HL Deb 09 January 1995 vol 560 c2WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Under what command would any US forces operate which might be deployed to former Yugoslavia to assist in the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces; by whom would their rules of engagement be determined; whether, as Mr. William Perry is reported to have stated, they would be equipped and prepared to use "overwhelming force"; and whether this suggestion of war-fighting has their approval, or that of NATO or the United Nations.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

President Clinton has agreed in principle to provide US ground troops to any NATO-led withdrawal of UNPROFOR from Bosnia, should that become necessary. Detailed command arrangements and rules of engagement for such a contingency would require consideration in the North Atlantic Council, in co-ordination as appropriate with the UN. Clearly, force would only be used to the extent necessary for a successful withdrawal.