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June 9, 1999
Web posted at: 9:34 p.m. EDT (0134 GMT)

In this story: Hastert: 'We have won the war' White House cautious after getting 'everything we wanted' RELATED STORIES, SITES

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton welcomed the NATO-Yugoslav agreement on the withdrawal of troops Wednesday, calling it "another important step" towards achieving NATO's goals in Kosovo. But he also issued a warning to Yugoslav leaders.

"We and our allies will watch carefully to see whether the Serb forces are peacefully leaving Kosovo in accordance with the agreed timetable," the president's written statement said.

There was a more enthusiastic response on Capitol Hill. House lawmakers broke into bipartisan applause when the signing of the deal was announced on the floor by Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Missouri).

At the time, the House was debating defense legislation that included a Republican-drafted provision to cut off funds for the military operation against Yugoslavia after September 30.

Hastert: 'We have won the war'

Money remained on the mind of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who voiced hope that the new agreement would lead to a lasting peace in the Kosovo region.

"The United States took the lead in providing men and materials when it came to the air campaign (in Yugoslavia). This campaign cost America's taxpayers billions of dollars," Hastert pointed out.

"It is only fair that when it comes to the reconstruction of Kosovo, the Europeans should provide the lion's share of the resources. I also believe that none of those resources should go to Serbia as long as (Yugoslav President) Slobodan Milosevic remains in charge," insisted the Republican lawmaker from Illinois.

A senator on the Armed Services Committee thanked both U.S. troops and NATO allies for achieving what he called "a historic turning point."

"NATO, led by the United States, sent out a message that we were not going to let aggression and genocide in Europe stand and we turned it back," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut). "We have won the war."

"Having won the war, we now have to make sure we secure the peace, and that means remaining vigilant as these next steps occur," said the senator.

"The unfinished business for the world community in the Balkans is to bring Milosevic to the international court in the Hague where he should be tried as a war criminal," Lieberman said.

White House cautious

Clinton is not expected to make a televised statement about the new deal until NATO can verify that Yugoslav forces are on their way out of Kosovo.

The president said the deal contains "the essential conditions for peace." He lists those as the rapid and orderly withdrawal of Yugoslav forces and the deployment of a peace force with NATO at its core.

Clinton also called on Kosovo guerrillas not to take advantage of the Yugoslav troop pullout.

"We have made clear to the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army that we expect them not to hinder the Serb withdrawal," he said.

The Pentagon said a pause in the bombing could come within 24 hours.

"If the Serbs live up to what they have signed, this will end the killing and begin the peace," Defense Secretary William Cohen said.

"NATO will pause and then end its air campaign" if the Serbs pull out on schedule, he said.

White House officials continued Wednesday to express reservations about Milosevic's trustworthiness.

"I think we have built this agreement so that trust is not an issue," presidential spokesman Joe Lockhart said. "Verification is."

"I think that until we see this agreement beginning to be fulfilled, the president will look at this with some degree of caution," Lockhart said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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