Cord Byrd: “for the first time in weeks, the news from Belgrade regarding Kosovo is encouraging. It would appear--with emphasis on…”

“for the first time in weeks, the news from Belgrade regarding Kosovo is encouraging. It would appear--with emphasis on the word ``appear''--that Slobodan Milosevic has agreed to NATO's terms to withdraw his forces, begin peace negotiations, and allow 2,000 international observers into Kosovo. If Mr. Milosevic can be taken at his word, this is truly a turning point in the negotiations. Unfortunately, as we know from the trail of broken promises and from the trail of tears he has left in his wake, Slobodan Milosevic's word is worthless. Hopefully, the concurrent action NATO has taken to authorize air strikes if Mr. Milosevic does not abide by the agreement will be sufficient to persuade him to cooperate. I have my doubts. As welcome as these new developments are, they do not let Congress off the hook. Over the past several weeks, as we have rushed to complete our work prior to adjournment, we have tiptoed carefully around the role of Congress in authorizing military intervention in Kosovo without ever mustering up the courage to confront the issue head on. On the topic of Kosovo, we have lectured, we have criticized, we have urged this or that action, but we have been strangely silent on the subject of introducing and voting up or down on a resolution that would fulfill our duty, under both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, to authorize the use of force in Kosovo and throughout Serbia. The Constitution invests in Congress the power to declare war.…”