[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 21 (Monday, May 31, 1999)]
[Pages 993-994]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the International War Crimes Tribunal Decision To Indict 
Slobodan Milosevic in Yulee, Florida

May 27, 1999

    Good afternoon. I welcome the decision of the International War 
Crimes Tribunal to indict Slobodan Milosevic and other senior Serbian 
leaders for crimes against humanity and war crimes. This says to the 
hundreds of thousands of victims of Belgrade's atrocities in Kosovo that 
their voices have been heard. It will help to deter future war crimes by 
establishing that those who give orders will be held accountable. It 
will make clear to the Serbian people precisely who is responsible for 
this conflict and who is prolonging it.
    It speaks to the world in saying that the cause we are fighting for 
in Kosovo is just. I call on all nations to support the Tribunal's 
decision and to cooperate with its efforts to seek justice.
    For 6 years, the United States has strongly supported the work of 
this Tribunal. We've urged it to pursue its investigation of war crimes 
in the former Yugoslavia as far up the chain of command as the evidence 
leads, and we've helped to provide that evidence. The Congress recently 
approved my request for supplemental funding for the Tribunal, which 
will provide $9 million for the Tribunal trust fund, $4 million for 
technology that will speed up our providing information to the Tribunal, 
$10 million to interview Kosovar refugees, and $5 million for forensic 
teams to go into Kosovo once conditions allow for the gathering of 
evidence.
    Now, the objectives of NATO's military campaign remain unchanged: 
The Kosovar refugees must be able to go home with security and self-
government; Serb forces must withdraw; and an international security 
force with NATO at is core must deploy there.
    Day and night, NATO air strikes are imposing a heavy price on Mr. 
Milosevic and his forces in Kosovo. We see the impact they're having in 
the protests against his policies, the desertions in his army, the 
difficulties his troops in Kosovo are having in maintaining their grip 
on the area. Our forces have shown courage and skill. We and our allies 
have shown determination. Both will persist until we achieve our goals.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 1:45 p.m. at the White Oaks Plantation. In 
his remarks, he referred to President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal 
Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). A tape was not available 
for verification of the content of these remarks.

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