-Caveat Lector-
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: CAS: WH: Letter to Congress Mentions War Powers Resolution
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 22:59:53 -0600
From: "Edward F. Immler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Edward F. Immler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "cas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Found at:
http://library.whitehouse.gov/PressReleases-plain.cgi?date=1&briefing=4
March 26, 1999
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
March
26, 1999
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
March 26, 1999
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
At approximately 1:30 p.m. eastern standard time, on March 24, 1999,
U.S.
military forces, at my direction and in coalition with our NATO
allies,
began a series of air strikes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(FRY)
in response to the FRY government's continued campaign of violence and
repression against the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo. The
mission
of the air strikes is to demonstrate the seriousness of NATO's purpose
so
that the Serbian leaders understand the imperative of reversing
course;
to deter an even bloodier offensive against innocent civilians in
Kosovo;
and, if necessary, to seriously damage the Serbian military's capacity
to
harm the people of Kosovo. In short, if President Milosevic will not
make peace, we will limit his ability to make war.
As you are aware, the Government of the FRY has been engaged in a
brutal
conflict in Kosovo. In this conflict, thousands of innocent Kosovar
civilians have been killed or injured by FRY government security
forces.
The continued repression of Kosovars by the FRY military and security
police forces constitutes a threat to regional security, particularly
to
Albania and Macedonia and, potentially, to Greece and to Turkey. Tens
of
thousands of others have been displaced from their homes, and many of
them have fled to the neighboring countries of Bosnia, Albania, and
Macedonia. These actions are the result of policies pursued by
President
Milosevic, who started the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, and moved
against
Slovenia in the last decade.
The United States, working closely with our European allies and
Russia,
have pursued a diplomatic solution to this crisis since last fall.
The
Kosovar leaders agreed to the interim settlement negotiated at
Rambouillet, but the FRY government refused even to discuss key
elements
of the peace agreement. Instead, the Government of the FRY continues
its
attacks on the Kosovar popu-lation and has deployed 40,000 troops in
and
around Kosovo in preparation for a major offensive and in clear
violation
of the commitments it had made.
The FRY government has failed to comply with U.N. Security Council
resolutions, and its actions are in violation of its obligations under
the U.N. Charter and its other international commitments. The FRY
government's actions in Kosovo are not simply an internal matter. The
Security Council has condemned FRY actions as a threat to regional
peace
and security. The FRY government's violence creates a conflict with
no
natural boundaries, pushing refugees across borders and potentially
drawing in neighboring countries. The Kosovo region is a tinderbox
that
could ignite a wider European war with dangerous consequences to the
United States.
more
(OVER)
2
United States and NATO forces have targeted the FRY government's
integrated air defense system, military and security police command
and
control elements, and military and security police facilities and
infrastructure. United States naval ships and aircraft and U.S. Air
Force aircraft are participating in these operations. Many of our
NATO
allies are also contributing aircraft and other forces.
In addition, since this air operation began, the U.S. Embassy in
Skopje,
Macedonia, has been subjected to increasingly hostile demonstrations
by a
large number of Serbian sympa-thizers. In response, I have authorized
a
unit consisting of about 100 combat-equipped Marines from USS NASSAU
(LHA
4), which is supporting the air operations in Kosovo, to deploy to
Skopje
to enhance security at our embassy. These Marines will remain
deployed
so long as is necessary to protect our embassy and U.S. persons.
We cannot predict with certainty how long these operations will need
to
continue. Milosevic must stop his offensive, stop the repression, and
agree to a peace accord based on the framework from Rambouillet. If
he
does not comply with the demands of the international community, NATO
operations will seriously damage Serbia?s military capacity to harm
the
people of Kosovo. NATO forces will also use such force as is
necessary
to defend themselves in the accomplishment of their mission.
I have taken these actions pursuant to my constitutional authority to
conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief
Executive. In doing so, I have taken into account the views and
support
expressed by the Congress in S. Con. Res. 21 and H. Con. Res. 42.
I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress
fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I
appreciate
the support of the Congress in this action.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
# # #
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