1
500
2
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Finding Aids - Collection Descriptions & Inventories
Description
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Finding aids at the Clinton Presidential Library contain a detailed description of the collection including the total number of pages or photos and length of video and audio recordings. Finding aids also include background information of the collection’s topic and details on the record type (ex: email, memorandum, briefing book, Betacam video, audio cassette etc). <br /><br />Finding aids describe collections at the box and folder level, and include a folder title list and information about the arrangement of the collection. <br /><br /><strong>Please note the majority of collections have not yet been scanned nor made available online.</strong>
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Photographs of the Balkan Peace Agreement Ceremony on December 14, 1995 - Collection Finding Aid
Identifier
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2021-0641-F
Description
An account of the resource
The photographs processed in this case relate to the signing of the Balkan Peace Agreement at the Quai D’Orsay (Foreign Ministry) in Paris, France on December 14, 1995. Principals at the signing include: President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, President Alija Izetbegovic of Bosnia, President Franjo Tudjman of Croatia, President Clinton, President Jacques Chirac of France, Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany, Prime Minister John Major of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin of Russia, and Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez of Spain. Ceremony Principals participating in a luncheon with Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Richard Holbrooke attending; President Clinton departing the Quai D’Orsay in Paris with President Jacques Chirac presiding.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Audio Visual
Audio-visual materials
Balkan Peace Agreement
Balkan Peninsula
Balkans
Bill Clinton
Bosnia
Croatia
Finding Aid
France
Germany
Helmut Kohl
Jacques Chirac
John Major
Paris
peace
Photograph Contact Sheets
President Clinton
Richard Holbrooke
Russia
Serbia
Slobodan Milosevic
Spain
United Kingdom
Warren Christopher
-
https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/files/original/1e07f85597e7a0a171bbd0b1ad67cdf1.pdf
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PDF Text
Text
Clinton Presidential Records
Mandatory Declassification Review
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
Documents from this Mandatory Declassification Review were
released in full.
�D
Natl Sec Advisor
has seen
OFFICE
OF T H E VICE
PRESIDENT
W A S H I N G T O N
A p r i l 14, 1993
MEMORANDUM FOR ANTHONY LAKE
A s s i s t a n t t o t h e President
Security A f f a i r s
for National
MARK FOULON
Executive A s s i s t a n t t o t h e Undersecretary o f State
for P o l i t i c a l Affairs
JAMES LOCHER
Senior C i v i l i a n O f f i c i a l ; O f f i c e o f t h e Under
S e c r e t a r y o f Defense f o r P o l i c y
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f Conversation
A t t a c h e d f o r your i n f o r m a t i o n i s a memorandum o f
c o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e March 26, 1993, meeting between V i c e
P r e s i d e n t Gore and P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Please c o n t r o l t h i s document c l o s e l y and l i m i t i t s
d i s t r i b u t i o n w i t h i n your o r g a n i z a t i o n .
jeon S. F u e r t h
Assistant t o the Vice President
for National Security A f f a i r s
Attachment
CLASSIFIED BY: NSA
DECLASSIFY ON: OADR
OVP/NSA C o n t r o l No. 93X-0060
Copy
of
Copies
DKCMSSIF1ED
E.0.13526, Sec. 3.5(b)
While HoiucGuideliiira, Scptcmberll, 2006
VARA.DateMvi]
CLINTON LIBRARY P O O
HT
�iGRErP
OFFICE
OF
THE
VICE
PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON
A p r i l 14,
1993
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting between Vice P r e s i d e n t Gore and P r e s i d e n t
A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia and Herzegovina
PARTICIPANTS
United
States
The V i c e P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
R e g i n a l d Bartholomew, S p e c i a l Envoy t o t h e
Vance-Owen Talks
Leon F u e r t h , A s s i s t a n t t o t h e V i c e P r e s i d e n t f o r
National Security A f f a i r s
Jane H o l l , N a t i o n a l S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l S t a f f
Frank Pandolfe, M i l i t a r y Aide t o t h e
Vice President (notetaker)
Bosnia
A l i j a Izetbegovic, President
Haris S i l a j d z i c , Foreign M i n i s t e r
Mohamed Sacirbey, Ambassador t o t h e U n i t e d
Translator
PLACE:
V i c e P r e s i d e n t ' s West Wing O f f i c e
TIME:
10:50-11:45
DATE:
March 26,
Nations
a.m.
1993
V i c e P r e s i d e n t Gore: Welcome. P r e s i d e n t C l i n t o n understands and
a p p r e c i a t e s your courage and statesmanship.
I know what a
d i f f i c u l t and d e c i s i v e a c t i t was.
Events w i l l u n f o l d
d i f f e r e n t l y due t o your courageous a c t i o n . The key now w i l l be
t o get t h e Bosnian Serbs t o s i g n . Every e f f o r t w i l l be made t o
make t h a t happen, i n c l u d i n g a t i g h t e n i n g o f s a n c t i o n s t o i n c r e a s e
pressure on t h e Serbs. We have t o get Serb agreement i n o r d e r t o
undertake i m p l e m e n t a t i o n .
I n other n a t i o n s , support f o r
s a n c t i o n s and d i p l o m a t i c a l l y i s o l a t i n g t h e Serbs i s v e r y , v e r y
s t r o n g . A l l t h e more so now t h a t you have s i g n e d t h e agreement.
This i s a t u r n i n g p o i n t , b u t t h e r e i s much l e f t t o be done. I
know i t has been a t e r r i b l e burden f o r you t o conduct
n e g o t i a t i o n s w h i l e your people need r e l i e f .
Your courage i s
h e l p i n g achieve t h a t s t e p .
CLINTON.
DECLASSIFIED
DY PER E.O. 13526
�P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Our people l o s t c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e European
Community. We a p p r e c i a t e t h e American commitment t o b a c k i n g
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h i s agreement. We know you w i l l do your b e s t
t o implement t h e agreement. I don't b e l i e v e t h a t Karadzic w i l l
s i g n . We must c o n s i d e r what t o do i f t h e y do n o t s i g n . They
s h o u l d n o t be g i v e n much t i m e , which t h e y w i l l use t o c o n t i n u e
k i l l i n g and c o n d u c t i n g massive a t t a c k s i n E a s t e r n Bosnia. These
f o r c e s a r e coming from S e r b i a . Our i n f o r m a t i o n says t h a t 200
t a n k s , t r o o p s , and t r a i n i n g came from S e r b i a l a s t month. This
was t o launch a new o f f e n s i v e . The i n t e r n a t i o n a l community must
decide what i t w i l l do about t h i s .
The s i t u a t i o n i n Russia w i l l
c o m p l i c a t e t h i n g s . No one can p r e d i c t what w i l l happen t h e r e .
Bosnia i s a democratic c o u n t r y , a d e m o c r a t i c s t a t e .
Karadzic says Serbs cannot l i v e w i t h o t h e r , t h a t t h e y must l i v e
alone i n each town and v i l l a g e .
V i c e P r e s i d e n t Gore: Our f i r s t s t e p w i l l be t o make every e f f o r t
t o g e t Serbia t o s i g n t h e agreement. But you're r i g h t t h a t we
must imagine what w i l l happen i f they don't s i g n . A l s o what w i l l
happen i f t h e y do s i g n . I f t h e y don't s i g n , we w i l l t i g h t e n
s a n c t i o n s and t a k e steps t o achieve t h e d i p l o m a t i c i s o l a t i o n o f
Serbia.
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : I a l s o w i s h t o thank you, m i s t e r
P r e s i d e n t , f o r your courageous d e c i s i o n . I t i s n o t an empty
d i p l o m a t i c g e s t u r e . I t r e g i s t e r e d w i t h t h e Russians. We w i l l
press f o r passage o f t h e No F l y Zone w i t h i n one week. The No F l y
Zone i s i m p o r t a n t s y m b o l i c a l l y ; i t may a l s o h e l p somewhat on t h e
ground. We hope t h i s s e r i e s o f steps w i l l pay o f f . I f n o t ,
w e ' l l see what o t h e r s t e p s a r e r e q u i r e d . W e ' l l i n c r e a s e t h e
pressure i f Serbia doesn't s i g n . We w i l l c o n s u l t w i t h our a l l i e s
about l i f t i n g t h e arms embargo. We cannot a c t u n i l a t e r a l l y on
t h i s i s s u e , however. We w i l l commence d i s c u s s i o n s i f t h e y don't
s i g n soon.
