THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511220494
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
In statements issued after the Bosnia peace pact was announced, Virginia's two U.S. senators offered a preview of the coming congressional debate over American participation in implementing the accord.
Sen. John W. Warner, a Republican, praised the Clinton administration's diplomacy in forging the deal but called it ``a cease-fire rather than a peace agreement.'' He said he will be convinced that it is the basis for real peace ``only after the warring parties manifest their clear intentions to make it work.''
Warner said it is up to President Clinton to ``go to the American people and the Congress and make a very clear and convincing case that we should further - and underline further - augment our military forces in that region.''
He suggested that Clinton should consider alternatives to the use of U.S. ground troops, including an increased naval presence or more use of American air power.
The state's other senator, Democrat Charles S. Robb, sounded far more amenable to a deployment, saying ``a U.S. military role is now essential to implementing the accord reached in Dayton.''
``This is a choice between isolationism and leadership . . . If we choose not to participate - having gone this far - there simply will be no peace,'' Robb said. ``War in the Balkans would likely continue, if not get worse, and the stability of Europe could be jeopardized.'' by CNB