BOSNEWS digest 430 -- 13/10/95

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

From: Dzevat Omeragic <[email protected]>

Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker on Wednesday opposed sending American ground troops to Bosnia: "I don't think I would have made that commitment if I had been in a position to do it... This really should not be America's war. Unfortunately our people will be targets over there to a far greater extent than any Europeans will be ... It seems to me that the United States can lead without having to fight its fourth war in this century on the ground in Europe."

Baker is now in private law practice in Houston. He is promoting his new book called "The Politics of Diplomacy" on his 1989-1992 term as secretary of state.

Baker also questioned US strategy in the regio. "What is our exit strategy? What is our political goals? ... Do we seek a peace agreement that will confirm Bosnia-Herzegovina as a unitary state ... or are we ready to ratify defacto partition of that country and give Serbs 50 percent of what they've accomplished through their aggression?"

Washington, October 13,1995 (Press TWRA) - The US Asst.Secy. of State and peace negotiator R.Holbrooke announced that the negotiations on B-H will start on October 31, in US and will last until the results are obtained. "Those will be very complex negotiations", said Holbrooke adding that B-H President Izetbegovic and Serbian President Milosevic promised to put no time limitations or threaten to leave the negotiations. Croatian Foreign Minister will replace President Tudjman when the details on B-H will be discussed. At present only separate talks with american side are foreseen, but Holbrooke did not exclude the possible direct talks between the delegations.

Brussels - Multinational forces of NATO equipped by helicopters and tanks will arrive to B-H immediately after the signing of peace agreement, decided the NATO Council. The multinational forces operation will have 5 fazes: preparation of deployment of forces and equipment, establishing the communications and logistics; entering B-H and taking over the control of territory and key points; implementation of peace agreement; transition to peace time with the greater role of UN and her Agencies and B-H Government; withdrawal of NATO forces.

US Defence minister W.Perry recommended to White House to limit the US soldiers mission in B-H to one year. Perry also said that if Congress refuses to finance the US forces operation in B-H with 1-2 billion dollar (estimates of operation cost) in that case he will try to get the resources from US Defence Program for which as he said "the Republican majority allocated more than US Government wanted, anyway ". (end) S.K.

IZETBEGOVIC IN CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague, October 13,1995 (Press TWRA) - The B-H Delegation headed by President of B-H Presidency A.Izetbegovic arrived for the two days visit to Czech Republic where he will have talks with Pres. Havel. During his stay Izetbegovic will visit the last events of "Days of B-H in Czech Republic",one month long manifestation. This is the biggest presentation of B-H abroad since the war started in which 18O artists from B-H participated. (end) S.K.

KOSOVO MUST BE PART OF BALKAN CRISIS SOLUTION

Brussels, October 13, 1995 (Press TWRA) - "Serbian attempt to change ethnic balance by settling the Serbian refugees on Kosovo must be stopped. (...) The question of Kosovo is not only Albanian and Serbian problem, it is a problem of the region. The question of former Yugoslavia must be treated as a whole, including the 'burning' issue of Kosovo where two million Albanians live in tyrannic, police state. (...) Kosovo is the key of Balkan crisis. That is where the conflict started, but it must not end there", said in his speech on the meeting of the Ambassadors of countries members of NATO the Albanian President Sali Berisha.

The NATO General Secretary W. Claes said that the Alliance is very well aware of the Kosovo problem and united in the intention to solve it. "NATO can not imagine the full recognition of Belgrade's regime ... until the rights of Albanians are fully respected", said Claes.