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : We would welcome a s t a t e m e n t from you
which s u p p o r t s o u r a c t i o n .
People back home have doubts.
We
have had bad experiences w i t h p a s t n e g o t i a t i o n s . People who a r e
s u f f e r i n g a r e unsure t h a t t h i s s i g n a t u r e i s a s t e p towards peace.
But they t r u s t t h e US; t h e y do n o t t r u s t t h e European Community.
A g e n e r a l statement o f what you w i l l do would be h e l p f u l and
appreciated.
V i c e P r e s i d e n t Gore: S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r has a l r e a d y r e l e a s e d
such a statement.
I w i l l make a statement t h a t t h i s i s a s t e p
towards peace, as w e l l . T h i s was t h e r i g h t d e c i s i o n , t h e r i g h t
s t e p . I am convinced o f t h a t .
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : I have no doubt t h a t American
diplomacy helped us reach t h i s agreement. I thank S e c r e t a r y
C h r i s t o p h e r and Ambassador Bartholomew. I t ' s up t o t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community now. Our r e l a t i o n s w i t h C r o a t i a a r e v e r y
i m p o r t a n t a t t h i s p o i n t . Many t h i n g s i n t h e f i e l d and o t h e r w i s e
CLIN
�depend on our r e l a t i o n s w i t h C r o a t i a . Your h e l p i n t h i s i s s u e i s
crucial.
C r o a t i a n l e a d e r s have a way o f b a c k i n g away under
p r e s s u r e and then coming back l a t e r .
Ambassador Bartholomew: I agree t h a t t h e Bosnian-Croat
r e l a t i o n s h i p i s c r u c i a l and t h a t we can h e l p .
V i c e P r e s i d e n t Gore:
How?
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : We have had t r o u b l e w i t h extreme
n a t i o n a l i s t C r o a t i a n groups i n Bosnia. A d i r e c t reminder t o
Zagreb can h e l p .
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Cooperations w i t h Zagreb i s v i t a l .
Other
than S a r a j e v o , no a i r p o r t i n Bosnia i s w o r k i n g . A l l
communications comes t h r o u g h e i t h e r S e r b i a o r C r o a t i a . They use
t h i s t o g i v e concessions t o n a t i o n a l i s t C r o a t i a n s . This c o u l d
lead t o a wider c o n f l i c t .
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : We are i n a v e r y desperate f i n a n c i a l
s i t u a t i o n . We would l i k e f o r Arab f r i e n d s t o c o n t r i b u t e . They
are r e l u c t a n t t o i n t e r f e r e i n Europe u n l e s s i n v i t e d by t h e White
House. T h i s would be a v e r y c o n c r e t e way t o h e l p us. Today i n
Bosnia t h e r e i s no p r o d u c t i o n , t h e r e i s no income, y e t people
need t o e a t . A l s o , opening your embassy i n Sarajevo would be
v e r y h e l p f u l , t h e EC would f o l l o w .
Ambassador Bartholomew: The s e c u r i t y dimension i s what he's
d e s c r i b i n g here.
These moves would have t h e impact d e s c r i b e d .
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : What c i t i e s ?
Foreign M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c :
Sarajevo.
Ambassador Bartholomew: I've been t h r o u g h bombardments as bad as
Sarajevo.
There are ways t o p r o t e c t our people.
I t would be a
v e r y h e l p f u l symbol.
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : We would l i k e t o combine
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e agreement w i t h t h e No F l y Zone; t h a t would
give i t t e e t h .
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : I d i d n ' t want t o l i n k t h e No F l y Zone w i t h
something e l s e . That c o u l d cause d e l a y . Would you s t i l l want i t
i f i t d e l a y s t h e No F l y Zone by a week?
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : We
can w a i t .
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : The d e l a y m i g h t g i v e t h e Serbs a chance t o
s i g n ; t o come t o t h e i r senses.
Ambassador Bartholomew: I f e e l we s h o u l d press f o r t h e No F l y
Zone as soon as p o s s i b l e .
C L I N M m i f f i f P OO O Y
HTCP
�"Trr ', •
Secretary Christopher: I l i k e the
• ,
1
concept.
V i c e P r e s i d e n t Gore: I t i s a v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g
concept.
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : My obsession i s Eastern Bosnia. H o r r i b l e
t h i n g s w i l l f o l l o w t h e f a l l of towns t h e r e . 100,000 people w i l l
f l e e t o C r o a t i a ; t o t r y t o escape. Aggression must be stopped
w h i l e we w a i t f o r t h e Serbs t o s i g n . Otherwise t h e r e w i l l be t h e
b i g g e s t human t r a g e d y i n Europe s i n c e t h e Second World War.
The
Bosnian Army cannot f i g h t f o r months w i t h o u t h e l p .
Ambassador S a c i r b e y : The
arms embargo i s t h e problem.
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Even a p a r t i a l l i f t i n g o f t h e embargo,
perhaps ammunition, would be v e r y h e l p f u l .
V i c e P r e s i d e n t Gore: We are f o l l o w i n g a sequence. F i r s t t r y t o
convince t h e Serbs t o s i g n t h e agreement. Once t h e y s i g n , t h e US
i s committed t o h e l p implement t h e agreement. We can t u r n t o
l i f t i n g t h e arms embargo a f t e r we've made e f f o r t s t o get t h e
Serbs t o s i g n .
Ambassador Bartholomew: We've a l r e a d y t o l d our a l l i e s t h a t
w i l l l o o k a t l i f t i n g t h e embargo i f t h e Serbs don't s i g n .
we
Ambassador Sacirbey: We're p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h our s u r v i v a l .
The
next s t e p i s d e f i n i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e s u n d e r l y i n g our c o n s t i t u t i o n .
I f t h e Serbs s i g n , w e ' l l w i s h f o r your s t r o n g endorsement of
implementing democratic p r i n c i p l e s r a t h e r than a c c e p t i n g a p u r e l y
p o l i t i c a l document.
F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : We do n o t want t o t a l i t a r i a n i s m o r
n a t i o n a l i s m . We want democracy.
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : We s u f f e r e d t y r a n n y under t h e o t h e r
system, now we want democracy.
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : What i s your assessment o f t h e s i t u a t i o n
a t Sarajevo and a t t h e Tulza a i r p o r t ?
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Sarajevo i s v e r y dangerous; t h e y may s p l i t
t h e c i t y i n t o two p a r t s . S e v e r a l days ago t h e r e was t h e w o r s t
s h e l l i n g s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e war.
Some o f our o f f i c e r s
and s o l d i e r s b e l i e v e t h e y w i l l t r y t o occupy t h e c i t y .
But t o
t r y t o t a k e t h e c i t y i t would be v e r y d i f f i c u l t f o r them and us.
They would have t o f i g h t house t o house. Yesterday t h e s i t u a t i o n
was a b i t more calm.
Use o f t h e a i r f i e l d a t Tulza would be v e r y h e l p f u l .
S u p p l i e s c o u l d come t o us. Use o f t h e a i r f i e l d would a l s o be a
v a l u a b l e s i g n t h a t t h i n g s are b e i n g done. Yes, we can h o l d i t .
I t i s n o t now i n d i r e c t danger.
CLI NTG^MffltPf-PHOTOCOPY
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At t h i s p o i n t P r e s i d e n t C l i n t o n e n t e r e d t h e room and shook
hands w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c , a f t e r which t h e y d e p a r t e d
t o g e t h e r t o t h e Oval O f f i c e .
Approved By:
Prepared By:
CLINTONHH
0T0C0PY
�aura.
6787
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D C. 20506
September 9, 1993
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM H. ITOH
FROM:
JENONNE WALKER
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia
& Herzegovina on September 8, 1993
A t t a c h e d i s t h e Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e meeting
between t h e P r e s i d e n t and P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c on September 8,
1993.
