[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.