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USIA: State Department Report 96-05-16
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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