U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (May 10, 1995)
From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)
Subject: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (May 10, 1995)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
I N D E X
Wednesday, May 10, 1995
Briefer: Christine Shelly
[...]
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA UN, NATO
Response to Bosnian Serb Attacks on Safe
Areas ...............................................7
Enforcement of UN Resolutions, UNPROFOR Role ...........7
SERBIA
Report of Troop Mobilization in Vojvodina ..............7-8
[...]
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING DPB #67
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1995, 1:16 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
[...]
Q Bosnia?
MS. SHELLY: Sure.
Q Yesterday, you called for -- in the walk-through -- a
more robust response from the U.N. in terms of air attacks,
and so forth. Is that still the position? Precisely what
should be done now?
MS. SHELLY: As you know, we had been having discussions with
our allies. I think we've also been discussing the issue of
response in the NATO context as well; and Ambassador
Albright, up in New York, had also been having discussions
at the senior-most levels.
Our position is the same position that it's been for quite
some time on this, which is that the U.N. resolutions are
valid, and the mechanisms for enforcement were reviewed
very, very carefully, and, of course, were agreed by all of
the governments concerned.
The notion that somehow to take enforcement actions
aggravates the situation, I believe, is basically the
argumentation of the U.N. political authorities out in the
field. That may be their feeling on it. But also in the
cases where there has been a more robust response, it has
sent a message. It is our view that has been an inhibiting
factor in terms of stopping the escalation.
We are very concerned about the potential for escalation
that's out there. We continue to believe that UNPROFOR, in
conjunction with NATO, can and should play an active role in
helping to protect the safe areas. This includes,
certainly, the activities that are occurring around Sarajevo
and also the terms specifically of the Sarajevo heavy weapons
exclusion zone.
We believe that the presence of a U.N. force is really
critical to preventing a wider Balkan war and to averting a
potential humanitarian disaster. But we also believe that a
stricter and more robust enforcement of those resolutions
and mechanisms for enforcement should be observed.
Q Any reports on renewed forceful mobilization in parts
of Serbia close to the Danube?
MS. SHELLY: I have not seen anything on that specifically,
but let me check on that and see if we are in a position to
confirm that. Is there a specific area that you're --
Q In the province of Vojvodina?
MS. SHELLY: Okay. Let me check on that. I don't have
anything for you on that at this moment, but I'll be happy
to check.
[...]
(Press briefing concluded at 1:45 P.M.) (###)
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