Speech #1050191201

I urge the administration today on the floor of the U.S. Senate to proceed immediately with these steps. These actions include: Moving forward now. under NATO auspices. with the predeployment phase of NATO military plans on Kosovo. including securing base rights agreements in the region. immediately assessing the contributions of each NATO member in the event military action is necessary. and then forwarddeploying appropriate levels of NATO military forces and equipment. thus preparing us to take any appropriate military action that may be necessary to secure Serb compliance with Contact Group demands. and with international law regarding the treatment of Kosovar citizens. bolstering border security efforts through preventive NATO force deployments which can increase regional stability and assist ii international monitoring and antiarms smuggling efforts. leading an immediate multilateral effort. at the United Nations and through regional bodies like the European Union. to tighten the existing sanctions regime on Serbia. and to reimpose the total airflight and investment bans. and other sanctions lifted after signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. and to consider reimposing the trade embargo. coupled with renewed enforcement initiatives to prevent the flourishing of black markets under a full embargo. accelerating U.S. and NATO logistical support for the ongoing international humanitarian aid effort in Kosovo. including predeployment of humanitarian supplies in Kosovo in anticipation of winter distribution by NGOsbut only in a way which avoids absolutely the prospect of a repeat of the disgraceful "safe haven" disaster of Srebenica. pressing for more extensive access for human rights monitoring in Kosovo by internationally recognized organizations. including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. and nongovernmental monitors. and providing appropriate support and assistance for their efforts. and encouraging the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia immediately to send its Chief Prosecutor to Belgrade and Kosovo. increasing aid and intelligence support to the Tribunal. and assisting them in placing forensics teams on the ground there. thus signaling to all parties that the Tribunal is committed to prosecuting war crimes committed in Kosovo including attacks on innocent civilians. and has begun to actually gather evidence to support potential indictments against perpetratorsand their commanders and political leadership to whom they answer. I believe it is essential that these actions be taken as quickly as possible. We must act now. before the onset of winter in Kosovo. to prevent a potential humanitarian tragedy of historic proportions.