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USIA: State Department Report 96-05-16

U.S. State Department Directory

From: The U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Gopher <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>

STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1996

(Middle East, Bosnia) (390)

There was no regular noon briefing. State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns did, however, speak on the record with reporters.

MIDDLE EAST -- Representatives of the Monitoring Group (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, United States, France) continue to meet at the State Department, but no agreement has yet been reached as to the modalities for the operation of the group for enforcing the ceasefire between the Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Israel. Although these talks are focused on the operating procedures for the Monitoring Group, the United States has also been raising its concerns with Syria regarding recent arms shipments to the Hezbollah through Syria from Iran. Burns said that the United States is the only country that can act as mediator between Syria and Israel. Burns reiterated the Secretary of State's public statements that the United States believes that Syria will proceed with peace negotiations with Israel after the Israeli presidential election May 29.

BOSNIA -- The United States is concerned about reports that Bosnia Serb Prime Minister Rajko Kasagic had been dismissed by Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnia Serb "president" and indicted war criminal. "We don't recognize Karadzic's authority to dismiss any official or to make any kind of political decision like that, because he is an indicted war criminal," Burns said. The United States plans to continue to work with Kasagic, he said. Burns acknowledged that Karadzic does have "some influence. However, his authority is being questioned by fellow Bosnian Serbs." Kasagic has refused to recognize Karadzic's authority to dismiss him. Bosnia High Representative Carl Bildt led an outcry of international support for the prime minister. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs John Kornblum called Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic May 16 to discuss this issue. "We understand that Milosevic will continue to work with Kasagic as well," Burns said. Kornblum also raised with Milosevic several U.S. concerns pertaining to upcoming elections: freedom of the media, access by political candidates to the media, and freedom of movement by refugees and others so that they can vote. According to Burns, Milosevic told Kornblum that he would work with the Bosnian Serbs to ensure that they were in compliance with their Dayton peace accord responsibilities on each of those points.

No transcript is available of this informal, walk-thru briefing.

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