    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 21, 1995]
    [Pages 1917-1918]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1917]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Deployment of United States
    Military Forces for Implementation of the Balkan Peace Process
    December 21, 1995

    Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Mr. President:)
        I last reported to the Congress on December 6, 1995, concerning U.S.
    support for the United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    (NATO) efforts to bring peace to the former Yugoslavia. In that report I
    noted the success of our diplomatic efforts at Dayton, Ohio, to assist
    the parties to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict in the
    former Yugoslavia and reported the deployment of a NATO ``enabling
    force'' and U.S. support forces in order to lay the groundwork for the
    deployment of the main body of the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR).
    I am now able to report that on December 14, 1995, the peace agreement
    that was initialed in Dayton was formally signed in Paris.
        Following the formal signing of the peace agreement by all the
    parties, and consistent with our consultations with the Congress, United
    Nations Security Council Resolution 1031, and the North Atlantic Council
    (NAC) decision of December 16, 1995, I have ordered the deployment of
    approximately 20,000 U.S. military personnel to participate in the IFOR
    in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, principally in a sector
    surrounding Tuzla. Approximately 5,000 U.S. military personnel will also
    deploy as part of the IFOR in other states of the former Yugoslavia,
    principally Croatia. The IFOR, including U.S. forces assigned to it,
    will be under NATO operational control and will operate under NATO rules
    of engagement. In addition, a total of approximately 7,000 U.S. support
    forces, under U.S. command and control and rules of engagement, will
    deploy in Hungary, Croatia, Italy, and other states in the region in
    support of IFOR. These force levels are those stated by U.S. commanders
    to be appropriate for the missions assigned to them.
        The IFOR's mission, as outlined in more detail in the summary of the
    operation plan (OPLAN), which I sent to the Congress on December 11,
    1995, is to monitor and help ensure compliance by all parties with the
    military aspects of the peace agreement. In particular, IFOR will ensure
    withdrawal of the forces of the parties to the agreed inter-entity
    borders within an agreed period and enforce establishment of agreed
    zones of separation between forces of the parties. IFOR will also create
    secure conditions for the safe, orderly, and speedy withdrawal from the
    Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina of those elements of the U.N.
    Protection Force not assigned to NATO. Finally, within the strict limits
    of its key military tasks, IFOR will endeavor to create secure
    conditions for the conduct by other agencies and organizations of tasks
    associated with the peace agreement. NATO and U.S. military commanders
    believe, and I expect, that the military mission can be accomplished in
    about a year.
        Many of the U.S. forces that will deploy to the Republic of Bosnia
    and Herzegovina will be drawn from the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division
    stationed in Germany, including two mechanized brigades and an aviation
    brigade. Other participating U.S. forces include special operations
    forces, airfield operations support forces, naval and air forces
    previously assigned to support NATO's Operations Sharp Guard and Deny
    Flight, and an amphibious force in reserve in the Mediterranean Sea.
    Additionally, a carrier battle group will provide support for IFOR's air
    operations.
        All of our NATO allies are contributing forces as well (except for
    Iceland, which has no military). Non-NATO nations whose offers to
    provide forces to IFOR are under consideration include Austria, the
    Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Pakistan,
    Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Ukraine. These forces
    also will be under NATO operational control and rules of engagement. In
    total, approximately 60,000 military personnel are expected to be
    deployed by IFOR to the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As in the
    U.S. case, the non-U.S. contingents in Bosnia will in most cases be
    supported by forces of their respective countries at home and in nearby
    countries and waters.
        I authorized these deployments and U.S. participation in IFOR in
    conjunction with our NATO allies and other troop contributing nations
    following the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and NAC
    decisions and as part

    [[Page 1918]]

    of our commitment to secure the peace and halt the tragic loss of life
    in the former Yugoslavia. I have directed the participation of U.S.
    forces pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign
    relations of the United States and as Commander in Chief and Chief
    Executive.
        I am providing this report as part of my effort to keep the Congress
    fully informed about developments in the former Yugoslavia, consistent
    with the War Powers Resolution. I remain committed to consulting closely
    with the Congress and I will continue to keep the Congress fully
    informed regarding these important deployments of our forces.
        Sincerely,

                                                                Bill Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House
    of Representatives, and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of the
    Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    December 22.