For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 22, 2002
Supplemental Report on Former Yugoslavia
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
January 21, 2002
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
In my report to the Congress of July 24, 2001, 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,
based upon information provided to me and consistent with the War
Powers Resolution (P.L. 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 Reso-lution 1357 of
June 21, 2001.
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.
The U.S. force contribution to SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina is
approximately 3,100 personnel. United States personnel
comprise just under 18 percent of the total SFOR force of approximately
17,500 personnel.
During the last half of 2001, 19 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, centered in the city of
Tuzla. Other U.S. military personnel are deployed to other
countries in the region in support of SFOR.
These
deployments include approximately 50 U.S. military personnel presently
deployed to Hungary and Croatia in order 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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