THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510130509
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ,STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Bosnia peace talks in Hampton Roads? It could happen.
Now that a U.S.-brokered cease-fire has gone into effect in the former Yugoslavia, the U.S. State Department is said to be searching for a location on the East Coast for the warring sides to meet.
The talks, due to begin Oct. 31, could lead to an international peace conference in Paris.
National Public Radio reported Thursday that Langley Air Force Base in Hampton was under consideration.
Lt. Cmdr. Chuck Franklin, a Pentagon spokesman, declined to confirm the NPR report.
``We are continuing to look at a number of possible sites for those talks,'' he said. ``No final decision is likely before the weekend.''
He did say it is likely that a military base will be chosen.
The Bosnian government insisted Thursday that the rebel Serbs must do more to lift the siege of Sarajevo before the peace talks can start.
Restoration of gas and electricity to Sarajevo was a key condition of the truce, which took effect just after midnight Thursday (7:01 p.m. EDT Wednesday).
But the Bosnian government warned it would boycott the talks unless the Serbs open a road out of the besieged capital west to Kiseljak and another road to the eastern enclave of Gorazde.
With Washington leading the peace drive, this cease-fire is given more chance than previous truces in the 3 1/2-year war. MEMO: Staff writer Bill Sizemore contributed to this report.
KEYWORDS: YUGOSLAVIA CIVIL WAR BOSNIA by CNB