[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 7 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Pages 229-230]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

February 13, 1999

    Good morning. This week the warring parties in Kosovo have been 
meeting at a 14th century castle in France, in search of a 21st century 
peace. They've come together because of the determination of the United 
States, our European allies, and Russia to help end Kosovo's bloodshed 
and build a peaceful future there. Today I want to speak to you about 
why peace in Kosovo is important to America.
    World War II taught us that America could never be secure if 
Europe's future was in doubt. We and our allies formed NATO after the 
war, and together we've deterred aggression, secured Europe, and 
eventually made possible the victory of freedom all across the European 
continent. In this decade, violent ethnic conflicts in the former 
Yugoslavia have threatened Europe's stability and future.
    For 4 years Bosnia was the site of Europe's bloodiest war in half a 
century. With American leadership and that of our allies, we worked to 
end the war and move the Bosnian people toward reconciliation and 
democracy. Now, as the peace takes hold, we've been steadily bringing 
our troops home. But Bosnia taught us a lesson: In this volatile region, 
violence we fail to oppose leads to even greater violence we will have 
to oppose later at greater cost.
    We must heed that lesson in Kosovo. In 1989 Serbia stripped away 
Kosovo's autonomy. A year ago Serbian forces launched a brutal crackdown 
against Kosovo's ethnic Albanians. Fighting and atrocities intensified, 
and hundreds of thousands of people were driven from their homes.
    Last fall, using diplomacy backed by the threat of NATO force, we 
averted a humanitarian crisis and slowed the fighting. But now it's 
clear that only a strong peace agreement can end it. America has a 
national interest in achieving this peace. If the conflict persists, 
there likely will be a tremendous loss of life and a massive refugee 
crisis in the middle of Europe. There is a serious risk the hostilities 
would spread to the neighboring new democracies of Albania and 
Macedonia, and reignite the conflict in Bosnia we worked so hard to 
stop. It could even involve our NATO allies Greece and Turkey.
    If we wait until casualties mount and war spreads, any effort to 
stop it will come at a higher price, under more dangerous conditions. 
The time to stop the war is right now.
    With our NATO allies and Russia, we have offered a comprehensive 
plan to restore peace and return self-government to Kosovo. NATO has 
authorized airstrikes if Serbia fails to comply with its previous 
commitments to withdraw forces and fails to support a peace accord. At 
the same time, we've made it clear to the Kosovo Albanians that if they 
reject our plan or continue to wage war, they will not have our support.
    There are serious obstacles to overcome at the current talks. It is 
increasingly clear that this effort can only succeed if it includes a 
NATO-led peace implementation force that gives both sides the confidence 
to lay down their arms. It's also clear that if there is a real peace, 
American participation in the force can provide such confidence, 
particularly for Kosovo's Albanians. For them, as for so many people 
around the world, America symbolizes hope and resolve. Europeans would 
provide the great bulk of any NATO force, roughly 85 percent. Our share 
would amount to a little less than 4,000 personnel.
    Now, a final decision on troops, which I will make in close 
consultation with Congress, will depend upon the parties reaching a 
strong peace agreement. It must provide for an immediate cease-fire, 
rapid withdrawal of most Serbian security forces, and demilitarization 
of the insurgents. The parties must agree to the NATO force and 
demonstrate that they are ready to implement the agreement.

[[Page 230]]

    NATO's mission must be well-defined, with a clear and realistic 
strategy to allow us to bring our forces home when their work is done. 
Anytime we send troops we must be mindful of the risks, but if these 
conditions are met, if there is an effective agreement and a clear plan, 
I believe America should contribute to securing peace for Kosovo. And I 
look forward to working with Congress in making this final decision.
    America cannot be everywhere or do everything overseas. But we must 
act where important interests are at stake and we can make a difference. 
Peace in Kosovo clearly is important to the United States, and with 
bipartisan support in Congress and the backing of the American people, 
we can make a difference.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from the Oval Office at the 
White House.