We suggest t h a t t h e Memorandum be p r o v i d e d t o t h e
Department o f S t a t e .
RECOMMENDATIONS
That you s i g n t h e a t t a c h e d t r a n s m i t t a l memo t o Marc Grossman.
Approve
Disapprove
That t h e a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n be f i l e d f o r t h e
record.
Approve
Disapprove
Attachments
Tab I
Memorandum t o S t a t e
Tab A
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
DECLASSIFIED
-SEGRET
Declassify
mm
�-SECRET
6787
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
September 10, 1993
EYES ONLY
MEMORANDUM FOR MARC GROSSMAN
Executive S e c r e t a r y
Department o f S t a t e
Memorandum o f Conversation from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
September 8 Meeting w i t h Bosnia-Herzegovina
President Izetbegovic^^S^T
SUBJECT:
Attached f o r eyes o n l y o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e i s t h e
memorandum o f c o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s September 8
meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia-Herzegovina.
W i l l i a m H. I t o h
Executive Secretary
Attachment
Tab A
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
DECLASSFFIED
£.0.13526,80.3.5(b)
Declassify
^
0 C C^PP-NARA, Dl JsMM
ae
low- o%\-^
�6787
.SECREJ.
THE W H I T E H O U S E
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina
PARTICIPANTS
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r
National Security A f f a i r s
Charles Redman, S p e c i a l Envoy t o t h e Former
Yugoslavia
Jenonne Walker, NSC S t a f f , Notetaker
A l i j a Izetbegovic, President
Ejup Ganic, V i c e - P r e s i d e n t
Muhammed S a c i r b e y , Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
t o t h e U n i t e d Nations
Dr. Nedzib S a c i r b e y , Personal R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
to the President
Ivan M i s i c , Deputy Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
t o t h e UN
Sabina B e r b e r o v i c , I n t e r p r e t e r
September 8, 1993, "5: 00-5 :30pm
Oval O f f i c e
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
President Izetbegovic: (beginning translation indistinct). . .
important that the U.S. be ready to participate in guaranteeing
an agreement if we ask with an international force. Our people
believe in the United States. Unfortunately our people do not
trust the Europeans and we know you cannot act without them and
that (Congressional?) support is a problem. But we hope we can
count on the participation of the U.S. in implementing an
agreement. -(6 )—
As t o t h e agreement, d u r i n g t h e l a s t round we d e f i n e d our minimum
of minimums and we cannot g i v e t h a t up. The problem i s , i f t h i s
minimum o f minimums i s n o t accepted, what happens n e x t . We have
made major concessions i n a g r e e i n g t o t h e d i v i s i o n o f Bosnia i n t o
t h r e e r e p u b l i c s . We hoped t h a t a f t e r t h a t , t h e o t h e r s would g i v e
us a f a i r map. We thought t h a t t h e areas o f t h e Serb r e p u b l i c
would be made up from S e r b - m a j o r i t y t e r r i t o r y .
But t h e map shows
t h a t t h e Serb r e p u b l i c would i n c l u d e S e r b - m a j o r i t y t e r r i t o r y and
M u s l i m - m a j o r i t y t e r r i t o r y t h a t had been s u b j e c t t o e t h n i c
c l e a n s i n g and genocide. The Serbs a r e t r y i n g t o keep t e r r i t o r y
taken from Muslims, around t h e D r i n a R i v e r , which were 65-70%
Muslim b e f o r e they were e t h n i c a l l y cleansed and t h e people k i l l e d
or d r i v e n o u t . - f & t "
GCB
ERT
p
JNTHK
D e c l a s s i f y orio L(WB|RI U \
unrnrnnv DECLASSIFIED
HU ULUrY PER E.O. 1 5 6
32
�ff
-CEORET
.
2
This i s unacceptable morally and p o l i t i c a l l y . Morally because
rewarding ethnic cleansing and genocide would s e t a dangerous
precedent f o r the future; p r a c t i c a l l y because people waiting to
return to t h e i r homes -- h a l f a m i l l i o n Bosnian Muslims now are
s c a t t e r e d i n A u s t r i a , Canada, Germany, even the U.S., A u s t r a l i a ,
and elsewhere, refugees waiting to go back -- they cannot return
to t h e i r homes i f the t e r r i t o r y remains c o n t r o l l e d by Serbs.
This i s why Geneva broke down. f S T ^
It would be useful if the U.S. in the meantime put pressure on
Serbia on these issues and on the Croats on an exit to the
Adriatic. This is our second demand. Bosnia-Herzgevonia has an
exit to the sea; it has been reduced year by year to 2 9
kilometers. We are asking for 10-14 kilometers. Without that,
the Republic of Bosnia cannot function. Se we need pressure on
the Croats. 4£)
The people n e g o t i a t i n g w i t h us who a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e war
crimes must be brought t o j u s t i c e .
I am n o t making judgments.
People a r e i n n o c e n t u n t i l proven g u i l t y ; t h a t i s f o r t h e Courts
t o decide.
But i f they a r e g u i l t y t h e y s h o u l d n o t be redeemed by
a c c e p t i n g n e g o t i a t i o n s . This i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t . As i m p o r t a n t as
i t was a f t e r World War I I t o p u n i s h Nazi war c r i m i n a l s .
I t is
v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o p r e v e n t f u r t h e r events o f t h i s s o r t because war
crimes c o n t i n u e and many hope t h a t because they a r e n e g o t i a t i n g
w i t h us t h e y w i l l n o t be judged and punished.
T h i s i s one reason
we r e f u s e d t o n e g o t i a t e a t t h e same t a b l e w i t h them. I t must be
c l e a r t h a t those r e s p o n s i b l e f o r war crimes w i l l be punished,
even i f t h e y a r e Bosnian Muslims. I do n o t doubt t h a t t h e U.S.
w i l l s u p p o r t us i n a s k i n g f o r t h i s because American p o l i t i c s
s t i l l has r e t a i n e d c e r t a i n morals. -(3)•
I have d i s c u s s e d w i t h t h e U.S. S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e about p r o t e c t e d
zones. Sarajevo i s one. I t i s s t i l l under s i e g e . We would be
v e r y g r a t e f u l i f t h e U.S. would c o n s i d e r measures t o s t o p t h e
s i e g e . I do n o t expect an answer, b u t please c o n s i d e r what c o u l d
be done. One way would be f o r t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o make
d e c i s i o n s on how t o implement R e s o l u t i o n 836. I t was passed f i v e
months ago b u t n o t h i n g has been done. I t i s j u s t a p r o c l a m a t i o n ,
a piece o f paper, w h i l e Sarajevo remains under s i e g e . The U.S.
would do a l o t t o help i f i t c o u l d c o n t r i b u t e t o l i f t i n g t h e
s i e g e . I understand t h a t t h e U.S. cannot do i t alone b u t can you
c o n t r i b u t e t o s o l v i n g t h i s ? 4^-)
The P r e s i d e n t : As I t o l d you e a r l y t h i s year, I b e l i e v e t h e U.S.
should p a r t i c i p a t e i n h e l p i n g keep t h e peace i f you reach an
agreement t h a t i s f a i r , do i t w i l l i n g l y , and i f you want us t o do
it.
For me t h e r e are two c o n d i t i o n s . I t must be done by NATO
r a t h e r t h a n t h e UN because I never want t o be i n a p o s i t i o n l i k e
b e f o r e , when we wanted t o l i f t t h e arms embargo and t h e Russians,
B r i t i s h , and French o b j e c t e d . The B r i t i s h and French a l s o a r e i n
NATO b u t t h e U.S. can l e a d NATO. Second, I cannot do i t unless
Congress w i l l support i t and p r o v i d e t h e money. I t was v e r y
i m p o r t a n t f o r you t o say p u b l i c l y t h a t you want us t o , because so
many i n Congress do n o t want us t o . Those who never wanted us t o
do a n y t h i n g i n Bosnia, and now those who supported l i f t and
-6-ECRET
CLINTON kteEmV-WOTOCOPY
�—seegcr
3
s t r i k e b u t because t h a t was not p o s s i b l e now f e a r t h a t no
agreement w i l l be e n f o r c e a b l e , w i l l b r i n g peace. So what you
s a i d i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t . ^<C)—
As t o t e r r i t o r y , we b e l i e v e you s h o u l d have some access t o t h e
A d r i a t i c and t h e l a r g e s t p o s s i b l e t e r r i t o r y .
