[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
[March 31, 1997]
[Pages 364-365]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the Nomination of General Wesley K. Clark To Be 
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
March 31, 1997

    I am pleased to announce that I have nominated General Wesley K. 
Clark, United States Army, to succeed General George A. Joulwan as 
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. This nomination is subject to the 
approval of the North Atlantic Council. I also intend to send forward to 
Congress General Clark's nomination to serve as Commander in Chief, 
United States European Command.

[[Page 365]]

    General Clark has had a long and distinguished career spanning three 
decades, with significant policy and diplomatic experience as well as 
impeccable credentials as a military commander. He has vast experience 
in armored and mechanized forces, including a combat tour in Vietnam, 
service in two armored units in Germany, and command of the 1st Cavalry 
Division. This experience is enhanced by his tours at the Army's 
National Training Center, and the Army Training and Doctrine Command, 
all of which focused on training and preparing the Army for the future. 
Additionally, while assigned to the Joint Staff as the Director for 
Strategic Plans and Policy, he served as the senior military member of 
the U.S. negotiating team that crafted the 1995 Dayton peace accords, 
which ended the fighting in Bosnia. In these postings, as well as in his 
current role as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Southern Command, Panama, 
he has demonstrated both the military expertise and political acumen 
needed to fill one of our most important security postings.
    General Clark will assume the post of Supreme Allied Commander, 
Europe at a time when NATO is demonstrating its important role in 
European security by helping bring security and stability to the people 
of Bosnia, as well as during a time of profound adaptation within the 
alliance as NATO contributes to building a secure and undivided Europe. 
NATO's ongoing adaptation includes further streamlining of the NATO 
military command structure, the establishment of a European security and 
defense identity (ESDI) within the alliance, the integration of new NATO 
members and, we expect, the development of a strong NATO-Russian 
partnership. I look forward to General Clark's continuing the work of 
General Joulwan as SACEUR takes on the challenge of guiding NATO 
military forces through this important period of transition and the 
completion of the work of NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia. I 
have the utmost trust and confidence in his ability to do so.