U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (L) BY VICTOR BEATTIE/WASHINGTON

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

DATE=8/20/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-183956

TITLE=U-S/BOSNIA O'NITER (L)

BYLINE=VICTOR BEATTIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY WILL BE AMONG THOSE ON HAND WHEN THE BODIES OF THREE AMERICAN ENVOYS RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES TODAY (MONDAY) FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS AMERICAN OFFICIALS GIVE EVERY INDICATION THEIR LATEST DIPLOMATIC SEARCH FOR PEACE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WILL CONTINUE THIS WEEK:

TEXT: SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER HAS CUT SHORT A CALIFORNIA VACATION TO TAKE PART IN SOLEMN CEREMONIES AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE OUTSIDE WASHINGTON WHEN THE BODIES OF THE THREE DIPLOMATS RETURN. SPECIAL ENVOYS ROBERT FRASURE AND JOSEPH KRUZEL ALONG WITH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AIDE SAMUEL NELSON DREW WERE KILLED SATURDAY WHEN THEIR U-N ARMORED VEHICLE FELL FROM A RAIN-WEAKENED MOUNTAIN ROAD OUTSIDE SARAJEVO IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID AN ONCOMING CONVOY.

THE MEN WERE IN THE MIDST OF A NEW DIPLOMATIC PEACE INITIATIVE U-S OFFICIALS SAY WAS BEING WELL RECEIVED BY THE LEADERS OF THE WARRING SIDES WHEN THEY WERE KILLED. ALTHOUGH DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN DISCLOSED THE U-S PEACE PROPOSAL IS BELIEVED TO INVOLVE A LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON BELGRADE AND MUTUAL RECOGNITION AMONG BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA AND SERBIA. IT IS ALSO SAID TO CALL FOR A NEW TERRITORIAL DIVISION OF BOSNIA AND A PLEDGE OF OUTSIDE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION AID.

IN GERMANY DURING A BRIEF STOPOVER (SUNDAY) -- ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE -- WHO HEADED THE DELEGATION AND WAS ACCOMPANYING THE BODIES OF HIS THREE COLLEAGUES BACK TO WASHINGTON -- SAYS THE EFFORT WILL CONTINUE:

                   /// HOLBROOKE ACTUALITY ///

WE HAVE LOST THREE VERY FINE MEN. THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED US TO BRING THEM HOME. WE CAME HERE AS A TEAM. WE WILL RETURN AS A TEAM IN A FEW DAYS AFTER REPORTING TO THE PRESIDENT.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH HIS DEFENSE COUNTERPART WILLIAM PERRY AND WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ANTHONY LAKE TODAY (MONDAY) ON REBUILDING THE AMERICAN TEAM. A U-S SPOKESMAN SAYS THE DEATHS OF THE THREE DIPLOMATS ARE CERTAIN TO SLOW U-S PEACE EFFORTS. MR. HOLBROOKE IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO THE BALKANS LATER THIS WEEK.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ROBERT DOLE IS CRITICAL OF LIFTING SANCTIONS ON SERBIA. HE SAYS SERB LEADERS CANNOT BE TRUSTED AND TAKES AIM AT THE BOSNIAN SERBS FOR INDIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEATHS OF THE THREE DIPLOMATS:

                     /// DOLE ACTUALITY ///

THE SERBS REFUSED TO GIVE THEM SAFE PASSAGE. THEY WERE ON A VERY DANGEROUS HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF SERB ACTIVITY AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE SOONER OR LATER THAT THE SERBS HAVE BEEN THE AGGRESSOR, THE SERBS ARE CAUSING US PROBLEMS AND WERE INDIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF THESE THREE AMERICANS.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

SENATOR DOLE PROMISES ACTION ON LIFTING THE ARMS EMBARGO ON BOSNIA WHEN CONGRESS RECONVENES SEPTEMBER FIFTH. THE LEGISLATION WAS VETOED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESS WILL NEED TWO-THIRDS APPROVAL OF LIFTING THE EMBARGO TO OVERRIDE THE VETO. (SIGNED)

NEB/VB/LWM

20-Aug-95 9:03 PM EDT (0103 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America