    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [June 20, 1997]
    [Pages 776-777]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Deployment of United States
    Military Forces for Stabilization of the Balkan Peace Process
    June 20, 1997

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        In my report to the Congress of December 20, 1996, I provided
    further information on the deployment of combat-equipped U.S. Armed
    Forces to Bosnia and other states in the region in order to participate
    in and support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led
    Stabilization Force (SFOR), and on the beginning of the withdrawal of
    the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR), which completed its mission
    and transferred authority to the SFOR on December 20, 1996. I am
    providing this supplemental report, consistent with the War Powers
    Resolution, to help ensure that the Congress is kept fully informed on
    continued U.S. contributions in support of peacekeeping efforts in the
    former Yugoslavia.
        We continue to work in concert with others in the international
    community to encourage the parties to fulfill their commitments under
    the Dayton Peace Agreement and to build on the gains achieved over the
    last 18 months. It remains in the United States national interest to
    help bring peace to Bosnia, both for humanitarian reasons and to arrest
    the dangers the fighting in Bosnia represented to security and stability
    in Europe generally. Through American leadership and in conjunction with
    our NATO allies and other countries, we have seen real and continued
    progress toward sustainable peace in Bosnia. We have also made it clear
    to the former warring parties that it is they who are ultimately
    responsible for implementing the Peace Agreement.
        The United Nations Security Council authorized member states to
    establish the follow-on force in United Nations Security Council
    Resolution 1088 of December 12, 1996. The SFOR's tasks are to deter or
    prevent a resumption of hostilities or new threats to peace, to
    consolidate IFOR's achievements and to promote a climate in which the
    civilian-led peace process can go forward. Subject to this primary
    mission, SFOR will provide selective support, within its capabilities,
    to civilian organizations implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement. The
    parties to the

    [[Page 777]]

    Peace Agreement have all confirmed to NATO their support for the SFOR
    mission. In particular, the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina have
    indicated that they welcome NATO's planned 18-month SFOR mission to be
    formally reviewed at 6 and 12 months with a view to shifting the focus
    from stabilization to deterrence, reducing the force's presence and
    completing the mission by June 1998. The first such review is to be
    conducted on June 26, 1997.
        United States force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia currently is
    approximately 8,500, roughly half the size of the force deployed with
    IFOR at the peak of its strength. Many of the U.S. forces participating
    in SFOR are U.S. Army forces that were stationed in Germany. Other
    participating U.S. forces include special operations forces, airfield
    operations support forces, air forces, and reserve personnel. An
    amphibious force is normally in reserve in the Mediterranean Sea, and a
    carrier battle group remains available to provide support for air
    operations.
        All NATO nations and 21 others, including Russia, have provided
    troops or other support to SFOR. Most U.S. troops are assigned to
    Multinational Division, North, centered around the city of Tuzla. In
    addition, approximately 2,800 U.S. troops are deployed to Hungary,
    Croatia, Italy, and other states in the region in order to provide
    logistical and other support to SFOR.
        Since the transfer of authority from IFOR to SFOR on December 20,
    1996, U.S. forces sustained a total of two fatalities, neither of which
    was combat-related. Four American service members were also injured in
    accidents. As with the U.S. forces, traffic accidents, landmines, and
    other accidents were the primary causes of injury to SFOR personnel.
        A U.S. Army contingent remains deployed in the Former Yugoslav
    Republic of Macedonia as part of the United Nations Preventive
    Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). This U.N. peacekeeping force observes and
    monitors conditions along the border with the Federal Republic of
    Yugoslavia and Albania, effectively contributing to the stability of the
    region. Several U.S. Army support helicopters are also deployed to
    provide support to U.S. forces and UNPREDEP as required. Most of the
    approximately 500 U.S. soldiers participating in these missions are
    assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor, 1st Armored Division. A small
    contingent of U.S. military personnel is also serving in Croatia in
    direct support of the Transitional Administrator of the United Nations
    Transitional Administration in Eastern Slovenia.
        I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in these
    operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S.
    foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive, and in
    accordance with various statutory authorities. I am providing this
    report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed about
    developments in Bosnia and other states in the region. I will continue
    to consult closely with the Congress regarding our efforts to foster
    peace and stability in the former Yugoslavia.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House
    of Representatives, and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of the
    Senate.