U-S/BOSNIA DIPLOMATS (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST/STATE DEPARTMENT
DATE=8/21/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-184001
TITLE=U-S/BOSNIA DIPLOMATS (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE DEATHS OF THREE
SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WILL NOT DE-RAIL
EFFORTS TO BRING PEACE TO THE BALKANS. TOP CABINET OFFICIALS
WERE AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE NEAR WASHINGTON MONDAY AS THE
BODIES OF THE THREE AMERICANS -- KILLED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT
SATURDAY NEAR SARAJEVO -- WERE RETURNED TO TO THE UNITED STATES.
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: AN AIR FORCE TRANSPORT BEARING THE FLAG-DRAPED COFFINS OF
THE THREE MEN WAS MET AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE BY TOP
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, INCLUDING SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN
CHRISTOPHER, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY, AND NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISER ANTHONY LAKE.
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ROBERT
FRASURE WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT, ALONG WITH DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JOSEPH KRUZEL AND NELSON DREW, A MILITARY
ADVISOR TO THE WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.
THEY HAD BEEN ON THEIR WAY TO SARAJEVO FOR TALKS ABOUT THE NEW
U-S PEACE INITIATIVE FOR BOSNIA WHEN THE U-N ARMORED VEHICLE THEY
WERE RIDING IN SLIPPED OFF THE TREACHEROUS MOUNT IGMAN ROAD AND
PLUNGED INTO A RAVINE.
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER, WHO LED THE AIR FORCE BASE CEREMONIES,
SAID THE LOSS OF THE THREE AMERICANS WAS A TERRIBLE BLOW TO
PEACEMAKING EFFORTS -- BUT U-S DIPLOMACY IN THE BALKANS WILL GO
FORWARD:
/// CHRISTOPHER ACTUALITY ///
THE EFFORT TO BRING PEACE TO BOSNIA WILL CONTINUE AND
WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF COMMITMENT. WE WILL HONOR THEIR
SACRIFICE BY STRIVING TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK. ONE DAY
THE SHELLS WILL STOP FALLING IN BOSNIA, MINEFIELDS WILL
BE CLEARED, AND THE TERRIBLE CYCLE OF NEEDLESS VIOLENCE
AND DEATH IN BOSNIA WILL FINALLY COME TO AN END. WHEN
IT DOES, IT WILL BE DUE TO DEVOTED PEACEMAKERS LIKE BOB
AND JOE AND NELSON, AND TO THEIR COLLEAGUES WHO SURVIVED
-- ESPECIALLY DICK HOLBOOKE AND GENERAL WES CLARK. IT
WILL BE DUE TO THEIR SPIRIT OF SERVICE.
/// END ACT ///
THE DEATHS FORCED ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE
TO BREAK OFF WHAT OFFICIALS HAD DESCRIBED AS A PROMISING BALKANS
SHUTTLE MISSION, AND PROMPTED THE POSTPONEMENT OF A MEETING OF
THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP IN BOSNIA SET FOR THIS WEEK IN
GENEVA.
THE U-S INITIATIVE BUILDS ON THE CONTACT GROUP PLAN FOR DIVIDING
CONTROL OF BOSNIA BETWEEN ETHNIC SERBS AND THE ALLIANCE OF
BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS -- REFLECTING THE DRAMATIC CHANGES ON
THE GROUND IN RECENT MONTHS.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PERRY TOLD THE ASSEMBLED OFFICIALS AND
GRIEVING RELATIVES AT THE CEREMONIES THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN
TEAM HAD BROUGHT THE BOSNIAN PARTIES CLOSER TO A NEGOTIATED
SETTLEMENT THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL INTERRUPT HIS WESTERN VACATION TO ATTEND
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE THREE OFFICIALS WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/RAE
21-Aug-95 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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