We have done what
we c o u l d t o push t h e Serbs and Croats.
B u t I do not b e l i e v e
t h e r e w i l l be any m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n t o secure more. So t h e
most leverage we have i s now, when t h e y worry whether I w i l l be
a b l e t o persuade o t h e r s i f t h e y resume f i g h t i n g .
They know t h a t
we have a s l i g h t l y b e t t e r p o s i t i o n w i t h NATO r a t h e r than w i t h t h e
UN i n t h i s . _f6-)
But I am v e r y w o r r i e d about t h e w i n t e r because I never can be
c e r t a i n what t h e UK, France, and Russia w i l l do.
So I do n o t
b e l i e v e t h e r e w i l l be any use o f f o r c e from o u t s i d e t o change t h e
s i t u a t i o n a t the n e g o t i a t i n g t a b l e .
So my s t r o n g recommendation
i s t o get t h e b e s t agreement you can, knowing t h a t t h e U.S. w i l l
do what i t can t o push t h e Serbs and Croats. —(-S-f
As t o war crimes, we s u p p o r t your p r o p o s a l . _(S)
About airpower to l i f t the siege of Sarajevo.
We w i l l continue
what we s a i d , but you should remember t h a t even under the NATO
agreement our a l l i e s worry about t h e i r s o l d i e r s on the ground. I
know we can t r i g g e r airpower i f the Serbs resume what they were
doing, but we are u n l i k e l y to be able to respond to what they a r e
doing now. f-S-J
This whole business i s d i f f i c u l t f o r me. I never understood why
they would n o t vote t o l i f t t h e arms embargo. That was when John
Major t o l d me h i s government would f a l l .
I t h o u g h t t h a t was j u s t
crazy. •fS-)'
But t h e b e s t t h i n g I can do f o r you and t o be your f r i e n d i s t o
t e l l you I have no reason t o b e l i e v e we can l i f t t h e arms embargo
or o f f e r you more on a i r s t r i k e s than NATO's p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n .
The b e s t t h i n g would be t o get Congress t o l e t me h e l p implement
an agreement. I w i l l do a l l I can.
I w i l l be t h e r e f o r you.
(At t h i s p o i n t , Ambassador Sacirbey gave t h e P r e s i d e n t a map
showing t h e Owen-Stoltenberg p r o p o s a l s and a d d i t i o n a l t e r r i t o r y
wanted by t h e Bosnian government.) - - T
(S
Vice P r e s i d e n t Ganic ( p o i n t i n g t o t h e map):
t h a t have been e t h n i c a l l y cleansed. _(. )
these are t h e areas
q
President Izetbegovic:
taken place. Ir&T'
Areas in which the heaviest genocide has
Vice P r e s i d e n t Ganic: The problem i s , i f they do n o t accept o u r
minimum o f minimums, who w i l l s u p p o r t us. This ( a g a i n p o i n t i n g
t o t h e map) i s the minimum we can s e l l our people.
We had hoped
o t h e r Muslim areas would be p u t under t h e UN. B u t i f they do n o t
-SBeiRBT"
CLIN
�-eecCTT?
.
4
accept o u r minimum, and j u s t c o n t i n u e t o take more t e r r i t o r y ,
someone has t o t e l l them t o s t o p t h e o f f e n s i v e . -fS-)Ambassador Sacirbey:
I n t h e East some Muslim enclaves would be
c o m p l e t e l y i s o l a t e d ; e c o n o m i c a l l y and s o c i a l l y i n v i a b l e .
They
would have t o be w e l f a r e s t a t e .
I do n o t know who would p r o t e c t
them. I t i s n o t j u s t a m a t t e r o f f a i r n e s s t o t h e Bosnians b u t
a l s o a problem o f who would keep t h e peace and how. J^S )—
Vice P r e s i d e n t Ganic: And i f we s i g n , we would need t o know t h a t
t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community w i l l s u p p o r t and implement an
agreement.
Because we would have g i v e n up so much. We would be
a t i n y c o u n t r y between two more p o w e r f u l ones.
So o u r s i g n a t u r e
would have value o n l y i f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community would
implement t h e agreement because we would have g i v e n up o u r
n a t i o n a l and l e g a l i d e n t i t y . -fS-)
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : You c o u l d s i g n b u t c o n d i t i o n your
s i g n a t u r e on whether t h e r e would be i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . -^S-f
Vice P r e s i d e n t Ganic: The e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g , i n t r o d u c e d by
Belgrade, i s l i k e f a s c i s m i n 1939, because t h e y a l s o achieved
most o f t h e t e r r i t o r y by e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g . I f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l
community accepts i t i n Bosnia, i t w i l l spread everywhere. So
t h i s i s an h i s t o r i c moment f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community.
Perhaps I am being u n d i p l o m a t i c . But everyone i n Bosnia sees t h e
U.S. as f r i e n d l y . We i d e n t i f y w i t h another m u l t i e t h n i c
community.
But we have few exchanges w i t h you. To have t h e CIA
o r o t h e r s j u s t t o g i v e them i n f o r m a t i o n . Germany i s c l o s e t o
C r o a t i a , Russia t o S e r b i a , t h e UK and France somewhat c l o s e t o
S e r b i a . We Bosnians a r e alone, and as a m u l t i e t h n i c c o u n t r y we
want t o cooperate w i t h t h e U.S. i n any way t h a t would be u s e f u l
t o you. -(6)
Secretary
implement
primarily
t o you.
Mr. Lake:
Christopher:
I f t h e r e i s an agreement and we h e l p
i t , i t would be o u r i n t e n t f o r U.S. f o r c e s t o be
i n t h e Muslim areas.
So t h a t would make us v e r y c l o s e
fS-)That has been t h e b a s i s o f NATO p l a n n i n g .
•^S-p'
The P r e s i d e n t : And beyond m i l i t a r y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t h e r e w i l l be
a b i g r e b u i l d i n g j o b t o do and we want t o be h e l p f u l .
About
Germany, i t i s t h e o n l y European c o u n t r y t h a t s t o o d by me i n
t r y i n g t o l i f t t h e arms embargo. While Kohl f e e l s c l o s e t o t h e
C r o a t i a n people he t r u s t s your l e a d e r s h i p . So I t h i n k we can p u t
together b u i l d i n g blocks, not only m i l i t a r y s e c u r i t y b u t
r e b u i l d i n g . There i s a f e e l i n g among many c o u n t r i e s t h a t what
happened t o you was wrong.
Ambassador Sacirbey: It is especially important for the U.S. to
administer Sarajevo. It risks being divided. U.S. leadership in
the city would help ensure that there will be no more Berlins in
Europe. It would be a clear signal that there is a change. The
people would feel there is a new peace. • (£•)-'
-&BCRET
CLINTON UBR^rWOTOCOPY
�Mr. Lake: The French a l s o f e e l s t r o n g l y about Sarajevo and w i l l
wish t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n some way b u t we can work o u t something t o
share i n some way. We want t o make sure t h e y s t a y engaged i n
some way. -fG-)~
The P r e s i d e n t :
I understand
and t h i n k we can work something o u t .
Ambassador Sacirbey:
The siege o f Sarajevo has n o t been l i f t e d .
The Serbs have i n f a c t t i g h t e n e d t h e i r g r i p .
I t i s n o t so
v i s i b l e because t h e y a r e n o t squeezing v e r y hard y e t b u t when
w i n t e r comes i f they squeeze j u s t a l i t t l e t i g h t e r . . . .so you
must be v e r y s e n s i t i v e t h a t i t i s n o t j u s t a m a t t e r o f s h e l l i n g
b u t c u t t i n g o f t h e gas, e l e c t r i c i t y , n o t enough h u m a n i t a r i a n
s u p p l i e s g e t t i n g i n can cause slow s t r a n g u l a t i o n . (S)
Vice P r e s i d e n t Ganic: They use t h e slow s t r a n g u l a t i o n t a c t i c t o
p r o l o n g our death and a v o i d NATO a i r s t r i k e s b u t t h e end r e s u l t
i s t h e same. -(G)-'
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : They a r e i n a l l t h e mountains around
Sarajevo.
