    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [April 7, 1999]
    [Pages 516-517]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Airstrikes Against Serbian
    Targets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)
    April 7, 1999

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        I reported to the Congress on March 26, 1999, on the participation
    of U.S. military forces in the series of air strikes conducted by NATO
    in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in response to the FRY
    government's campaign of violence and repression against the ethnic
    Albanian population in Kosovo. Since my report on March 26, there have
    been dramatic and very serious developments in the FRY. Belgrade's
    sustained and accelerating repression is creating a humanitarian
    disaster of staggering dimensions. Estimates now are that well over one
    million Kosovars have been displaced from their homes and villages. At
    this time, more than 400,000 Kosovars are in Albania, Macedonia, and
    Montenegro.
        The worsening instability in Kosovo directly threatens peace in the
    region. We will continue to intensify our actions to achieve the
    objectives I described in my report to the Congress of March 26 and to
    support the international relief efforts being conducted in the region.
    I have directed U.S. military forces to deploy to Albania and Macedonia
    in order to support humanitarian disaster relief operations for the
    Kosovar refugees. These relief efforts will include delivering food and
    supplies, constructing shelters, providing coordination and assisting in
    logistics movement of displaced persons and relief supplies, and when
    necessary, providing protection for displaced persons and relief
    supplies. As a force protection measure, the U.S. military forces will
    be equipped for combat.
        Separate from this effort, I have also ordered additional U.S.
    forces to Albania. These forces consist of rotary wing aircraft,
    artillery, and tactical missile systems and will be stationed in Albania
    to provide a deep strike task force to enhance NATO's ability to conduct
    effective air operations in the FRY. Approximately 2,500 soldiers and
    aviators will deploy as part of this task force. The mission of the
    force does not include deploying into the FRY.

    [[Page 517]]

        It is not possible to predict how long either of these operations
    will continue. The duration of the deployments depend upon the course of
    events in Kosovo, and in particular, on Belgrade's conduct with respect
    to its campaign of ethnic cleansing and the duration of the threat posed
    to peace and security in the region. It is our objective to transfer
    responsibilities for the relief effort to other organizations over time,
    and to redeploy those U.S. forces, in all circumstances, as soon as the
    situation permits.
        I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority
    to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
    Executive. In doing so, I have taken into account the views and support
    expressed by the Congress in S. Con. Res. 21 and H. Con. Res. 42.
        I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the
    Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I
    appreciate the continued support of the Congress in this action.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of
    the Senate.