CLINTON STATEMENT: YUGOSLAVIA (FORMER) CRISIS

 

Article 4414 of alt.politics.clinton:

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Subject: CLINTON STATEMENT: YUGOSLAVIA (FORMER) CRISIS

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Date: Monday, 17 Aug 1992 18:18:19 CDT

From: Mary Jacobs <U45301@uicvm.uic.edu>

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                      Statement of Governor Clinton

                  on the Crisis in the Former Yugoslavia

June 23, 1992

The Serbian aggression against Bosnia-Herzegovinia, the wanton killing, the

starvation and forcible relocation of civilians, and the destruction of

some of Europe's most ancient and historic cities must end. It is time for

America, acting in concert with its allies, to exert strong leadership in

putting a halt to the Serbian-led aggression in the Balkans and to avert an

even worse humanitarian disaster. The Milosevic regime, the last of the

communist dictatorships in Europe, has threatened the peace of Europe with

a ruthless campaign of ethnic purification and territorial ambition. If

Milosevic's aggression in Bosnia is not checked, we risk a widening of the

conflict to other countries in the region.

The war in Yugoslavia has cost tens of thousands of lives and caused over

one million innocent men, women and children to flee as refugees. Many in

the besieged city of Sarajevo face starvation and dehydration if the

airport is not opened to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Not since World War II has Europe witnessed this level of fighting and

destruction.

The international community must use all the diplomatic and economic tools

at its disposal to stabilize the situation in Bosnia. Last month, I called

for tough sanctions against the Milosevic regime, including freezing

assets, an oil embargo, and the suspension or expulsion of Yugoslavia from

the key international organizations. I fully support the decision of the

United Nations Security Council to adopt these and other sanctions against

Serbia and Montenegro, and I welcome the steps announced today by Secretary

Baker to further isolate the remnants of the Yugoslav government in our own

diplomatic relations and in international organizations.

Almost two years ago President Bush announced that naked aggression against

Kuwait would not stand. I supported him then and I will support the

President and the Congress now in drawing the line against further

destruction and killing in the Balkans.  If diplomatic efforts are

unsuccessful at achieving a cease-fire and delivering urgent humanitarian

assistance, I would support a multilateral military effort to open the

airport and ensure that relief supplies reach their destination.  Through

the United Nations, and in close cooperation with our European allies and

NATO, we can and must take necessary steps to prevent the starvation of

Sarajevo.  I would hope that any such action would receive bi-partisan

support in the Congress and throughout the United States.

The crisis in the former Yugoslavia is important to the long-term interests

of the United States because its outcome will affect the nature of the

states that will emerge from the old communist empire. The choice lies

between unstable, highly nationalistic states with centralized and

potentially oppressive governments, on the one hand, and democratic states

in which a variety of ethnic groups will have a voice in their government

and their rights protected, on the other. The United States should be

taking the lead to ensure that democracy, not dictatorship, takes hold in

that crucial part of the world. If we fail to respond to this challenge, we

will miss an opportunity presented by the end of the Cold War to create a

more democratic and stable world.