I i n s i s t e d t o K a r a d j i c i n Geneva t h a t t h e y w i t h d r a w
and he s a i d they would someday b u t n o t now. I f we o n l y had some
m u n i t i o n s we c o u l d r e s o l v e t h e problem because o u r people a r e
ready t o f i g h t .
But we have a shortage o f m u n i t i o n s and
ammunition because a l l t h e roads a r e c u t . We have r e s i s t e d f o r
17 months and I do n o t know what w i l l happen i f o u r Army
c o l l a p s e s . -fS-f
Vice P r e s i d e n t Ganic: And we a r e a s k i n g j u s t f o r one grenade o r
r o c k e t f o r each Serbian t a n k . For r i f l e s .
Not t o make advances
b u t j u s t t o defend o u r s e l v e s . We a r e unable t o defend o u r s e l v e s
i n t h e h e a r t o f Europe. •fS-)*
M i l o s e v i c has c r e a t e d g r e a t e r Serbia t h r o u g h e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g .
Now they a r e b l a c k m a i l i n g us on t h i s . M i l o s e v i c i s t e l l i n g h i s
o p p o s i t i o n t h a t he g o t t h e t e r r i t o r y t h e y wanted. They a r e
s u f f e r i n g from s a n c t i o n s b u t t h i n g s w i l l even o u t i n t h e end and
they w i l l keep t h e t e r r i t o r y . -(6)
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : The u n f o r t u n a t e r e a l i t y i s t h a t a
reasonable s e t t l e m e n t i s your b e s t hope. Even i f you a v o i d
s t r a n g u l a t i o n , t h a t i s not a long-term s o l u t i o n .
I have sent
cables t o t h e Serbs, Croats, a l l our NATO a l l i e s .
We a r e doing
a l l we can b u t t h e t i m e i s now. You may n o t be s t r o n g e r i n t h e
f u t u r e . When w i n t e r comes, I am a f r a i d t h a t your b a r g a i n i n g
p o s i t i o n w i l l be l e s s s t r o n g . A l l t h e o t h e r t h i n g s we have been
t a l k i n g about a r e p a s t wrongs, b u t t h e i s s u e now i s t h e
n e g o t i a t i n g t a b l e . -fS)
The President: We will see what we can do on the map. Maybe we
can influence it a little more and we will try. But negotiations
are your best hope. And I will do all I can to see that the
Americans are where you want them in implementation. ^S y
CLINTON tiBR^rfWOTOCOPY
�-SECRET
6
Ambassador Sacirbey: W i t h i n t h i s Bosnian r e p u b l i c w i l l be over
h a l f a m i l l i o n non-Muslims. So 50% o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n i s expected
t o l i v e on 29% o f t h e t e r r i t o r y , which has l i t t l e a g r i c u l t u r e and
i t s i n d u s t r y and c i t i e s have been d e s t r o y e d . The areas t h a t may
n o t be p u t i n t h e hands o f t h e Bosnian government s h o u l d be taken
from t h e Serbs who conducted e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g . Refugees would
have no c o n f i d e n c e i n going home i f Serbs c o n t r o l l e d t h e
territory.
I have discussed w i t h Ambassador Redman i n t e r n a t i o n a l
c o n t r o l o f those t e r r i t o r i e s so refugees can go back t o t h e i r
homes and t h e i s s u e o f s o v e r e i g n t y can be r e s o l v e d l a t e r .
)
President Izetbegovic: It is important than refugees have the
confidence to return home. Jr&f
Thank you f o r your time Mr. P r e s i d e n t .
The P r e s i d e n t :
Thank you and good l u c k .
(U)
(U)
(General handshakes and goodbyes)
CECRET
CLINTON
H0T0C0PY
�JL m \\JL.\'i
CONriBEMEJAL
7756
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
September 26, 1994
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM H. ITOH
FROM:
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f Conversation from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina on September 25, 1994
A t t a c h e d i s t h e Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e meeting
between t h e P r e s i d e n t and P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c on September 25,
1994. We suggest t h a t t h e Memorandum be p r o v i d e d t o t h e
Department o f S t a t e .
RECOMMENDATION
That you s i g n t h e a t t a c h e d t r a n s m i t t a l memo t o S t a t e .
Approve
Disapprove
That t h e a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n be f i l e d f o r t h e
record.
Approve
ML
Disapprove
Attachments
Tab I
Memorandum f o r S t a t e
Tab A
Memorandum o f Conversation
DECLASSIFIED
mm?.6.s^.ij(b)
-CONFIDEMUALp T K T H K
D e c l a s s i f y oru L £)M)R U >
D
H O T O S B P Y ^ Dt J^£/l|
a
e
�-eeNFIDENTIAL.
7756
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
September 27, 1994
MEMORANDUM FOR KENNETH C. BRILL
Executive Secretary
Department o f S t a t e
SUBJECT:
Memorandum of Conversation from the President's
September 25 Meeting with Bosnia-Herzegovina
President Izetbegovic {prf
Attached f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o f the Secretary o f State i s t h e
memorandum o f c o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s September 25
meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia - Herzegovina. (
W i l l i a m H. I t o h
Executive Secretary
Attachment
Tab A
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
mw LIBRARY P
H
CONFIDENTIAL"
D e c l a s s i f y orW LOAD
DECLASSIFIED
F-0.13526, Sec. 3.5 (H
iwdelincs, Scptcmberll
JLNARA, Date_l«i£/
�1
-tJUWL l U L N T l A L
7756
THE
WHITE H O U S E
WAS
HIN G T O N
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c o f BosniaHerzegovina
PARTICIPANTS
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r
National Security A f f a i r s
Madeleine A l b r i g h t , Ambassador t o t h e UN
R i c h a r d Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC ( N o t e t a k e r )
President A l i j a Izetbegovic
Prime M i n i s t e r H a r i s S i l a j d z i c
Defense M i n i s t e r Jadranko P r l i c
Sven A l k a l a j , Ambassador t o t h e U.S.
Muhamed Sacirbey, Ambassador t o the UN
( a l s o s e r v i n g as i n t e r p r e t e r )
Dr. Begic, P o l i t i c a l A d v i s e r t o t h e P r e s i d e n t
DATE, TIME,
and PLACE:
September 25, 1994, 4:35-5:10 p.m.,
W a l d o r f - A s t o r i a H o t e l , New York
The P r e s i d e n t : C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s on g e t t i n g o u t o f Sarajevo.
I've been f o l l o w i n g events c l o s e l y and have been very
d i s t u r b e d by developments -- e s p e c i a l l y by events i n
Sarajevo.
I understand Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c and
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r spoke a couple o f days ago about your
idea f o r going t o t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l f o r a postponement o f
l i f t i n g t h e arms embargo by f o u r t o s i x months. I b e l i e v e
i t ' s a good i d e a . I'm n o t sure what t h e B r i t i s h , French and
Russians w i l l say.
But I would l i k e t o d i s c u s s t h e d e t a i l s
of how t o do i t and what e l s e we can do t o h e l p . ^C)P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : They have no reason f o r l e a v i n g
because o f t h e coming o f weapons. But I must t e l l you t h a t
a major motive behind o u r p r o p o s a l i s t h e maintenance o f
UNPROFOR w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y . I f they w i l l n o t s t a y , then
t h e r e i s no reason t o proceed w i t h a d e l a y measure. I t
seems t o us t h a t we should a w a i t t h e i r response b e f o r e I
express o u r s u p p o r t p u b l i c l y . We would expect them t o
support t h e UN S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n . We a r e making a
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concession t o g a i n t h e i r acceptance so we would not be
s a t i s f i e d w i t h o p p o s i t i o n or even a b s t e n t i o n . We need t o
get n i n e v o t e s f o r t h e r e s o l u t i o n . *(C)
Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c :
This i s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t i s s u e .
