    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [April 9, 1999]
    [Pages 529-530]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Situation in the Balkans
    April 9, 1999

        Good morning. Before we depart, I'd like to say a few words about
    the situation in Kosovo. Over the last several days, we have struck hard
    at Serbia's machinery of repression and at the infrastructure that
    supports it. Our humanitarian relief operation is bringing life-saving
    supplies to refugees in Macedonia and Albania. Our military is doing its
    part to help there, too.
        I'm gratified by the efforts of all involved and confident that,
    after 2 weeks, NATO is determined to persist and prevail. If anything,
    Mr. Milosevic's actions have strengthened
    the unity and resolve of our allies.
        As our strikes have intensified, Mr. Milosevic has tried to rearrange the facts on the ground by
    declaring a cease-fire while holding his borders--closing his borders to
    fleeing refugees. But the fundamental reality is unchanged. Attacks on
    innocent people continue. Refugees who were pushed from their homes by
    force now see their escape routes blocked by force.
        Mr. Milosevic still thinks he can
    manipulate the situation by cynically using innocent people. He hopes
    that we will accept as permanent the results of his ethnic cleansing. We
    will not, not when a quarter of Kosovo's people are living in refugee
    camps beyond Kosovo's borders, not when hundreds of thousands more are
    trapped inside, afraid to go home, but unable to leave.
        If we settle for half-measures from Mr. Milosevic, we will get nothing more. And what we have from Mr.
    Milosevic today is not even partial compliance but the illusion of
    partial compliance. We and our allies have properly rejected it.
        President Milosevic must withdraw
    from Kosovo his military police and paramilitary forces; they are
    responsible for the violence. He must permit deployment of an
    international security force, for we have seen in the past that this is
    the only way to ensure his promises are kept. He must allow the
    unconditional return of our refugees because their expulsion from their
    homes and their land cannot be tolerated.
        He must take these essential steps as
    we move toward self-government and security for the people of Kosovo. In
    the meantime, we will continue to do all we can to help the victims of
    the tragedy.
        Today the First Lady is going to
    Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the main east coast departure point
    for humanitarian supplies, where a C-5 aircraft, our largest transport
    plane, loaded with humanitarian daily rations headed for Albania and
    Macedonia, will be stocked. Thus far, we have seen 800,000 of the 1.1
    million daily rations we've pledged for the region.
        I am deeply gratified that the American people have placed over
    15,000 calls to the 1-800 number I announced Monday to make donations. I
    also know that many churches and other religious institutions have been
    taking up collections and sending them in; we are grateful for

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    that as well. I ask the American people to continue their steadfast
    support. I believe that they will. I am confident we will prevail.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:53 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House, prior to his departure for Philadelphia, PA. In his remarks, he
    referred to President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of
    Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).