Article 4709 of alt.politics.clinton: Path: bilver!tous!peora!masscomp!usenet.coe.montana.edu!caen!malgudi.oar.net!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!uicvm.uic.edu!u45301 Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago Date: Tuesday, 18 Aug 1992 23:13:47 CDT From: Mary Jacobs Message-ID: <92231.231347U45301@uicvm.uic.edu> Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton Subject: CLINTON TEXT: BOSNIA STATEMENT Lines: 98 SEND COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS INFORMATION TO THE CLINTON/GORE CAMPAIGN AT 75300.3115@COMPUSERVE.COM (This information is posted for public education purposes. It does not necessarily represent the views of The University.) ======================================================================== Statement by Governor Bill Clinton On the Crisis in Bosnia July 26, 1992 The continuing bloodshed in Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia demands urgent international action. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and countless cities have been destroyed. Over two million refugees have fled their homes, with vast numbers flooding into neighboring countries -- the largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II. This human tragedy is not merely a by-product of war; it is the result of a deliberate effort: the Serbian policy of "ethnic cleansing," designed to drive whole peoples from the lands of their parents and move strangers into their vacant homes. It is time for real leadership to stop the continuing tragedy in the former Yugoslav republics. I urge the Administration to work with the nations of Europe to bring new urgency to ending the bloodshed and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Croatia, Hungary and other neighboring countries face severe burdens in absorbing the refugees fleeing the violence. These innocent victims must not be allowed to languish -- hungry, ill, impoverished and exposed to the elements. The international community, especially the nations of Europe, must assure them temporary safe-haven, with adequate food and shelter. And the Bush Administration must help them shoulder this burden and grant temporary protected status to those stranded in the United States. We must address not only the victims of war, but also the continuing war itself. Last week, yet another truce was agreed to and, yet again, the cease-fire was immediately breached. If this latest agreement can be preserved, it could be a turning point in the conflict as it takes the essential steps of requiring that heavy weapons be put under U.N. supervision and that refugees be allowed to return home. The Serbian leadership signed that agreement. It should be held accountable to it. While there is time, our government should act to focus the international community on a series of new actions. They may not succeed at this late stage, but at least we must do what we reasonably can. We should make clear that the economic blockade against Serbia will be tightened, not only on weapons but also on oil and other supplies that sustain the renegade regime of Slovodan Milosevic. European and U.S. naval forces in the Adriatic should be given authority by the UN to stop and search ships that might be carrying contraband headed for Serbia and her ally, Montenegro. We should make a determined effort to convince neighboring states that it is not in their interest to violate the embargo. The international community should take steps to charge the Milosevic regime, and those responsible for the slaughter of innocent civilians, with crimes against humanity under international law -- as we should have done long ago in the case of Iraq. The continuing attacks by Serbian elements in Bosnia threaten the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid, jeopardize the safety of U.N. personnel and put at risk the lives of thousands of citizens. If the Serbs persist in violating the terms of the current ceasefire agreement, the United States should take the lead in seeking U.N. Security Council authorization for air strikes against those who are attacking the relief effort. The United States should be prepared to lend appropriate military support to that operation. Air and naval forces adequate to carry out these operations should be visibly in position. I have emphasized the human agony of what has been taking place on the very steps of modern Europe. But we must also be clear about the meaning of these events for our national interests. In this crisis, the international community faces the first post-Cold War test in Europe of the fundamental principle that international borders will not be changed by violent means and that minority rights must be respected. Its outcome will set the standard for addressing other ethnic conflicts and the effectiveness of vital international institutions, including the European Community, the Atlantic Alliance and the United Nations itself. I urge the Administration and the international community to move forward, to act with the greatest possible urgency before it is too late. The people of Bosnia and the world community -- the dream of a better, more stable world -- cannot afford further delay.