We must be v e r y c l e a r about t e r m i n o l o g y . This i s not a
postponement of l i f t , b u t o n l y of t h e o p e r a t i o n a l s i d e .
The
embargo would t e c h n i c a l l y be l i f t e d , w i t h t h e o p e r a t i o n a l
s i d e pushed down t h e road. There s h o u l d be a commitment by
your a l l i e s t o l i f t t h e embargo t h r o u g h a S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l
r e s o l u t i o n passed two weeks a f t e r October 15.
The embargo
would be t e c h n i c a l l y l i f t e d , w i t h t h e e f f e c t i v e date
delayed. -fG-)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : We b e l i e v e t h a t t h e f o r m a l l i f t i n g
of t h e arms embargo and t h e a c t u a l d e l i v e r y of arms or t h e
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of l i f t c o u l d be separated by f o u r t o s i x
months. J u s t t o make t h i n g s c l e a r : t h e arms embargo needs
t o be l i f t e d today.
But i n f a c t , i m p l e m e n t a t i o n can be s i x
months o f f . This i s our i d e a . -(C)
Secretary Christopher:
Now t h a t we've heard from P r e s i d e n t
I z e t b e g o v i c , I w i l l c o n t a c t Hurd and Juppe p r o m p t l y t o work
out an u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h them. What P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c
has s a i d today i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h what I d i s c u s s e d w i t h
Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c on F r i d a y .
{^)
The President:
today?
l&r
Can we get an answer from Hurd and Juppe
Secretary Christopher:
Maybe by e a r l y tomorrow morning.
A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y Holbrooke: We can d e f i n i t e l y get a
commitment t h a t t h e y w i l l s t a y i n UNPROFOR. I t i s l e s s c l e a r
cut whether we can get a commitment t o v o t e f o r a UN
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n whose words have not y e t been
worked o u t . At a minimum, t h e S e c r e t a r y can get a
commitment not t o oppose. Then w e ' l l have t o move f o r w a r d
from t h e r e . On t h e key p o i n t -- w i l l t h e y s t a y -- t h e
S e c r e t a r y w i l l be a b l e t o get t h i s b e f o r e c l o s e of business
tomorrow, and we can then make i t p u b l i c a f t e r your speech.
I f we don't get t h i s commitment, then what you have
suggested f a l l s a p a r t . So a p u b l i c commitment t o s t a y i s
a c h i e v a b l e ; t h e o t h e r p o i n t i s going t o be harder. -fG-}—
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : We w i l l s t a r t w o r k i n g on t h e wording
of t h e r e s o l u t i o n p r o m p t l y .
The B r i t i s h and French w i l l be
r e l i e v e d and view your p r o p o s a l p o s i t i v e l y .
I don't t h i n k
they want t o w i t h d r a w t h e i r f o r c e s -- they f e e l an
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o b l i g a t i o n t o s t a y . But they see l i f t i n g o t h e arms embargo
as p r o v i d i n g them no c h o i c e i n t h e m a t t e r . -(C)-P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I would l i k e t o remind you o f t h e
o t h e r measures t h a t t h e Contact Group committed t o . There
was t h e i s s u e o f e n f o r c i n g and e x t e n d i n g t h e e x c l u s i o n
zones, b u t i n f a c t n o t h i n g has happened on t h i s .
Can we
expect more a c t i v e b e h a v i o r by t h e U n i t e d States on t h i s ?
There is also the question of Sarajevo. In fact, a point in
NATO's February 9 decision seems to have been forgotten.
Point four spoke of the need to prevent the strangulation of
Sarajevo and declared that NATO was ready to use air strikes
to prevent strangulation. Radical measures are needed to
open the roads and free the city from the siege. In a few
days people will be dying. The situation is the worst ever
in Sarajevo. Of course, we have the basis for action in the
NATO communique -- there was a consensus on this point. So
we are just asking why NATO has not acted. -(Gf
One o f t h e ways t h e s t r a n g u l a t i o n can be r e l i e v e d would be
t o open an access road t o Sarajevo.
A five-kilometer
d e m i l i t a r i z e d area c o u l d be e s t a b l i s h e d . We would be
prepared t o p u l l back our f o r c e s i f t h e Serbs a l s o p u l l e d
back. I n f a c t , d i s c u s s i o n s have been going on f o r a l o n g
t i m e about t h e d e m i l i t a r i z a t i o n o f t h e whole o f Sarajevo,
but these have gone s l o w l y and w i t h o u t any r e s u l t s .
Now we
are f o c u s i n g on t h e idea o f a b e l t , f i v e k i l o m e t e r s wide, t o
f a c i l i t a t e s u p p l i e s . I n t h i s way, t h e s i t u a t i o n can be
eased! Of course, t h i s i s n o t a f i n a l s o l u t i o n o r t h e
s a l v a t i o n o f Sarajevo, b u t i t would a l l o w some t i m e f o r t h e
s i t u a t i o n t o be improved. We need your s u p p o r t .
fC)••
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : When I c o n t a c t t h e French and
B r i t i s h f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r s r e g a r d i n g your p l a n r e g a r d i n g t h e
arms embargo, I am going t o ask f o r t h e i r commitment t o
e n f o r c e t h e e x c l u s i o n zones -- which t h e y haven't done so
far.
I w i l l a l s o be i n t o u c h w i t h t h e Germans. The
P r e s i d e n t j u s t met w i t h B o u t r o s - G h a l i and pressed him v e r y
hard f o r f i r m e r enforcement,
The P r e s i d e n t :
I t o l d B o u t r o s - G h a l i t h a t we a r e v e r y upset
about t h e s i t u a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y i n Sarajevo.
Every day o u r
p i l o t s a r e ready t o go. I t ' s t e r r i b l e t h a t we haven't been
more a g g r e s s i v e so f a r . B o u t r o s - G h a l i s a i d t h e French and
B r i t i s h always stop him. I b e l i e v e t h e i r t r o o p s a r e i n more
danger when we don't r e t a l i a t e .
So I agree e n t i r e l y .
Secretary Christopher w i l l t a l k t o the other f o r e i g n
m i n i s t e r s . B o u t r o s - G h a l i s a i d he won't o b j e c t t o b e i n g more
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a g g r e s s i v e i f we can b r i n g t h e o t h e r s around. I n t h e next
few days, we w i l l e x e r t a c o n s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t .
I w i l l raise
t h i s w i t h Y e l t s i n as w e l l .
So f a r t h e Russians have been
l e s s o f a problem than t h e B r i t i s h and French. •(C)
President Izetbegovic: I would suggest that you propose to
them the idea of the demilitarization of Sarajevo. They may
be harder to convince on the use of force than on
demilitarization. The Serbs will more easily accept an idea
when we have to make concessions too. We are prepared to
make concessions to get this demilitarized area.
T^T
The
President:
Okay.
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Of course, when t a l k i n g o f e x c l u s i o n
zones and Sarajevo, i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e s a f e areas be
expanded i n accordance w i t h t h e Contact Group communique.
That was p o i n t s i x o f t h e Contact Group p l a n [Note:
r e f e r e n c e i s t o t h e J u l y 30 Geneva Contact Group
communique]. I b e l i e v e I have mentioned t h i s p o i n t i n t h e
c o n t e x t o f asking f o r g r e a t e r U.S. i n v o l v e m e n t . —(C)
There i s a l s o t h e q u e s t i o n o f s a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t S e r b i a .
We
r e g a r d t h e l a s t stage as a c l e a r v i c t o r y f o r M i l o s e v i c . He
r e c e i v e d two b e n e f i t s :
f i r s t he avoided t i g h t e r s a n c t i o n s ,
which t h e Contact Group had i n d i c a t e d would be imposed i f
t h e Serbs r e j e c t e d t h e map; i n f a c t , M i l o s e v i c d i d n ' t g e t a
t i g h t e n i n g , b u t a l i g h t e n i n g o f s a n c t i o n s . But t h a t ' s over
w i t h . The q u e s t i o n i s whether you have r e a l c o n t r o l over
t h e border.
