[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 47 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Pages 1620-1621]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Deployment of United 
States Military Personnel as Part of the Kosovo International Security 
Force

November 14, 2003

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

    In my report to the Congress of May 14, 2003, I provided information 
regarding the continued deployment of combat-equipped U.S. military 
personnel as the U.S. contribution to the NATO-led international 
security force in Kosovo (KFOR) and to other countries in the region in 
support of that force. I am providing this supplemental report prepared 
by my Administration, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public 
Law 93-148), to help ensure that the Congress is kept fully informed on 
continued U.S. contributions in support of peacekeeping efforts in 
Kosovo.
    As noted in previous reports, the U.N. Security Council authorized 
member states to establish KFOR in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 
of June 10, 1999. The mission of KFOR is to provide an international 
security presence in order to deter renewed hostilities; verify and, if 
necessary, enforce the terms of the Military Technical Agreement (MTA) 
between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (which is now 
the Union of Serbia and Montenegro); enforce the terms of the 
Undertaking on Demilitarization and Transformation of the former Kosovo 
Liberation Army; provide day-to-day operational direction to the

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Kosovo Protection Corps; and maintain a safe and secure environment to 
facilitate the work of the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo 
(UNMIK).
    Currently, there are 17 NATO nations contributing to KFOR. The U.S. 
contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is about 2,100 U.S. military personnel, 
or approximately 11 percent of KFOR's total strength. Additionally, U.S. 
military personnel occasionally operate from Macedonia, Albania, and 
Greece in support of KFOR operations. Seventeen non-NATO contributing 
countries also participate with NATO forces in providing military 
personnel and other support personnel to KFOR.
    The U.S. forces are assigned to a sector principally centered around 
Gnjilane in the eastern region of Kosovo. For U.S. KFOR forces, as for 
KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and secure environment remains the 
primary military task.
    The KFOR forces operate under NATO command and control and rules of 
engagement. The KFOR coordinates with and supports UNMIK at most levels, 
provides a security presence in towns, villages, and the countryside, 
and organizes checkpoints and patrols in key areas to provide security, 
protect minorities, resolve disputes, and help instill in the community 
a feeling of confidence.
    The UNMIK continues to transfer non-reserved competencies under the 
Constitutional Framework document to the Kosovar Provisional 
Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). The PISG includes the President, 
Prime Minister and Kosovo Assembly, and has been in place since March 
2002. Municipal elections were successfully held for a second time in 
October 2002.
    NATO continues formally to review KFOR's mission at 6-month 
intervals. These reviews provide a basis for assessing current force 
levels, future requirements, force structure, force reductions, and the 
eventual withdrawal of KFOR. NATO has adopted the Joint Operations Area 
plan to regionalize and rationalize its force structure in the Balkans. 
KFOR has transferred full responsibility for public safety and policing 
to UNMIK international and local police forces throughout Kosovo except 
in the area of Mitrovica, where the responsibility is shared due to 
security concerns. The UNMIK international police and local police 
forces have also begun to assume responsibility for guarding patrimonial 
sites and established border-crossing checkpoints.
    The continued deployment of U.S. forces has been undertaken pursuant 
to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as 
Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. I appreciate the continued 
support of the Congress in these actions.
     Sincerely,
                                                George W. Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Ted Stevens, President pro tempore of the 
Senate. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.