SENSE OF CONGRESS.

SEC. 1202. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that— (1) United States ground combat forces should not participate in a follow-on force in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina after June 1998; (2) the European Security and Defense Identity, which, as facilitated by the Combined Joint Task Forces concept, enables the Western European Union, with the consent of the North Atlantic Alliance, to assume political control and strategic direction of NATO assets made available for the Alliance, may be an ideal instrument for a follow-on force for the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; (3) a NATO-led force without the participation of United States ground combat forces in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina may be suitable for a follow-on force for the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina if the European Security and Defense Identity is not sufficiently developed or is otherwise considered inappropriate for such a mission; (4) the United States may decide to provide appropriate support to a Western European Union-led or NATO-led follow-on force, including command and control, intelligence, logistics, and, if necessary, a ready reserve force in the region; (5) the President should inform our European NATO allies of this expression of the sense of Congress and should urge them strongly to undertake preparations for a Western European Union-led or NATO-led force as a follow-on force to the NATO-led SFOR if needed to maintain peace and stability in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and (6) the President should consult with the Congress with respect to any support to be provided to a Western European Union-led or NATO-led follow-on force in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina after June 30, 1998.