[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.