[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Pages 2177-2178]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Senate Democratic Leader Thomas Daschle on Implementation of 
the Balkan Peace Process

December 11, 1995

Dear Mr. Leader:

    Just four weeks ago, the leaders of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia came 
to Dayton, Ohio, in America's heartland, to negotiate and initial a 
peace agreement to end the war in Bosnia. There, they made a commitment 
to peace. They agreed to put down their guns; to preserve Bosnia as a 
single state; to cooperate with the War Crimes Tribunal and to try to 
build a peaceful, democratic future for all the people of Bosnia. They 
asked for NATO and America's help to implement this peace agreement.
    On Friday, December 1, the North Atlantic Council approved NATO's 
operational plan, OPLAN 10405, the Implementation of a Peace Agreement 
in the Former Yugoslavia. On Saturday, General George Joulwan, Supreme 
Allied Commander Europe, who will be commanding the NATO operation, 
briefed me in Germany on the final OPLAN.
    Having reviewed the OPLAN, I find the mission is clearly defined 
with realistic goals that can be achieved in a definite period of time. 
The risks to our troops have been minimized to the maximum extent 
possible. American troops will take their orders from the American 
general who commands NATO. They will be heavily armed and thoroughly 
trained. In making an overwhelming show of force, they will lessen the 
need to use force. They will have the authority, as well as the training 
and the equipment, to respond with decisive force to any threat to their 
own safety or any violations of the military provisions of the peace 
agreement. U.S. and NATO commanders believe the military mission can be 
accomplished in about a year.
    A summary of the OPLAN is attached. Of course, members of my staff 
and the Administration are available to answer your questions and 
further brief you on the OPLAN as you require.
    I consider the Dayton peace agreement to be a serious commitment by 
the parties to settle this conflict. In light of that agreement and my 
approval of the final NATO OPLAN, I would welcome a Congressional 
expression of support for U.S. participation in a NATO-led 
Implementation Force in Bosnia. I believe Congressional support for U.S. 
participation is immensely important to the unity of our purpose and the 
morale of our troops.
    I believe there has been a timely opportunity for the Congress to 
consider and act upon my request for support since the initialing in 
Dayton on November 21. As you know, the formal signing of the Peace 
Agreement will take place in Paris on December 14.
    As I informed you earlier, I have authorized the participation of a 
small number of American troops in a NATO advance mission that will lay 
the groundwork for IFOR, starting this week. They will establish 
headquarters and set up the sophisticated communications systems that 
must be in place before NATO can send in its troops, tanks and trucks to 
Bosnia.
    America has a responsibility to help to turn this moment of hope 
into an enduring reality. As the leader of NATO--the only institution 
capable of implementing this peace agreement--the United States has a 
profound interest in participating in this mission, which will give the 
people of Bosnia the confidence and support they need to preserve the 
peace and prevent this dangerous war in the heart of Europe from 
resuming and spreading. Since taking office, I have refused to send 
American troops to fight a war in Bosnia, but I believe we must help now 
to secure this Bosnian peace.
    Sincerely,
                                                  Bill Clinton

Note: A summary of the operation plan for the implementation of the 
peace agreement in the former Yugoslavia was attached to the President's 
letter.

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