    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [October 13, 1993]
    [Pages 1740-1741]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the No-Fly Zone in Bosnia-
    Herzegovina
    October 13, 1993

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Six months ago I provided you with my initial report on the
    deployment of U.S. combat-equipped aircraft to support NATO's
    enforcement of the no-fly zone in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am now providing
    this follow-up report, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to
    keep Congress fully informed on our enforcement effort.
        The United Nations Security Council has been actively addressing the
    humanitarian and ethnic crisis in the Balkans since adopting Resolution
    713 on September 25, 1991. As a significant part of the extensive United
    Nations effort in the region, the Security Council acted through
    Resolutions 781 and 786 to establish

    [[Page 1741]]

    a ban on all unauthorized flights over Bosnia-Herzegovina. In response
    to blatant violations of these Resolutions, the Security Council adopted
    Resolution 816, which authorized Member States, acting nationally or
    through regional organizations or arrangements, to take all necessary
    measures to ensure compliance with the no-fly zone. NATO and its North
    Atlantic Council (NAC) agreed to provide NATO air assets to enforce the
    declared no-fly zone.
        As I stated in my April 13 report, this enforcement effort began on
    April 12, 1993. Since that time, the participating nations have
    conducted phased air operations to prevent flights over Bosnia-
    Herzegovina that are not authorized by the United Nations Protection
    Forces (UNPROFOR). The United States has played a major role by
    contributing combat-equipped fighter aircraft as well as electronic
    combat and supporting tanker aircraft to these operations in the
    airspace over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
        Militarily, enforcement of the no-fly zone has been effective. Since
    the operations pursuant to Resolution 816 began, we have seen no
    recurrence of air-to-ground bombing of villages or other air-to-ground
    combat activity in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Although nearly 400 violations
    have occurred, most have been by rotary-wing aircraft. These flights are
    difficult to detect because they are of short duration and are flown
    slowly, at low altitudes, and in mountainous terrain. Consequently, such
    flights sometimes can complete missions after being detected but before
    being intercepted. In addition, the violators appear to have learned the
    limits of our rules of engagement (ROE) and have become adept at playing
    ``cat-and-mouse'' games with the interceptors. When intercepted,
    violators heed the warnings to land, but sometimes the flights continue
    after the interceptors depart.
        These enforcement operations have been conducted safely, with no
    casualties to date. Consideration has been given to strengthening the
    ROE to enforce the no-fly zone more aggressively. Because the violations
    have been militarily insignificant, however, the ROE have not been
    changed.
        The United States continues to make extensive and valuable
    contributions to the United Nations efforts in the former Yugoslavia.
    More than 50 U.S. aircraft are now available to NATO for the continued
    conduct of no-fly zone enforcement operations and possible provision of
    close air support to UNPROFOR in the future. In addition, U.S. airlift
    missions to Sarajevo have numbered more than 1,900, and we have
    completed nearly 1,000 airdrop missions to safe areas, including Mostar.
    U.S. medical and other support personnel are providing vital services in
    support of UNPROFOR, while our U.S. Army light infantry battalion
    deployed to Macedonia has become an integral part of the UNPROFOR
    monitoring operations there. Finally, U.S. naval forces have completed
    more than 14 months of enforcement operations as part of a multinational
    effort to implement the Security Council's mandate with respect to
    economic sanctions and the arms embargo covering the former Yugoslavia.
        Although the no-fly zone enforcement operations have been militarily
    effective and have reduced potential air threats to our humanitarian
    airlift and airdrop flights, this is only part of a much larger,
    continuing effort to resolve the extremely difficult situation in the
    former Yugoslavia. I therefore am not able to indicate at this time how
    long our participation in no-fly zone enforcement operations will be
    necessary. I have continued the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces for
    these purposes pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S.
    foreign relations and as Commander in Chief.
        I am grateful for the continuing support of Congress for this
    important deployment, and I look forward to continued cooperation as we
    move forward toward attainment of our goals in this region.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Robert C. Byrd, President pro tempore of
    the Senate.