    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [July 19, 1999]
    [Pages 1256-1257]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Deployment of Military
    Forces for Stabilization of Areas of the Former Yugoslavia
    July 19, 1999

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        In my report to the Congress of January 19, 1999, I provided further
    information on the deployment of combat-equipped U.S. Armed Forces to
    Bosnia and other states in the region in order to participate in and
    support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led Stabilization
    Force (SFOR), which began its mission and assumed authority from the
    NATO-led Implementation Force on December 20, 1996. I am providing this
    supplemental report, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to help
    ensure that the Congress is kept fully informed on continued U.S.
    contributions in support of peacekeeping efforts in the former
    Yugoslavia.
        The U.N. Security Council authorized member states to continue SFOR
    for a period of 12 months in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1247 of
    June 18, 1999. The mission of SFOR

    [[Page 1257]]

    is to provide a continued military presence in order to deter renewed
    hostilities, stabilize and consolidate the peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
    and contribute to a secure environment to facilitate the civilian
    implementation process to which SFOR provides broad support within its
    means and capabilities.
        The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia is approximately
    6,200. In the first half of 1999, all NATO nations and 19 others,
    including Russia and Ukraine, have provided military personnel or other
    support to SFOR. Most U.S. forces are assigned to Multinational
    Division, North, centered around the city of Tuzla. In addition,
    approximately 2,200 U.S. military personnel are deployed to Hungary,
    Croatia, and Italy in order to provide logistical and other support to
    SFOR. The U.S. forces continue to support SFOR in efforts to apprehend
    persons indicted for war crimes. In the last 6 months, U.S. forces have
    sustained no fatalities.
        The United Nations mandate for the U.N. Preventive Deployment Force
    (UNPREDEP) in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia expired on
    February 28, 1999, and it was not renewed or extended. The U.S. military
    contingent that had been deployed to Macedonia as part of UNPREDEP
    remained in Macedonia under U.S. operational control in anticipation of
    providing logistical support to U.S. forces that could support future
    NATO operations in the area. That contingent subsequently redeployed and
    was replaced with other U.S. forces more suited for this possible
    support mission. The new contingent has been incorporated into the U.S.
    national support element operating in Macedonia that, as I reported in
    my letter to the Congress of June 12, 1999, is supporting the
    International Security Presence in Kosovo (KFOR).
        I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in these
    operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S.
    foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive, and in
    accordance with various statutory authorities. I am providing this
    report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed about
    developments in Bosnia and other states in the region. I will continue
    to consult closely with the Congress regarding our efforts to foster
    peace and stability in the former Yugoslavia.
            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.