U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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99–011 2002

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

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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 NATOled 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 perVerDate 11-MAY-2000 00:40 Jul 25, 2002 Jkt 099011 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7633 Sfmt 7633 E:\HR\OC\HD250.XXX pfrm11 PsN: HD250
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sonnel 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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