    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 17 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
    [Pages 753-754]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Ordering Reserves to Active Duty To Support Military Action
    in Kosovo

    April 27, 1999

        Today I authorized the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation to
    order to active duty up to 33,102 essential members of our Reserve
    component to support NATO and U.S. operations related to the conflict in
    Kosovo.

    [[Page 754]]

        The Secretary of Defense has informed me that he intends to exercise
    that authority immediately to recall approximately 2,000 essential Air
    Force Reserve and Air National Guard crews from eight States. These
    reservists will support refueling operations for our intensifying air
    operations in Kosovo. I expect that over the coming days and weeks,
    Secretary Cohen and General Shelton will call upon additional personnel
    from all branches of the service to fill critical support positions in
    our humanitarian and combat operations in and around the former
    Yugoslavia. These Reserves are essential to America's military strength;
    they are part of the total force we bring to bear whenever our men and
    women in uniform are called to action.
        All Americans are proud of the commitment these citizen soldiers
    make to their country. On behalf of all Americans, I thank each
    reservist, their families and loved ones, and their employers here at
    home for their service and sacrifice in support of our important mission
    in Kosovo.