For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 22, 2002
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
July 22, 2002
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
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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