U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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79–011 2000

106th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 106–258

REPORT ON CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT

OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR POWERS

RESOLUTION, TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE CONGRESS IS KEPT

FULLY INFORMED ON CONTINUED U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS IN KOSOVO

JUNE 22, 2000.—Referred to the Committee on International Relations and

ordered to be printed

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THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, June 16, 2000.

Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT,

Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: In my report to the Congress of December

15, 1999, I provided information on the deployment of combatequipped U.S. military personnel as the U.S. contribution to the

NATO-led security force (KFOR) in Kosovo. Additional U.S. personnel are also deployed in countries in the region and serve as

support for our forces in Kosovo. I am providing this supplemental

report, consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to help ensure

that the Congress is kept fully informed on continued U.S. contributions in support of peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo.

The U.N. Security Council authorized member states to establish

the international security presence in Kosovo in U.N. Security

Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244 of June 10, 1999, for an initial

period of 12 months, to continue thereafter unless the Security

Council decides otherwise. The mission of KFOR is to provide a

military 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); enforce the terms of the agreement of the former Kosovo

Liberation Army (KLA) to demilitarize and reintegrate itself into

civil society; provide operational direction to the Kosovo Protection

Corps; and maintain a safe and secure environment to facilitate the

work of the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

(UNMIK) by providing, until UNMIK or appropriate local organizations assume these functions, for public safety and order and border monitoring.

Currently, the U.S. contribution to KFOR in Kosovo is approximately 7,500 U.S. military personnel. This number once again will

decrease to approximately 6,000 U.S. military personnel when ongoing troop rotations are completed. In the last 6 months, all 19

NATO nations and 20 others, including Russia and Ukraine, have

provided military personnel and other support personnel to KFOR.

In Kosovo, the U.S. forces are assigned to a sector principally

centered around Gnjilane in the eastern portion of Kosovo. For U.S.

KFOR forces, as for KFOR generally, maintaining a safe and secure environment is the primary military task. United States forces

conduct security patrols in urban areas and in the countryside

throughout their sector. Approximately one-half of KFOR’s total

available personnel is directly committed to protection tasks, including protection of the ethnic minorities. The KFOR forces are

under NATO command and control and rules of engagement.

In addition, other U.S. military personnel are deployed to other

countries in the region to serve in administrative and logistics supVerDate 11-MAY-2000 21:07 Jun 23, 2000 Jkt 079011 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\HD258.XXX pfrm08 PsN: HD258
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port roles for the U.S. forces in KFOR. Specifically, approximately

1,000 U.S. military personnel are operating in support of KFOR in

Macedonia, Greece, and Albania.

Since my report to the Congress of December 15, in accordance

with UNSCR 1244 and the MTA, FRY military, paramilitary, and

police forces have not reentered Kosovo. The KLA agreed on June

21, 1999, to a cease fire, to withdraw from the zones of conflict in

Kosovo, and to demilitarize itself. On September 20, 1999, KFOR

Commander Lieutenant General Sir Mike Jackson accepted the

KLA’s certification that the KLA had completed its demilitarization

in accordance with the June 21 agreement. The UNMIK thereafter

established a civil emergency services entity known as the Kosovo

Protection Corps that is intended to provide civic assistance in

emergencies and other forms of humanitarian assistance.

The UNMIK has made progress in establishing an interim administration for the people of Kosovo. The KFOR, within its means

and capabilities, is providing broad support to UNMIK. As UNMIK

is still developing its structures in Kosovo, KFOR continues to support UNMIK at all levels, including public administration, and is

represented at the Kosovo Transitional Council and the Joint Civil

Commissions. The KFOR personnel provide a security presence in

towns, villages, and the country-side. Checkpoints and patrols are

organized in key areas in Kosovo to provide security, resolve disputes, and help instill in the community a feeling of confidence. In

addition, KFOR is helping to provide assistance in the areas of humanitarian relief, international civil police training, and the maintenance of civic works resources.

Ethnic tensions in Kosovo, however, remain a concern, particularly in areas where Kosovar Serbs and Kosovar Albanians live in

close proximity.

NATO has planned for KFOR’s mission to be formally reviewed

at 6-month intervals with a view to progressively reducing the

force’s presence and, eventually, withdrawing. Over time, KFOR

will incrementally transfer its security and policing responsibilities

as appropriate to the international civil administration, local institutions, and other organizations.

I have taken these actions 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,

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

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