    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [August 22, 1994]
    [Pages 1489-1490]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Bosnia-Herzegovina
    August 22, 1994

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

        I last reported to the Congress on April 12 on our support for the
    United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) efforts to
    achieve peace and security in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am informing you
    today of recent developments in these efforts, including the use of
    United States combat aircraft on August 5 to attack Bosnian Serb heavy
    weapons in the Sarajevo heavy weapons exclusion zone.

        Since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 713
    on September 25, 1991, the United Nations has actively sought solutions
    to the humanitarian and ethnic crisis in the former Yugoslavia. Under
    United Nations Security Council Resolution 824 (May 6, 1993), certain
    parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina have been established as safe areas.
    Sarajevo is specifically designated a safe area that should be ``free
    from armed attacks and from any other hostile act.''

        A mortar attack on Sarajevo on February 4, 1994, caused numerous
    civilian casualties, including some 68 deaths. The United Nations
    Secretary General thereafter requested NATO to authorize, at his
    request, air operations against artillery or mortar positions determined
    by the United Nations Protection Forces

    [[Page 1490]]

    (UNPROFOR) to have been involved in attacks on civilians.

        On February 9, 1994, NATO responded to the Secretary General's
    request by authorizing air operations, if needed, using agreed
    coordination procedures with UNPROFOR. The North Atlantic Treaty
    Organization's decision set a deadline for the withdrawal of heavy
    weapons within 20 kilometers of the center of Sarajevo or for the
    regrouping and placement of such weapons under United Nations control.
    As of February 21, 1994, all heavy weapons found within the Sarajevo
    exclusion zone, unless controlled by UNPROFOR, would be subject to NATO
    air strikes. In response to the NATO ultimatum, heavy weapons were
    removed from the exclusion zone or placed in collection sites under
    UNPROFOR control.

        On August 5, 1994, Bosnian Serb forces entered an UNPROFOR heavy
    weapons collection site near the town of Ilidza and removed several
    heavy weapons--a tank, two armored personnel carriers, and a 30mm anti-
    aircraft system. An UNPROFOR helicopter dispatched to monitor the
    situation was fired upon and was forced to make an emergency landing.
    UNPROFOR troops were unsuccessful in attempting to regain custody of the
    weapons. As a result, UNPROFOR requested assistance from NATO forces in
    finding the weapons so they could be retrieved or destroyed. NATO
    responded by making various French, Dutch, British, and U.S. aircraft
    available for air strikes, if necessary.

        Unable to locate the specific weapons removed from the collection
    site, UNPROFOR and NATO decided to proceed against other targets in the
    Sarajevo exclusion zone. Accordingly, on August 5, a U.S. A-10 aircraft
    strafed a Bosnian Serb M-18 76mm self-propelled antitank gun located
    inside the exclusion zone. No U.S. personnel were injured or killed nor
    was U.S. equipment damaged in connection with this action. Later on
    August 5, the Bosnian Serbs called the UNPROFOR Commander, General Rose,
    and asked him to call off the attacks. They offered to return the heavy
    weapons that they had taken from the storage site. General Rose agreed
    and the weapons were returned to UNPROFOR's control.

        I took these actions in conjunction with our allies in order to
    carry out the NATO decision and to answer UNPROFOR's request for
    assistance. As I earlier reported to you, our continued efforts are
    intended to assist the parties to reach a negotiated settlement to the
    conflict. I have directed the participation by U.S. Armed Forces in this
    effort pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign
    relations of the United States and as Commander in Chief and Chief
    Executive.

        I am grateful for the continuing support the Congress has provided,
    and I look forward to continued cooperation with you in this endeavor. I
    shall communicate with you further regarding our efforts for peace and
    stability in the 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.