U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (May 30, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (May 30, 1995)

[...]

TURKEY

Discussions on Operation Provide Comfort ..................18-19

GREECE

U.S. Visit of Greek Defense Minister Arsenis ..............19

FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

Discussion of Developments at NAC Ministerial Meeting .....19

Contact Group Foreign Ministers Meeting ...................19-20

Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers ...........................20

Ambassador Frasure's Trip to Belgrade .....................21

Bosnian Serb Remarks on UN Agreements .....................21-22

Holding of UN Peacekeepers ................................22

Proposals to Reduce Vulnerability of Troops ...............22-23

Efforts to Involve Former President Jimmy Carter ..........23

CYPRUS ISLANDS

Talks in London ...........................................22

[...]

Q Christine, two U.S. delegations, separate U.S. delegations, are in Ankara right now discussing with Turkish officials "Provide Comfort." What is the purpose? Why are they discussing about "Provide Comfort?"

MS. SHELLY: About why two American officials, or are you talking abut embassy personnel?

Q No, no, no. From the State Department, they are in Ankara right now.

MS. SHELLY: For discussions on "Provide Comfort?"

Q "Comfort."

MS. SHELLY: I don't have anything specific for you on that except that we do have consultations with Turkish authorities on the operation from time to time. I assume those are part of periodic consultations which we do have. But I'll be happy to check on it and see if we can maybe come back to that tomorrow with some more information.

Q The Greek Defense Minister, Mr. Arsenis, is in Washington to hold talks with American officials. Can you tell us something about the agenda?

MS. SHELLY: I don't have anything with me today, but I'll be happy to try to work something up for tomorrow.

Q Would it be a safe guess that you're not taking any questions on Bosnia?

MS. SHELLY: No. I'd be happy to go through what I've got, if you'd like. I can start off by just reviewing the state of play of what's been happening out in Europe.

First of all, as you know, there have been several different meetings which have taken place. The most recent treatment of Bosnia was, of course, at the NAC Ministerial itself.

One of the things that the NATO Council did -- this is, of course, at Ministerial level -- that it did early in its meeting today -- was to actually have a discussion and review all of the latest developments in the former Yugoslavia. There is a separate stand-alone -- a NATO statement -- which we'd be happy to make available to you in our Press Office.

I won't read the whole thing, but among other things the statement condemned the escalation of violence. It condemned the shelling of safe areas and the killing and seizing of U.N. peacekeepers by Bosnian Serbs. It demanded the release of U.N. peacekeepers and observers held hostage by the Bosnian Serbs, who would be held accountable for their safe return. It supported the efforts of the Contact Group to bring peace to the area. It reaffirmed NATO's willingness to help protect U.N. forces and to enforce the No-Fly Zone and to maintain the maritime embargo. It also expressed NATO's readiness to support the reinforcement of U.N. forces in the former Yugoslavia.

The full NATO Council deliberation on Bosnia, of course, also followed a meeting the previous day with the Foreign Ministers of France, Spain, Germany, and the European Union Commissioner for External Affairs representing the Troika, and the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and of Russia -- with, of course, Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

They met and issued a statement. I assume that you've seen that.

In Secretary Christopher's intervention before the NATO Ministerial Council this morning, he stressed the understandings that had been reached in the context of the Contact Group Ministers Meeting. The night before he stressed five points, and let me just quickly go through those.

First, he stressed that the Ministers had agreed that UNPROFOR should remain in Bosnia-Herzegovina to carry out its important mission.

Secondly, that UNPROFOR should move rapidly to reduce the vulnerability of its forces by regrouping units and avoiding activities that could unduly endanger their safety.

Thirdly, that steps to assure the freedom of movement and safety of UNPROFOR safety should be taken and that the military experts would be asked to examine the specific proposals of several of the nations -- France, United Kingdom, among others -- with a view to achieving that objective.

Fourth, there was also agreement on the need to enhance the capability and strength of UNPROFOR to assure that it can carry out its mission safely and effectively, and the U.S. intended to provide appropriate support toward that end.

And, finally, the Group agreed to continue to pursue the efforts to obtain recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Serbia and to achieve an effective closure of the border between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

So those are the main points, as I mentioned, were in Secretary Christopher's remarks this morning and were accurately reflecting the statement that was adopted by the Contact Group Ministers.

There had also been a meeting, as I think you know, earlier in the day of the EU Foreign Ministers, after which a statement had also been issued.

So I think you have three very clear actions by European and NATO authorities, and also Contact Group authorities, reflecting the thinking of the highest levels of governments .

Q Robert Frasure is going back for talks with Milosevic?

MS. SHELLY: I understand that he's going to depart tomorrow.

Q To go to Belgrade?

MS. SHELLY: Yes -- to go back to Belgrade.

Q What's he taking? What sort of offer is he taking with him?

MS. SHELLY: The general point that I've made, which is the need to continue with the diplomacy and try to get the earliest possible FRY recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and obviously also to strengthen the border closures. Those are the principal issues that he will take, and obviously also the issue related to sanctions suspension and how that's going to be treated in the Security Council. That's, obviously, also an issue he'll be discussing.

Q Recognition only of Bosnia, is that what you're saying?

MS. SHELLY: Recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Q not Croatia?

MS. SHELLY: That's the issue that he's working on at this point.

Q Is he going by himself, or will there be any other Contact Group envoys with him?

MS. SHELLY: I don't have any information on that specifically, but I'll be happy to check.

Q There are so many points in these recent wires. One I heard this morning from a broadcast from Sarajevo was that the Serbs have discontinued their association with the treaty that invited the U.N. to come and be in Bosnia. They have withdrawn.

Question One: Is that correct? Have the Bosnian Serbs announced that they are no longer accepting the U.N.?

MS. SHELLY: The Bosnian Serbs -- my understanding is that they have said something to the effect that they no longer considered the various U.N. agreements to be operative. I don't have the precise language of what they've said. That is obviously a worrisome development and certainly something that we hope is perhaps more remarks associated with the heat of the moment than something that they really intend to commit themselves to.

Q Would it mandate the U.N. to be in Bosnia than be negated if, indeed, the Serbians in Bosnia said "No"?

MS. SHELLY: No. It's not up to the Bosnian Serbs to be able to pull the plug on the U.N. mandate. The U.N. mandate is something that was adopted by the U.N. Security Council, and that remains the authoritative body on mandates.

Q No. But then, finally, the U.N. authorities currently -- are they negotiating with the Serbian elements in a dialogue?

MS. SHELLY: You're talking about the Bosnian Serbs?

Q The Bosnian Serbs in Pale -- are they negotiating to get the hostages released currently?

MS. SHELLY: I think that's a question that is most appropriately directed to the U.N. There certainly have been contacts between them toward that end; that is certainly also something that you get a very strong cry from the entire international community calling for those U.N. peacekeepers who are being held to be released.

Q What is the Administration's evaluation of the recent round of Cyprus talks which was held in London?

MS. SHELLY: I don't have a recent evaluation to go into today, but let me put that in the category of items. I'll check and see if we can work up something for you for tomorrow.

Q All right.

Q On Bosnia --

MS. SHELLY: Yes.

Q -- one of the points you mentioned was reducing the vulnerability of the UNPROFOR troops. There are reports on the ground that certain cities like Gorazde, Tuzla, and Srebrenica are now being evacuated. Does this mean that the safehavens -- Sarajevo and Bihac and others -- will no longer be in that category, or what does this reduction of vulnerability mean?

MS. SHELLY: Okay. As to the reduction of vulnerability, there are a number of specific proposals that were put forward by some of the countries that have troops on the ground. Those are proposals that will be evaluated by the NATO military authorities, and also presumably in connection with the U.N.

Also, I think, there are a number of issues which basically were reverted by NATO Ministers for further study by those who have been most directly involved in the situation on the ground. But I'm told in the context of the Contact Group discussions yesterday that there was no talk about abandoning the eastern enclaves. This is something that obviously has come up as perhaps a way to make the presence there easier to protect. But that is not an idea that is getting any serious consideration at this point. Keeping the U.N. presence there is something which is, of course, mandated by U.N. Security Council resolutions. We fully support them.

It's certainly our impression from the discussions within NATO, but also the Contact Group discussions, that there is continuing support for keeping the U.N. presence in the enclaves.

Q But, Christine, has there been any thought of getting Jimmy Carter involved in any of this now?

MS. SHELLY: Not that I have heard about.

Q Thank you.

MS. SHELLY: Thank you.

(The press briefing concluded at l:50 p.m.)

END