THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230489
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Diplomacy should be given one last try in Bosnia before United Nations peacekeepers give up and withdraw, said Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.
Only then should there be a lifting of the arms embargo to level the playing field for the warring factions. And it should be a multilateral, not a unilateral, decision to remove the arms prohibition against the Bosnian government, he said.
Nunn, here to address a seminar sponsored by Marine Corps Gen. John J. Sheehan, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, made his comments at a news conference Thursday.
``I think we ought to give diplomacy one last try in Bosnia,'' Nunn said. ``The U.N. mission has failed in terms of peacekeeping. One side that has lost territory views the U.N. forces there - the NATO forces - as a shield from which to launch attacks to regain territory.
``The other side views the NATO forces as hostages. That is an untenable situation.''
All parties in Bosnia should be told that unless a strong move toward peace is apparent, then the U.N. will start an orderly withdrawal, he said.
``I think it is time to recognize this mission cannot continue as it is now without really eroding NATO and U.N. credibility that will have an affect all over the world.''
Nunn said that if a withdrawal is decided upon, then there must be a firm policy for containment because American interests, while not directly affected in Bosnia, would be affected if the conflict spreads.
``I would also add that we have to be prepared for serious problems when we withdraw. It is not going to be easy. It is going to be very tough,'' he said.
``People in enclaves will feel abandoned. There is going to be a renewal of warfare.''
Just giving notice of the peacekeepers' intention to leave, said Nunn, might be enough to convince the warring parties that they need to settle their differences.
He expressed disappointment that the House has passed a resolution favoring the unilateral lifting of the arms embargo.
``That is the way you Americanize that war,'' he said. ``If you really want to Americanize the war, you lift the embargo while our allies are still on the ground. They will pull out and they will blame America with some degree of justification and then we will be responsible for the tragedy that unfolds. That is the way to get America involved.
``If we get the U.N. forces out of there first, then have a multilateral agreement . . . , I think it will be a different situation.
``That clearly tells the parties we are not going to get involved.'' by CNB