Clinton Rebuffs France and Britain on Bosnia Peacekeeping Contributions

President Clinton told French President Jacques Chirac today that the United States will help pay for a proposed expansion of peacekeeping forces in Bosnia only if Congress agrees, marking a sharp rebuff to France and Britain. This decision underscores the Administration's concerns that European countries contributing troops to the new force would also pay for them. The United States had initially believed that the European countries would bear the financial burden. However, with the understanding that the troops would be part of the overall United Nations force, the Administration made its support dependent on Congressional consent.

Key Takeaways:

• The United States will help pay for a proposed expansion of peacekeeping forces in Bosnia only if Congress agrees, as announced by President Clinton.
• The Administration's decision to make support dependent on Congressional consent stems from the initial understanding that European countries contributing troops would also pay for them.
• Defense ministers from 15 Western countries, including the United States, approved a proposal by Britain and France to create a 10,000-member NATO rapid-response force to help protect United Nations peacekeepers in Bosnia.
• The proposed rapid-reaction force is expected to cost $300 million for the first year, with the United States bearing 31 percent of the cost.
• The French government has pledged to resume nuclear-weapons tests, a decision opposed by the United States, which has expressed regret over the decision.
• The peacekeeping mission in Bosnia has been labeled a failure by several lawmakers, with some urging the withdrawal of the 22,500 peacekeepers.
• Lawmakers have expressed concerns over the recent seizure of United Nations troops and the downing of an American F-16 jet fighter.

Statistics:

• 10,000: The proposed number of NATO rapid-response force members to help protect United Nations peacekeepers in Bosnia.
• 31 percent: The share of the United States in the cost of the operation under the United Nations peacekeeping operations assessment.
• $300 million: Estimated cost of the proposed rapid-reaction force for the first year.
• 22,500: The number of peacekeepers currently deployed in Bosnia.

Sources:

• [The New York Times]
• A senior Administration official
• A senior French official
• Gen. John Shalikashvili, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• The House of Representatives
• The Senate Armed Services Committee
• The Senate