknowledge reality. The 
reality is that meaningful negotiations toward a settlement of Kosovo's 
status cannot take place in the current environment. Furthermore, words 
alone have never been enough to slow Milosevic and his henchmen. This 
was demonstrated to the world all too painfully in Bosnia. Despite 
numerous appeals from the international community to end his support 
for the war in Bosnia, Milosevic repeatedly turned a deaf ear, and the 
hostilities continued unabated.
  It was only after NATO carried out a series of airstrikes against 
military forces supported by Milosevic that a cease-fire became 
possible.
  The circumstances appear to be similar in Kosovo. And, if Milosevic 
fails to fully and immediately comply with the terms of the U.N. 
resolution, I believe the time has come for NATO to respond similarly.
  The United States and our NATO allies must be prepared to carry out 
airstrikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia if such action is 
determined to be the only means of enforcing the U.N. resolution.
  I say this for three reasons. First and foremost, continued 
repression, violence, and instability in Kosovo directly threaten the 
national security interests of the United States. Kosovo is a tinderbox 
in the heart of one of the most unstable and critical regions of the 
world. Balkan history has clearly demonstrated that a spark in this 
region can rapidly spread into a blaze that engulfs the world. We have 
already seen refugee outflows into Albania and Macedonia. Two NATO 
allies, Greece and Turkey, with their competing regional interests, 
could easily and quickly get enmeshed in this crisis if it continues 
and widens.
  Second, the credibility of NATO, still our most important alliance, 
hangs in the balance. For nearly 50 years, NATO has been the 
organization most responsible for keeping the peace in Europe. NATO had 
great success in the years after World War II and the Cold War. Its 
post-Cold War utility was proven earlier this decade in Bosnia. What 
NATO does in Kosovo will go a long way toward determining this crucial 
alliance's role in the 21st century. A strong, unified NATO is still 
the best insurance policy we have against large-scale conflict in 
Europe.
  Third, as the west's history with Milosevic in Bosnia proves, if 
words are to have the desired effect on his behavior, they must be 
backed up with a credible threat to use force. Indeed, our recent 
experience in Kosovo itself bears this out. In the past week or two, 
Milosevic has launched an effort to convince the world that he is fully 
complying with the requirements of the September 23 U.N. resolution. 
Not surprisingly, this behavior occurred precisely as the specter of 
NATO military action began to loom over him. In fact, there may only be 
one way to achieve peace in Kosovo without the use of force. NATO must 
demonstrate to Milosevic that it is prepared to use force to compel his 
compliance. This is precisely the policy toward which this 
Administration and our NATO allies appear to be moving.
  Mr. President, in offering my endorsement for this approach, let me 
be clear. If air operations and missile strikes against the Federal 
Republic of Yugoslavia are necessary to force Milosevic to the 
negotiating table, the United States and our NATO allies should 
demonstrate that we are prepared to pursue that option. Certainly we 
should not give the Administration a blank check, but we must accept 
our responsibility as a world leader and acknowledge that stronger 
measures may be required. The Administration should continue to consult 
closely with Congress every step of the way as events unfold.
  Milosevic's atrocities have gone on too long. It's time for the 
United States to defend its national interests and help restore peace 
to this troubled region. It's time for the world to say no to the 
torture and slaughter of innocent civilians in Kosovo.

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