Organization: Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
Distribution: world
Date: Friday, 25 Sep 1992 16:47:53 EST
From: <ADMN8686@RyeVm.Ryerson.Ca> [Tom Grgic]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna,soc.culture.yugoslavia
Subject: Bosnia's President's remarks


Subject: FPB Daily Bulletin, Sep. 24, 92 Date: Thu, 24 Sep 92 21:39:34 -0400



FOREIGN PRESS BUREAU, 24 September, 1992.

**************************************************

Excerpt of remarks before the Organization of Islamic Conference, United
Nations
by President Alija Izetbegovic, Republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina

"Life for our people during the last five months has been difficult, and
the  sacrifices  have  been  monumental.  The  outlook for the immediate
future is similarly dismal. Our towns have been destroyed, more than one
hundred  thousand people - most of them Muslims - have been killed, more
than a million people have been displaced and material damage of  nearly
$200 billion has been inflicted on us. Those are the consequences of the
brutal Serbian aggression.

"At the London Conference, the govt. of B-H accepted  provisions  of  an
agreement  we were assured would bring bloodshed and suffering to a halt
in our country. All sides pledged to  adhere  to  the  agreements....But
during  the  last  27  days, our worst fear have come true. As the world
news media has documented fully, Serb extremists have: failed  to  place
all heavy weapons under international supervision; failed to cease mili-
tary air attacks; failed to close concentration camps; failed  to  allow
refugees  to  return  to their homes; failed to allow delivery of relief
supplies; failed to end "ethnic cleansing."

"If the international community is unwilling or unable  to  fulfill  its
pledges  and  promises to come to our defense, then the only alternative
left is for us to exercise our  right  to  self-defense  and  collective
defense.  Article 51 of the UN Charter grants us that absolute right. In
order to exercise those rights, the arms embargo  against  B-H  must  be
lifted.  We ask for your support of that appeal, should it become neces-
sary. It should be clear to the international community that we  face  a
perplexing  paradox. Under the present conditions, we have been deprived
of help from nations of the world while  we  have  been  prevented  from
defending  ourselves....  We  say to the international community, you do
have to lift the arms embargo. You can't have it both ways. Keeping  the
arms  embargo  means  you  must defend us. Please, choose one of the two
solutions.

"If we must go it alone, we will need your help and  support  more  than
ever.  Some  have raised the specter of religious fanaticism, should the
Islamic world come to our defense. We reject that  contention.  We  will
welcome  help  and  support  from all nations of the world who are peace
loving and who cherish freedom and democracy.... In that regard, we have
welcomed  and  received  support from our neighbors, the Croatians. Much
more unites us than divides us. Thousands of our citizens who  have  had
to  flee  their homes as a result of the Serbian 'ethnic cleansing" have
found refuge in Croatia. The Croatian people have  opened  their  hearts
and their homes, for which we are extremely grateful. As we solicit sup-
port, we want to make it clear that  we  will  reject  offers  from  the
extremes  if their objective is other than to help the people of B-H. We
will look carefully at motives, despite our dire need for assistance.

"The people of B-H can live together in peace, freedom and security,  if
we  are  left  alone. We cannot survive, however, if the paradox created
intentionally or unintentionally  by  world  leaders  and  international
institutions continues."

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna