    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [March 28, 1999]
    [Page 462]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 462]]

    Remarks on the NATO Airstrikes Against Serbian Targets and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    March 28, 1999

        The President. Good afternoon. All Americans can be very proud of
    the skill and bravery of the American servicemen involved in the rescue
    operation yesterday in Kosovo. Indeed, we can be proud of all of our men
    and women in uniform who are involved in the NATO mission.
        From the outset, I have said to the American people that this
    military operation entails real risks. But the continued brutality and
    repression of the Serb forces further underscores the need for NATO to
    persevere. I strongly support Secretary General Solana's decision yesterday to move to a new phase in our
    planned air campaign, with a broader range of targets including air
    defenses, military and security targets, and forces in the field.
        In the last 24 hours, I have been in close contact with key NATO
    Allies, including Prime Minister Blair, President
    Chirac, Chancellor Schroeder, and Prime Minister D'Alema. All of them share our determination to
    respond strongly to Mr. Milosevic's
    continuing campaign of inhumane and violence against the Kosovar
    Albanian people. That is what we intend to do.
        Thank you very much.
        Q. Has the bombing made things worse, sir?
        Q. Sir, is the allied bombing driving the atrocities, sir?
        The President. Absolutely not.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:15 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House, prior to his departure for Camp David, MD. In his remarks, the
    President referred to NATO Secretary General Javier Solana; Prime
    Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; President Jacques Chirac of
    France; Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany; Prime Minister Massimo
    D'Alema of Italy; and President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal
    Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).