
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 28, 1993                   TAG: 9304280194
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From the Los Angeles Times and Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA                                LENGTH: Medium

SERBS DEFY WORLD, ATTACK YELTSIN JOINS WARNING; SANCTIONS TIGHTEN

Serb rebels launched a major assault Tuesday in northwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina in what appeared to be a taunt of Western governments that have been threatening to use force to end the Balkan war.

The attack took place as Russian President Boris Yeltsin issued a stern warning to the Serbs and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher testified before a Senate panel on possible action in the Balkans. Their statements came as tougher U.N. economic sanctions against Yugoslavia took effect.

Yeltsin warned the Serbs that they cannot expect Moscow to stand by them if they block an international peace plan, and he called for "decisive measures to stifle the conflict." The Foreign Ministry said Russia still opposes military intervention.

Russia has veto power in the United Nations and could block Security Council efforts to take action against the Serbs.

Yeltsin said "the U.N. will stand against Serbian nationalists and any other warring parties who are gambling on force." He urged the deployment of U.N. observers in and around Bosnia and the convening of an international conference on Balkan security.

President Clinton held another round of meetings on Bosnia late Tuesday with advisers and congressional leaders. State Department officials confirmed that Christopher was poised to travel to Europe and Moscow to line up support for whatever plan Clinton ultimately acts on. That trip could begin as early as tonight, officials said, or as late as the weekend.

Christopher said he would favor use of force in the Balkans under certain conditions.

He said air strikes to force Bosnian Serbs to accept a peace agreement must meet four tests: a goal that is clear and understandable to the American people, a strong likelihood of success, public support and "an exit strategy" so U.S. forces do not become embroiled in a Balkan war.

Clinton's most senior advisers remained divided over the wisdom of U.S. military involvement.

The nation's No. 2 military man said in an interview that air strikes would not be effective and would lead to civilian as well as military casualties. Adm. David Jeremiah, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that U.S. pilots would be shot down and innocent civilians killed in air strikes against Serbian artillery.

by CNB