I f you do, then t h e concession may have been
w o r t h w h i l e . We would have v o t e d f o r i t i f t h e b o r d e r were
t r u l y c l o s e d . But i f t h e border i s , i n f a c t , n o t c l o s e d ,
then i t w i l l be a d i s a s t e r f o r Bosnia-Herzegovina and f o r
t h e image o f t h i s c o u n t r y f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community.
I hope and expect you can f i r m l y m o n i t o r t h e b o r d e r . 100p l u s people w i l l n o t be enough t o do t h e j o b . - f e - } —
The P r e s i d e n t : When a r e our people going t o j o i n t h e
monitors?
<^T~
Anthony Lake: Very soon. They should have been t h e r e
a l r e a d y , b u t I t h i n k they w i l l be t h e r e i n a couple o f days.
Ambassador A l b r i g h t :
The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n has a
s e r i e s c f break p o i n t s t h a t a l l o w us t o p u l l t h e p l u g on t h e
whole o p e r a t i o n . I f t h e r e i s any breach i n t h e border
c l o s u r e , t h e suspension o f s a n c t i o n s can be ended w i t h i n
f i v e days. The whole t h i n g i s s u b j e c t t o r e v i e w every 30
days, and t h e suspension i s i n e f f e c t f o r o n l y 90 days i n
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�total. The United States worked hard to include these
control mechanisms so that we would not have to trust
Milosevic. We assumed you would want this. -(CjP r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : You should n o t a l l o w any o t h e r
easing o f s a n c t i o n s u n t i l S e r b i a r e c o g n i z e s t h e Republic o f
Bosnia and Herzegovina and a l s o C r o a t i a . This w i l l be t h e
o n l y r e a l p r o o f t h a t M i l o s e v i c has changed, and t h a t i t ' s
not j u s t a t a c t i c .
I want t o c l e a r l y appeal t o you n o t t o
do more w i t h o u t r e c o g n i t i o n . fG-)The P r e s i d e n t :
I agree w i t h t h a t . We have supported t h e
e f f o r t you have made w i t h C r o a t i a . They should have t h e
same p o s i t i o n . We w i l l work w i t h you on t h a t . •(O)
President Izetbegovic: Finally, I want you to know that we
are trying to do everything we can to implement the
Federation. You have provided some financial aid, and I
want to thank you very much for that. In this context, I
would like to propose that a Commission be established that
would include one Bosniac, one Croat, one American and one
German to help implement the Federation idea. -^G-T
The P r e s i d e n t :
What do you t h i n k o f t h a t , Chris? -f-G^
Secretary Christopher:
I t h i n k i t has m e r i t . We'll work on
it.
F i l l i n g o u t t h e F e d e r a t i o n i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t . I t needs
c o n t e n t . I f we can h e l p , we would l i k e t o do t h a t , . ( f ) ,
Anthony Lake: We want t o h e l p s u p p o r t t h e F e d e r a t i o n
especially at the local level. -f^T
The P r e s i d e n t : We'll work on t h e i d e a ; g i v e us some t i m e .
Regarding a i d , we have come up w i t h a t o t a l o f 30 m i l l i o n
d o l l a r s , i n c l u d i n g 10 m i l l i o n more f o r r e f u g e e s .
I hope
we're d o i n g a l l we can f o r your people.
I'm very w o r r i e d
about t h e c h i l d r e n , about t h e human dimension o f t h e
situation, -fef
We w i l l go t o t h e B r i t i s h and French. We want t o c l e a r up
t h e l i f t q u e s t i o n . We w i l l t e l l them t h a t we need t h e i r
f o r c e s t h e r e , b u t t h a t i f Sarajevo i s d e s t r o y e d , then t h e i r
purpose f o r b e i n g t h e r e has been d e s t r o y e d t o o . The
p o l i t i c a l and p s y c h o l o g i c a l impact on t h e w o r l d would be
d e v a s t a t i n g . We need t o g e t them t o t a k e a more a g g r e s s i v e
p o s t u r e . We want t o be sure t h a t our a i d and NATO'r a c t i o n s
are doing t h e most t o h e l p your people. .(C).
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I c o u l d n ' t t r a v e l from Sarajevo
a i r p o r t yesterday.
I had t o leave t h r o u g h t h e t u n n e l and go
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over t h e mountains. The road I took i s always under Serb
fire.
The a i r p o r t i s c l o s e d . The roads are c l o s e d .
There
i s no gas, e l e c t r i c i t y or water.
Things are t h e worst s i n c e
t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e war.
The Serbs have decided t o
s u f f o c a t e the c i t y .
Something needs t o be done. -(-G).
Secretary Christopher:
Regarding t h e a i d , what t h e
P r e s i d e n t d e s c r i b e d i s 10 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s more than when
Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c and I spoke on F r i d a y . There i s 10
m i l l i o n d o l l a r s from f i s c a l year 1994, and 30 m i l l i o n
d o l l a r s i n f i s c a l year 1995. -(-&)
Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c :
Good. Let me mention one s m a l l
d e t a i l w i t h r e s p e c t t o Sarajevo.
We can p r o v i d e immediate
h e l p by p u t t i n g i n an e l e c t r i c a l cable t h r o u g h t h e t u n n e l .
This would run 20 or 30 k i l o m e t e r s , so t h a t Sarajevo c o u l d
get e l e c t r i c i t y from t h e o u t s i d e . We w i l l work t o get you
the d e t a i l s .
Secretary Christopher:
Let us know. ^fS")
The P r e s i d e n t : Please g i v e us a p r o p o s a l . L e t ' s l o o k a t
t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e w o r s t p o s s i b l e l i g h t , i f we do
e v e r y t h i n g we have d i s c u s s e d :
We pass t h e l i f t r e s o l u t i o n ,
w i t h f o u r - t o - s i x months u n t i l t h e embargo i s l i f t e d .
Then
we somehow make c o n d i t i o n s b e t t e r i n Sarajevo i n t h e s h o r t
run e i t h e r by t h e p r o p o s a l you made f o r d e m i l i t a r i z a t i o n or
by t h e w i l l i n g n e s s of t h e UK and France t o be s t r o n g e r i n
e n f o r c i n g t h e e x c l u s i o n zones. Even t h e n , we s t i l l have t o
assume t h e worst -- t h a t t h e Serbs won't accept t h e Contact
Group p l a n and t h a t you w i l l have t o f i g h t on.
I n those
circumstances, we should t h i n k about an independent
e l e c t r i c a l system t h a t w i l l g i v e you more c o n t r o l over t h e
situation.
So please i d e n t i f y what t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l
community needs t o do t o speed up t h e mechanics t o guard
a g a i n s t t h e day when we, God f o r b i d might f a i l .
I would
t h i n k i t would t a k e s i x months t o l a y t h e c a b l e , - f e - ) —
Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c :
The
President:
We
c o u l d do i t i n two months
Give us a p r o p o s a l .
- (C >-
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : The j o u r n a l i s t s are w a i t i n g t o hear
about t h e meeting.
What should we say we have agreed? • (-C)Secretary Christopher:
We can announce t h e 30 m i l l i o n
d o l l a r s i n a d d i t i o n a l a i d . I f you l i k e , we can out f o r w a r d
your p r o p o s a l r e g a r d i n g l i f t i n g t h e arms embargo w i t h a
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�•eOHFIDEHTIAT!
d e f e r r e d date -- a l t h o u g h I understand you would l i k e t o
hear about t h e B r i t i s h and French a t t i t u d e f i r s t .
fe-y
President Izetbegovic:
That's right.
