[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6843-S6844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE SETTLEMENT IN KOSOVO

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I want to very briefly speak about the 
settlement in Kosovo. I speak with a sense of relief that we now have 
moved toward a diplomatic settlement. At the very beginning, I think it 
was a very difficult vote for all of us as to whether or not to 
authorize airstrikes. We had pretty close to an equal division of 
opinion. I voted to do so.
  I had hoped that we would be able to stop the slaughter. I thought 
that it was a certainty that Milosevic would move into Kosovo and 
people would be slaughtered. We were not able to really do that with 
airstrikes, not in any way that I had hoped we would be able to, but I 
do think--and I want to give some credit where credit is due--there are 
two things that have happened that are very important for the world.

[[Page S6844]]

  One of them is that Milosevic has been indicted as a war criminal. 
That is a huge step forward for human rights in the world.
  The second thing that has happened is our actions have made it clear 
that a Milosevic or someone like a Milosevic should not be able to 
murder people with impunity.
  There are many challenges ahead, but I want to just say that as a 
Senator from Minnesota, I am very pleased that we did put such a focus 
on trying to reach a diplomatic solution. I would like to especially 
thank Strobe Talbott for his work. I think it is extremely important 
now that we meet a number of really tough challenges.
  I am not the expert in the Balkans; I do not pretend to be, but I do 
know this: It is very important that we continue to keep our focus on 
the humanitarian crisis and make sure the Kosovars can, indeed, go 
home, the sooner the better.
  I think an all-out effort ought to be made to make sure they can go 
back to their homes. If we are going to do the weatherizing and all the 
things in the infrastructure for people to have a home to live in, then 
it is better to do it back in their own country. I hope we can do so. I 
hope we can move as quickly and as expeditiously as possible.
  Second, I think it is going to be real important that all parties to 
this settlement live up to their word. I think that includes the KLA. 
There will be an understanding, kind of determination on the part of 
Kosovars and the KLA for vengeance. Who can blame them? But I do think 
we have to make sure that we do put an end to this conflict and that 
the Serbs who live in Kosovo will also be protected and that somehow we 
will be able to make sure there is some peace in this region.
  Finally, I want to say, as a Senator who supported airstrikes but who 
worried about some of the focus of our airstrikes, in particular, I 
thought there was too much of a focus on the civilian infrastructure. I 
thought and still believe there were opportunities to move forward with 
diplomacy at an earlier point in time. I always believe that is the 
first option, always the first option, with military conflict being the 
last option. I do want to say that I think the President and the 
administration should be proud of the fact that they have now been able 
to effect a diplomatic solution and that this solution, indeed, will 
mean that the Kosovars will be able to go home.
  It will mean there will be an international force. It will be a 
militarized force. There will be a chain of command that makes sense. 
It is a huge challenge ahead for us. My guess is that we are going to 
be committed to the Balkans for quite some period of time. I think we 
should be very realistic about that. I think that we owe that to the 
Kosovars. We owe it to these people. I think that is part of what our 
country is about. It looks as if the European countries are going to 
take up most of the challenge of the economic aid for reconstruction, 
and I think that is as it should be. I think our part of this 
international militarized force would be somewhere at 14, 15 percent. 
But certainly it won't be the United States carrying this alone.

  I worry about the landmines. I worry about our military and, for that 
matter, the men and women from other countries who are trying to do the 
right thing now, being in harm's way. But to now no longer be involved 
in airstrikes, to see the Serbs leaving, the slaughter being stopped, 
the Kosovars now having a chance to go back to their homes and to be 
protected, I think we are at a much better place than we were. Now I 
hope and I pray that our country will be able to make a very positive 
difference in the lives of the Kosovars.
  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. HOLLINGS. 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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