    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [May 27, 1999]
    [Page 854]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the International War Crimes Tribunal Decision To Indict
    Slobodan Milosevic
    May 27, 1999

        I welcome the decision of the International War Crimes Tribunal to
    indict Slobodan Milosevic and four other senior Serbian leaders for
    crimes against humanity and war crimes. It will reassure the victims of
    Belgrade's atrocities in Kosovo, and it will deter future war crimes by
    establishing that those who give the orders will be held accountable. It
    will make clear to the Serbian people who is responsible for this
    conflict and who is prolonging it. I call on all nations to support the
    Tribunal's decision and to cooperate with its efforts to seek justice.
        For 6 years, the United States has strongly supported the work of
    the Tribunal and urged it to pursue its investigation of war crimes in
    the former Yugoslavia as far up the chain of command as the evidence
    leads. The Congress recently approved my request for supplemental
    funding for the Tribunal, which will provide $9 million for the Tribunal
    trust fund, $4 million for technology that will speed up our providing
    information to the Tribunal, $10 million to interview Kosovar refugees,
    and $5 million for forensic teams to go into Kosovo once conditions
    there allow the gathering of evidence.
        The objectives of NATO's military effort remain unchanged. The
    Kosovar refugees must be able to go home with security and self-
    government; Serb forces must leave Kosovo; and an international security
    force with NATO at its core must deploy. We intend to persist with our
    efforts until our objectives are achieved.