From: U45301@uicvm.uic.edu (Mary Jacobs)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia
Subject: CLINTON TEXT: YUGOSLAVIA (FORMER) CRISIS
Date: 19 Aug 92 06:06:49 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

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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.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia