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[House Document 107-250]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-250

 
 REPORT ON CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS 
                       IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

                               __________

                             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 THE FORMER 
                               YUGOSLAVIA

 July 23, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                and ordered to be printed July 23, 2002
                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, July 22, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In my report to the Congress of January 
21, 2002, I provided information on the deployment of combat-
equipped U.S. Armed Forces to Bosnia and Herzegovina and other 
states in the region in order to participate in and support the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led Stabilization 
Force (SFOR). The SFOR began its mission and assumed authority 
from the NATO-led Implementation Force on December 20, 1996. I 
am providing this supplemental report, prepared by my 
Administration and 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 the former Yugoslavia.
    The U.N. Security Council authorized Member States to 
continue SFOR for a period of 12 months in U.N. Security 
Council Resolution 1423 of July 12, 2002. The mission of SFOR 
is to provide a focused military presence in order to deter 
hostilities, stabilize and consolidate the peace in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, contribute to a secure environment, and provide, 
within its means and capabilities, selective support to key 
areas and key civil implementation organizations.
    Initially, the United States vetoed the U.N. Security 
Council Resolution authorizing Member States to continue SFOR 
for a period of 12 months because it did not provide protection 
for U.S. forces participating in SFOR from the purported 
jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 1422, the Security Council 
requested that the ICC not commence any investigation or 
prosecution in any case arising from acts or omissions relating 
to a U.N. established or authorized operation that involve 
current or former officials or personnel from a contributing 
state not a Party to the Rome Statute for a period of 12 months 
starting July 1, 2002; this resolution has the effect of 
prohibiting the ICC from commencing any investigation or 
prosecution of U.S. forces in SFOR for a period of 1 year. The 
Security Council further declared its intention to renew this 
resolution on an annual basis. In light of these protections 
for U.S. forces and personnel, the United States voted in favor 
of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1423.
    The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina is approximately 2,400 personnel. United States 
personnel comprise just under 15 percent of the total SFOR 
force of approximately 15,800 personnel. During the first half 
of 2002, 18 NATO nations and 17 others, including Russia, 
provided military personnel or other support to SFOR. Most U.S. 
forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina are assigned to Multinational 
Division, North, headquartered in the city of Tuzla. 
Additionally, U.S. military personnel are deployed to other 
countries in the region in support of SFOR. These deployments 
include approximately 60 U.S. military personnel deployed to 
Hungary and Croatia to provide logistical and other support. 
The U.S. forces continue to support SFOR efforts to apprehend 
persons indicted for war crimes. In the last 6 months, U.S. 
forces have not sustained any combat-related fatalities.
    I have directed the participation of U.S. Armed Forces in 
these operations pursuant to my constitutional authority to 
conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and 
Chief Executive.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed about developments in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and other states in the region. I will continue to 
consult closely with the Congress regarding our efforts to 
foster peace and stability in the former Yugoslavia.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

                                
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