[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.