[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 14, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COMPLYING WITH PL 93-148

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the letter I 
received today from President George W. Bush be printed in the Record. 
The letter was sent to me, as President pro tempore of the Senate, in 
compliance with the war powers resolution, Public Law 93-148.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                              The White House,

                                     Washington, DC, May 14, 2003.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President In my report to the Congress of November 
     15, 2002, I provided information regarding the continued 
     deployment of combat-equipped U.S. military personnel as the 
     U.S. contribution to the NATO-led international security 
     force in Kosovo (KFOR) and to other countries in the region 
     in support of that force. I am providing this supplemental 
     report prepared by my Administration, consistent with the War 
     Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), to help ensure that 
     the Congress is kept fully informed on continued U.S. 
     contributions in support of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo.
       As noted in previous reports, the U.N. Security Council 
     authorized member states to establish KFOR in U.N. Security 
     Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999. The mission of KFOR 
     is to provide an international security presence in order to 
     deter renewed hostilities; verify and, if necessary, enforce 
     the terms of the Military Technical Agreement between NATO 
     and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; enforce the terms of 
     the Undertaking on Demilitarization and Transformation of the 
     former Kosovo Liberation Army; provide day-to-day operational 
     direction to the Kosovo Protection Corps; and maintain a safe 
     and secure environment to facilitate the work of the U.N. 
     Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
       Currently, the U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 
     2,250 U.S. military personnel, or approximately 9 percent of 
     KFOR's total strength. Additionally, U.S. military personnel 
     occasionally operate from Macedonia, Albania, and Greece in 
     support of KFOR operations. Nineteen non-NATO contributing 
     countries also participate with NATO forces in providing 
     military personnel and other support personnel to KFOR.
       The U.S. forces are assigned to a sector principally 
     centered around Gnjilane in the eastern region of Kosovo. For 
     U.S. KFOR forces, as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe 
     and secure environment remains the primary military task. The 
     KFOR forces operate under NATO command and control and rules 
     of engagement. The KFOR coordinates with and supports UNMIK 
     at most levels, provides a security presence in towns, 
     villages, and the country-side, and organizes checkpoints and 
     patrols in key areas to provide security, protect minorities, 
     resolve disputes, and help instill in the community a feeling 
     of confidence.
       The UNMIK continues to transfer non-reserved competencies 
     under the Constitutional Framework document to the Kosovar 
     Provisional Institutions of Self-government (PISG). The PISG 
     includes the President, Prime Minister, and Kosovo Assembly, 
     and has been in place since March 2002. Municipal elections 
     were successfully held for a second time in October 2002.
       NATO continues formally to review KFOR's mission at 6-month 
     intervals. These reviews provide a basis for assessing 
     current force levels, future requirements, force structure, 
     force reductions, and the eventual withdrawal of KFOR. NATO 
     has adopted the Joint Operations Area plan to regionalize and 
     rationalize its force structure in the Balkans. The KFOR has 
     transferred full responsibility for public safety and 
     policing to the UNMIK international and local police forces 
     throughout Kosovo except in the area of Mitrovica, where the 
     responsibility is shared due to security concerns. The UNMIK 
     international police and local police forces have also begun 
     to assume responsibility for guarding patrimonial sites and 
     established border-crossing checkpoints.
       The continued deployment of U.S. forces has been undertaken 
     pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. 
     foreign relations and as Commander in Chief Executive. I 
     appreciate the continued support of the Congress in these 
     actions.
           Sincerely,
     George W. Bush.

                          ____________________