(5 Nov 1997) Eng/Ger/Nat
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Wednesday "a consensus is developing" between the administration and Congress over troops in Bosnia.
She said agreement is forming that there should be some form of U-S military presence in Bosnia once the mandate of the NATO-led commitment expires next June.
In a joint news conference at the State Department with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, Albright said there is also agreement that the Europeans maintain some type of military presence there as well.
Speaking to reporters during a photo session with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said President Bill Clinton had not yet made a decision on the issue.
But she said there is a "clear consensus" for carrying out the terms of the Dayton peace accord.
Albright told reporters her conclusion was based on a meeting held on Tuesday between President Clinton and a large group of Congressional lawmakers.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"A consensus is developing that there will be or should be some form of US military presence post S-FOR, and that obviously it is important for the Europeans to stay and to continue also in some kind of a military presence and strengthen the police function there."
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U-S Secretary of State
German Foreign Minister Kinkel added there is also agreement over the Europe maintaining some form of military or police function once the NATO mandate expires on June 30th.
But he added that the agreement would hold only if the U-S makes the same commitment.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"We have to be very careful not to create a military grey zone on the ground. The United States knows very well that if we in Germany, if we in Europe were to decide that we were going to stay on after the S-FOR mandate, that we only want to do that with the Americans. So, the Americans have to be in on this. I think it is fair to say that we are thinking here, along the same lines, along the same wavelengths, at least the American President indicated that to me today. The Americans also agree that the Russians need to be in on this."
SUPER CAPTION: Klaus Kinkel, German Foreign Minister
As part of a huge Pentagon spending bill, Congress voted to cut off funding for American troops in Bosnia by the end of June.
But the cutoff provision contains a large loophole which could allow for troops to remain.
Clinton simply has to notify Congress that the deployment must continue, detailing the number of troops needed, the duration of the new mission and the estimated cost.
White House Spokesman Mike McCurry said the President is consulting with members of Congress on the matter.
And he said the U-S will start making decisions about withdrawal timetables and related issues between now and the end of the year.
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