SJR 24: Relating to the Kosovo conflict and to Alaskans serving in the military forces in the area of the conflict.
00SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24 01 Relating to the Kosovo conflict and to Alaskans serving in the military forces in 02 the area of the conflict. 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS Slobodan Milosevic has embarked upon a policy of ethnic cleansing of 05 Albanians in Kosovo, Yugoslavia; and 06 WHEREAS the actions of the Serbian military forces are a humanitarian disaster in 07 the making and are not acceptable in the civilized world; and 08 WHEREAS the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has called upon the 09 Allied Forces to mount a military campaign to stop this inhumane treatment of Kosovo 10 Albanians; and 11 WHEREAS the United States, as a member of NATO, has mobilized members of our 12 armed forces to the Balkan region to participate in the campaign against Serbian forces in 13 Kosovo to stop the ethnic cleansing activities; and 14 WHEREAS many of the United States troops that will be sent to the Balkans will be
01 pulled away from civilian lives at great personal sacrifice; and 02 WHEREAS the Allied troops will be expected to endure many uncertainties and 03 hardships caused by separation from their loved ones for months while stationed in the harsh 04 conditions of the Balkan region; and 05 WHEREAS the tremendous humanitarian effort being taken by the Allied military 06 force is an enormous service to mankind; and 07 WHEREAS members of our military forces are performing their mission with great 08 dispatch, exemplifying the high degree of dedication, professionalism, and training that 09 underlines the technological and strategic superiority of our military strength; and 10 WHEREAS many of our United States troops are in danger, and the media reports that 11 the public must be prepared to accept the possibility that there will be United States casualties; 12 and 13 WHEREAS three members of the United States armed forces have been captured, and 14 efforts to obtain their releases have not yet been successful; and 15 WHEREAS Alaskans in the military services have been called on to participate in the 16 Kosovo conflict and are likely to be called on to serve there in increasing numbers; and 17 WHEREAS these Alaskans are and will be serving in the interest of the United States 18 with dedication, honor, and commitment; 19 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature 20 (1) commends the bravery and dedication of Alaska's military personnel and 21 of all men and women who are serving in the Kosovo conflict; and 22 (2) applauds the extraordinary job being done by the United States and Allied 23 military forces in saving lives by setting up tents and establishing refugee camps; and be it 24 FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Alaska State Legislature express 25 their heartfelt concern for the safety of United States military personnel, of the military 26 personnel of NATO countries involved in the conflict, and of the refugees who are fleeing 27 Kosovo, and, therefore, urge President Clinton and the Congress to use whatever means 28 available to bring the conflict to an end as soon as possible and in a manner that will help 29 secure a just and lasting peace in the region; and be it 30 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests the Alaska 31 Legislative Council to direct the Legislative Affairs Agency to send the following message
01 to all Alaskans and military personnel stationed in Alaska who are serving in the United States 02 armed forces in the Kosovo conflict: "The members of the Alaska State Legislature thank you 03 heartily for your efforts in stopping the barbaric actions of Slobodan Milosevic in Kosovo and 04 for laying a foundation for a just and lasting peace in the region. We commend your bravery 05 and dedication. We wish you a safe and speedy return home." 06 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the 07 United States; the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and President 08 of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Strom Thurmond, President Pro Tempore of the U.S. 09 Senate; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the 10 Honorable William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and 11 the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. 12 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.