    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 24, 1998]
    [Page 1043]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on Peacekeeping
    Operations
    June 24, 1998

    Dear Mr. Chairman:
        I am pleased to transmit herewith the 1997 Annual Report to the
    Congress on Peacekeeping. The report is required by section 407(d) of
    the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995
    (Public Law 103-236).
        The report provides an account of how the United States used
    peacekeeping last year to promote regional stability and to advance U.S.
    interests. Our support for United Nations and other peacekeeping
    operations allowed us to protect our interests before they were directly
    threatened and ensured that other nations shared with us the risks and
    costs of maintaining stability in the post-Cold War world.
        Working together, we brought greater discipline to decisionmaking in
    national capitals and at the United Nations regarding multilateral peace
    operations. Tough questions about mandate, size, cost, duration, and
    exit strategy for proposed missions were answered before operations were
    approved. Careful attention was also given to ensuring that those
    responsible for leading peacekeeping missions--the United Nations, NATO,
    or a coalition of concerned states--were capable of successfully
    achieving the intended objective.
        I look forward to working with you to ensure that peacekeeping
    remains a viable option for dealing with international conflicts of
    interest to the United States.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Floyd Spence, chairman, House
    Committee on National Security; Robert L. Livingston, chairman, House
    Committee on Appropriations; Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman, House
    Committee on International Relations; Jesse Helms, chairman, Senate
    Committee on Foreign Relations; Strom Thurmond, chairman, Senate
    Committee on Armed Services; and Ted Stevens, chairman, Senate Committee
    on Appropriations.