Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 29, 1993 TAG: 9307290083
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Newsday
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
A senior administration official told Newsday that Washington also is seeking support from European allies and the United Nations for what would amount to a broader use of NATO and U.S. air power to relieve the yearlong siege of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo and provide humanitarian aid to Muslims in other areas besieged by Serbs and Croats.
"We are hoping that we can get allied and U.N. cooperation to save Sarajevo and make sure that Sarajevo is an open city," he said, meaning that its civilian population would be spared from shelling and the blockade that has virtually starved it out.
Officials indicated that the United States favors expanding the use of force because merely protecting the U.N. troops would not help relieve the suffering of the besieged areas: Serbs and Croats probably would refrain from attacking the troops and concentrate their offensive against the Bosnians.
Although the French have indicated that they would support more aggressive action to protect the Bosnians from the Serbs, the British have steadfastly opposed military action, even for humanitarian purposes, fearing increased danger to their ground troops in the U.N. force and the possibility of spreading war through the region.
But Britain was among the allied nations, including France, the United States, Canada and Russia, that agreed at a Washington conference May 22 to participate in protecting U.N.-designated "safe areas" in Bosnia, including Sarajevo. The United States pledged its air power to protect U.N. forces throughout Bosnia if they came under attack and requested help.
Asked by reporters Wednesday whether the government was prepared to use American air power in Bosnia as it had promised, Clinton said, "We are prepared to fulfill our commitments, yes."
Clinton also laid out the procedure for its use: "The United Nations forces in Bosnia must ask the secretary-general of the U.N. for assistance. He will then relay that request to NATO, and we would act through NATO. . . . We are prepared to move if we are asked to provide that assistance by the secretary-general."
The president, who has backed away before from threats to use force in Bosnia, used his answer to clear up doubts he had raised earlier in the day about the U.S. commitment. He had told reporters that if a request for help came from U.N. commanders "that's something we will seriously consider."
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told reporters that he would complete the political and military arrangements early next week to authorize NATO to use its air power, if called on.
The use of air strikes to protect U.N. forces was authorized by Security Council Resolution 836, passed June 4, to create seven "safe areas" in Bosnia, including Sarajevo. U.S. officials have been critical of the secretary-general's two-month delay in implementing the resolution.
by CNB