Voice of America, 27 August 1995

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE LEAVES WASHINGTON TODAY (SUNDAY) WITH A NEW TEAM OF DIPLOMATS FOR TALKS WITH EUROPEAN LEADERS ON A U-S PEACE PLAN FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS MR. HOLBROOKE SEES A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS ALTHOUGH HE ADMITS THE CHANCE FOR SUCCESS IS SMALL:

TEXT: MR. HOLBROOKE TRAVELS TO EUROPE TODAY (SUNDAY) WITH A NEW TEAM OF NEGOTIATORS AFTER THREE AMERICAN DIPLOMATS WERE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT OUTSIDE SARAJEVO AUGUST 19TH. HE MEETS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS OF YUGOSLAV CONTACT GROUP MEMBER STATES INCLUDING BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY AND RUSSIA AS WELL AS OFFICIALS FROM ITALY, SPAIN AND CANADA.

ALTHOUGH DETAILS OF THE U-S PLAN ARE SKETCHY -- MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA MUST REMAIN A SINGLE, INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED STATE:

WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING PARTITION, DIVISION, SECESSION OR ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT KEEP BEING SPECULATED IN THE PRESS.

HE CONCEDES THE BOSNIAN SERBS REMAIN THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE REGION, BUT HAS NO PLANS TO MEET WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP. THE U-S PLAN WOULD ALSO DEMAND EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL ETHNIC GROUPS, ENSURE CROATIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND PLEDGE U-S PARTICIPATION IN EFFORTS TO ENFORCE AN EVENTUAL PEACE AGREEMENT. ACCEPTANCE WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ECONOMIC PLAN FOR THE REGION.

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS REPORTEDLY GIVING ITSELF UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15TH TO REACH A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE TALKS DESCRIBED SO FAR AS PRODUCTIVE, BUT INCONCLUSIVE. (SIGNED) NEB/SD 26-Aug-95 8:59 PM EDT (0059 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America