U-S BOSNIA OVERNIGHTER (L) BY DAVID GOLLUST/STATE DEPARTMENT

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

DATE=8/21/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-184016

TITLE=U-S BOSNIA OVERNIGHTER (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TO RECONSTITUTE ITS BALKANS PEACEMAKING TEAM FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF THREE SENIOR OFFICIALS IN A ROAD ACCIDENT NEAR SARAJEVO OVER THE WEEKEND. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS HOPE TO RESUME SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY IN THE REGION WITHIN A WEEK. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE DETERMINED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH BALKANS DIPLOMACY DESPITE THE ACCIDENT WHICH KILLED THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND TWO KEY ADVISERS.

THE BODIES OF WHITE HOUSE ENVOY ROBERT FRASURE, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JOSEPH KRUZEL AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AIDE NELSON DREW WERE FLOWN BACK TO WASHINGTON MONDAY ACCOMPANIED BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE.

AFTER LEADING SOLEMN ARRIVAL CEREMONIES AT ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER IMMEDIATELY CONVENED A TOP-LEVEL MEETING AT THE FACILITY JUST OUTSIDE WASHINGTON ON MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM OF BOSNIAN PEACE EFFORTS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DAVID JOHNSON SAID THE HIGHEST TRIBUTE THAT CAN BE PAID TO THE THREE MEN IS TO CARRY THEIR WORK FORWARD:

                     ///JOHNSON ACTUALITY///

I WANT TO DISSUADE YOU FROM ANY NOTION THAT THE PROCESS FOR THE PURSUIT OF PEACE IN THE BALKANS IS FALTERING. IT'S NOT. THERE'S A REAL CONCRETE DETERMINATION TO MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD. WE EXPECT THE TEAM TO BE BACK IN EUROPE WITHIN A WEEK. WE BELIEVE THIS IS CLEARLY THE BEST OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HAD TO PURSUE A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THIS CONFLICT. AND WE'RE DETERMINED NOT TO LET ITS SLIP FROM OUR GRASP.

                          ///END ACT///

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WILL CONTINUE THE CONSULTATIONS IN ADVANCE OF MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE THREE OFFICIALS WEDNESDAY -- TO BE ATTENDED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHO WILL BE INTERRUPTING HIS WESTERN VACATION FOR THE TRIP TO WASHINGTON.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLBROOKE IS EXPECTED TO FLY TO EUROPE WITH A RECONSTITUTED NEGOTIATING TEAM EARLY NEXT WEEK TO BRIEF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FIVE-NATION CONTACT GROUP ON THE STATUS OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

THE AMERICAN INITIATIVE IS SAID TO BUILD ON THE CONTACT GROUP PLAN DIVIDING CONTROL OF BOSNIA BETWEEN THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS AND CROATS -- REFLECTING THE MAJOR CHANGES ON THE GROUND IN RECENT MONTHS.

THE HOLBROOKE SHUTTLE MISSION, SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, HAS NOT MADE VISIBLE PROGRESS TOWARD THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF GAINING SERBIAN RECOGNITION OF BOSNIA AND A REVERSAL OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS' REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE CONTACT GROUP PLAN.

BUT DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY TOLD THOSE AT MONDAY'S CEREMONY DIPLOMATS ARE CLOSER TO ACHIEVING PEACE THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE BOSNIAN CONFLICT ERUPTED FOUR YEARS AGO. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/CB/PT

21-Aug-95 5:55 PM EDT (2155 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America