U-S BOSNIA OVERNIGHTER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST/STATE DEPARTMENT
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
DATE=8/21/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-184016
TITLE=U-S BOSNIA OVERNIGHTER (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TO RECONSTITUTE ITS
BALKANS PEACEMAKING TEAM FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF THREE SENIOR
OFFICIALS IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO OVER THE WEEKEND.
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS HOPE TO RESUME SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN
THE REGION WITHIN A WEEK. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE
DETERMINED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH BALKANS DIPLOMACY DESPITE THE
ACCIDENT WHICH KILLED THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND TWO KEY ADVISERS.
THE BODIES OF WHITE HOUSE ENVOY ROBERT FRASURE, DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JOSEPH KRUZEL AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
AIDE NELSON DREW WERE FLOWN BACK TO WASHINGTON MONDAY ACCOMPANIED
BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE.
AFTER LEADING SOLEMN ARRIVAL CEREMONIES AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE
BASE, SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER IMMEDIATELY CONVENED A
TOP-LEVEL MEETING AT THE FACILITY JUST OUTSIDE WASHINGTON ON
MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM OF BOSNIAN PEACE EFFORTS.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DAVID JOHNSON SAID THE HIGHEST TRIBUTE
THAT CAN BE PAID TO THE THREE MEN IS TO CARRY THEIR WORK FORWARD:
///JOHNSON ACTUALITY///
I WANT TO DISSUADE YOU FROM ANY NOTION THAT THE PROCESS
FOR THE PURSUIT OF PEACE IN THE BALKANS IS FALTERING.
IT'S NOT. THERE'S A REAL CONCRETE DETERMINATION TO MOVE
THIS PROCESS FORWARD. WE EXPECT THE TEAM TO BE BACK IN
EUROPE WITHIN A WEEK. WE BELIEVE THIS IS CLEARLY THE
BEST OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HAD TO PURSUE A PEACEFUL SOLUTION
TO THIS CONFLICT. AND WE'RE DETERMINED NOT TO LET ITS
SLIP FROM OUR GRASP.
///END ACT///
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE THE CONSULTATIONS IN
ADVANCE OF MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE THREE OFFICIALS WEDNESDAY --
TO BE ATTENDED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO WILL BE INTERRUPTING HIS
WESTERN VACATION FOR THE TRIP TO WASHINGTON.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO FLY TO
EUROPE WITH A RECONSTITUTED NEGOTIATING TEAM EARLY NEXT WEEK TO
BRIEF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON THE
STATUS OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.
THE AMERICAN INITIATIVE IS SAID TO BUILD ON THE CONTACT GROUP
PLAN DIVIDING CONTROL OF BOSNIA BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE
FEDERATION OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS -- REFLECTING THE MAJOR
CHANGES ON THE GROUND IN RECENT MONTHS.
THE HOLBROOKE SHUTTLE MISSION, SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT,
HAS NOT MADE VISIBLE PROGRESS TOWARD THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF
GAINING SERBIAN RECOGNITION OF BOSNIA AND A REVERSAL OF THE
BOSNIAN SERBS' REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE CONTACT GROUP PLAN.
BUT DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY TOLD THOSE AT MONDAY'S
CEREMONY DIPLOMATS ARE CLOSER TO ACHIEVING PEACE THAN AT ANY TIME
SINCE THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT ERUPTED FOUR YEARS AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/CB/PT
21-Aug-95 5:55 PM EDT (2155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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