For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 25, 2001

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
July 24, 2001

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

In my report to the Congress of January 25, 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, 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.

The U.N. Security Council authorized Member States to continue SFOR for a period of 12 months in U.N. Security Council Resolution 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 3,800 personnel. United States personnel comprise just under 20 percent of the total SFOR force of approximately 19,500 personnel. During the first half of 2001, 19 NATO nations and 17 others, including Russia, pro-vided military personnel or other support to SFOR. Most U.S. forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina are assigned to Multi-national 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. This includes approximately 500 U.S. military personnel presently deployed to Hungary, Croatia, and Italy in order to provide logis-tical 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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