IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 83

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of the Federal

Republic of Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan Milosevic release the

three illegally detained United States servicemen and abide by the Geneva

Convention protocols regarding the treatment of both prisoners of war

and innocent civilians.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 12, 1999

Mrs. NAPOLITANO (for herself, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. TURNER, Mr. RODRIGUEZ,

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr.

PALLONE, Mr. HOYER, Ms. PELOSI, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr.

GEJDENSON, Mr. GEPHARDT, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. FILNER, Mrs. CLAYTON,

Mr. SERRANO, Mr. SHOWS, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. CAPUANO,

Mr. WEINER, Mr. FROST, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mrs.

MALONEY of New York, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. HAYES, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, and Ms. WATERS) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in

addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government

of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President

Slobodan Milosevic release the three illegally detained

United States servicemen and abide by the Geneva Convention protocols regarding the treatment of both prisoners of war and innocent civilians.
2

•HCON 83 IH

Whereas United States Army Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Ramirez,

24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone, 25,

of Smiths Creek, Michigan and San Antonio Texas, and

Spc. Steven M. Gonzales, 21, of Huntsville, Texas were

abducted from Macedonian territory by Serb forces on

March 31, 1999, while patrolling the Kumanovo area 3

miles from the southern Yugoslavia border;

Whereas these 3 honorable United States soldiers, serving in

noncombatant status, are now in the custody of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its

President Slobodan Milosevic;

Whereas the Geneva Convention, the 1949 treaty setting

forth international protocols for the treatment of both civilians and military personnel during armed conflicts and

declared wars, stipulates that prisoners of war must at

all times be humanely treated, provided any necessary

medical assistance, protected against acts of violence or

intimidation and against insults and public curiosity and

evacuated from any area of danger;

Whereas the Geneva Convention also prohibits putting prisoners of war on trial for engaging in ordinary acts of

warfare for which the capturing country’s own soldiers

would not be charged;

Whereas under the Geneva Convention, the International

Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has the right to

nonsupervised visits of prisoners to ensure they are being

treated well;

Whereas the Yugoslav Government has as yet not responded

to the ICRC’s requests; and
3

•HCON 83 IH

Whereas sanctions can be applied to signatories of the Geneva Convention for failing to abide by the convention:

Now, therefore, be it:

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) the United States Government should com4 mend the 3 detained United States soldiers for their

5 exemplary service, bravery, duty to their country,

6 and part in helping to ensure a peaceful multiethnic

7 democratic Kosovo on the basis of the Rambouillet

8 Accords;

9 (2) the United States Government should con10 tinue to forcefully press the Yugoslav Government

11 and its president Slobodan Milosevic for the uncon12 ditional release of the 3 detained United States serv13 icemen and, in the interim, demand their health and

14 safety, and that the International Committee of the

15 Red Cross be allowed to visit the servicemen and

16 verify their condition without supervision;

17 (3) the United States Government should con18 demn any move on the part of the Government of

19 the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to put the three

20 detained United States servicemen on trial—an act

21 expressly forbidden by the Geneva Convention;

22 (4) the United States Government should hold

23 the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugo-
4

•HCON 83 IH

1 slavia and its President Slobodan Milosevic person2 ally responsible for the welfare of the 3 detained

3 United States servicemen;

4 (5) the United States Government should con5 tinue to condemn the atrocities committed by the

6 Yugoslav Army or paramilitary forces against civil7 ians in Kosovo, particularly crimes associated with

8 ‘‘ethnic cleansing’’; and

9 (6) the United States Government should sup10 port the prosecution under the Geneva Convention of

11 all commanders of the Yugoslav Army or para12 military forces taking part in acts of ethnic cleaning

13 against civilians.

Æ