Secretary Christopher:
tomorrow. , 1 45)
We w i l l work on t h a t between now and
The P r e s i d e n t : We can say we have d i s c u s s e d t h e c o n d i t i o n s
around Sarajevo, and t h a t you made a s u g g e s t i o n t h a t I ' v e
agreed t o r a i s e w i t h t h e o t h e r Contact Group members, and
t h a t we w i l l g e t back t o you i n 24 hours. • (o)
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : We can say we a r e a s k i n g BoutrosG h a l i and t h e B r i t i s h and French f o r f i r m e r enforcement o f
the e x c l u s i o n zones. _4-G-)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I w i l l say I suggested t h e
d e m i l i t a r i z a t i o n o f a f i v e - k i l o m e t e r zone and t h a t you
supported t h e idea . -(c-frThe P r e s i d e n t :
l i n e s , -fe-)
Yes, a n y t h i n g you want t o say on those
Prime M i n i s t e r S i l a j d z i c : We can say t h a t t h e r e w i l l be no
f u r t h e r suspension o f s a n c t i o n s unless Belgrade recognizes
Bosnia and C r o a t i a . •fe-7
Anthony Lake: L e t us f i r s t pursue t h a t d i p l o m a t i c a l l y w i t h
o t h e r Contact Group members . .fe-}
The P r e s i d e n t : Yes, please w a i t . I f you announce t h a t ,
I ' l l spend t h e f i r s t 30 minutes o f my next c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h
John Major e x p l a i n i n g i t . -(-e^Secretary Christopher: We're not thinking about any other
sanctions relief in any case.
y.
A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y Holbrooke: I would add t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
s t r o n g statement o f support f o r e n f o r c i n g e x i s t i n g mandates.
We have spent a l l o f t h e l a s t two weeks on NATO a i r s t r i k e s .
We o n l y g o t one. I f we had our way, t h e r e would have been a
s t r i k e every day. We a r e t h e Contact Group member t h a t i s
t r y i n g the hardest.
So you can mention t h i s , p l u s t h e 30
m i l l i o n , p l u s your own p o s i t i o n s .
Tomorrow's s t o r y w i l l be
t h a t t h e r e w i l l be a l i f t r e s o l u t i o n a f t e r October 15 per
the P r e s i d e n t ' s l e t t e r t o Senator Nunn, b u t w i t h a c t i v a t i o n
i n t h e s p r i n g . fe-)-'
XL INTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
HTCP
•CONFIDENT!
�)HFIDEMTIMi
One l a s t
that the
proposal
supported
p o i n t , i f I might, Mr. P r e s i d e n t . I t i s i m p o r t a n t
U.S. p u b l i c and Congress understand t h a t t h e
f o r d e f e r r a l o r i g i n a t e d w i t h your government and i s
by ours. »(c)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I t h i n k , going back, t h a t we should
say t h a t we recommended t o t h e U.S. t h a t t h e r e be no f u r t h e r
easing o f s a n c t i o n s unless Serbia r e c o g n i z e s Bosnia and
Croatia.
Can we a l s o say t h a t b o t h s i d e s r e c a l l e d t h e
f o u r t h p o i n t i n NATO's February 9 d e c i s i o n r e g a r d i n g a i r
s t r i k e s t o p r e v e n t t h e s t r a n g u l a t i o n o f Sarajevo? - f c )
The P r e s i d e n t :
I hope you w i l l do t h a t .
We w i l l have t o
have d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e UK and France, even r e g a r d i n g t h e
n a t u r e o f t h e i r UNPROFOR deployments i n o r d e r t o e n f o r c e t h e
e x i s t i n g r e s o l u t i o n s . Things have g o t t e n absurd around
S a r a j e v o , i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e have n o t been s e v e r a l a i r
strikes.
The o t h e r s have people t h e r e , b u t t h e r e has t o be
a s o l u t i o n t h a t a l l o w s us t o be more a g g r e s s i v e .
We'll take
t h i s up w i t h them. Your language i s f i n e . • Qc )Ambassador A l b r i g h t :
You should a l s o say t h a t we w i l l be
w a t c h i n g t h e border v e r y c a r e f u l l y and we i l l be sending
people t h e r e . -(-cTThe
President:
Yes, we want t o send people t h e r e . 4 c )
Anthony Lake: We have done a press r e l e a s e on t h e a i d f o r
the Federation.
I would be c a r e f u l about p i n n i n g t h i n g s on
t h e UK and France i n p u b l i c r i g h t now. J u s t say we a r e
p r e s s i n g f o r s t r o n g e r enforcement, -fe-)—
The P r e s i d e n t : We want them t o v o t e w i t h us on t h e UN
S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n , so don't h i t them t o o hard
today. -< o)
Ambassador Sacirbey: Can I raise another point regarding
the training of Bosnian forces in the context of a lifting
the arms embargo, .(c)
Secretary Christopher:
That's down t h e road a b i t .
not c o m p l i c a t e t h e s i t u a t i o n now. • (c-)
The
President:
Thank you f o r coming.
-fe^-
End of Conversation --
CONFIDENT:
J^LINTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
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Let's
�9673
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D.C 20506
December 16, 1994
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. KENNETH C. BRILL
E x e c u t i v e SecretaryDepartment o f S t a t e
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c o f BosniaHerzegovina and P r e s i d e n t Tudjman o f C r o a t i a on
December 5, 1994
SUBJECT:
The a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n between t h e P r e s i d e n t and
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e t g o v i c and P r e s i d e n t Tudjman be p r o v i d e d f o r t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e . I t must be d i s t r i b u t e d
v i a NODIS channels and n o t below t h e Deputy A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y
(DAS) l e v e l , (j
W i l l i a m H. I t o h
Executive Secretary
Attachment
Tab A
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
CL^ T0N LIBRARY
D e c l a s s i f y or
n
R
n
�9673
CONFIDENTIAL
THE W H I T E H O U S E
WAS
HINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c o f BosniaHerzegovina and P r e s i d e n t Tudjman o f C r o a t i a
PARTICIPANTS
U.S.
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Madeleine A l b r i g h t , U.S. Ambassador t o t h e
U n i t e d Nations
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r
National Security A f f a i r s
Richard Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Sam Brown, U.S. R e p r e s e n t a t i v e t o CSCE
V i c t o r J a c k o v i c h , Ambassador t o BosniaHerzegovina
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC ( N o t e t a k e r )
Bosnia
A l i j a Izetbegovic, President
I r f a n L j u b i j a n k i c , Foreign M i n i s t e r
Muhamed Sacirbey, Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
t o t h e U n i t e d Nations
Mahir Hadziakmetovic, Ambassador t o CSCE
Croatia
F r a n j o Tudjman, P r e s i d e n t
Mato Granic, M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s
Miomir Zuzul, Ambassador o f C r o a t i a t o t h e UN
a t Geneva
Z e l j k o M a t i c , P r e s i d e n t i a l Foreign P o l i c y
Adviser
Dr. Begic, P o l i t i c a l A d v i s e r t o t h e
President
Interpreter
December 5, 1994,1:25 - 1:40PM
Budapest, Hungary
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
The P r e s i d e n t : I am g l a d t o see you. Thank you f o r coming t o
t h i s meeting. I wanted t o meet so t h a t we c o u l d hear your views
on t h e c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n , I asked t o see you here t o g e t h e r
because t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n i s very i m p o r t a n t i n
m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e whole i n t e r n a t i o n a l community f o r
M J O N LIBRARY P O O O Y
HTCP
COMriDDMTIAE
D e c l a s s i f y on~
�rnNriDFMTTfiL
a just result.
I wanted t o assure you. P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c ,
t h a t t h e U.S. has n o t changed i t s p o l i c y . We a r e s t i l l opposed
t o any c o n f e d e r a t i o n between t h e Bosnia Serbs and S e r b i a . We a r e
s t i l l ready f o r NATO t o do what i t i s p e r m i t t e d t o do by t h e
United Nations.
We s t i l l want t o be as c o o p e r a t i v e and h e l p f u l
as we can be i n b r i n g i n g about a s e t t l e m e n t . I would l i k e t o
hear from you on your t h i n k i n g about what i s most i m p o r t a n t . How
do you f e e l about UNPROFOR? Then I would l i k e t o hear P r e s i d e n t
Tudjman's views as w e l l . -f6-)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : With r e g a r d t o UNPROFOR, i t s m i s s i o n has
eroded so much t h a t we a r e l e f t w i t h o u t UNPROFOR and w i t h o u t
weapons t o defend o u r s e l v e s . As you know, we had a c h o i c e
between m a i n t a i n i n g UNPROFOR and r e c e i v i n g weapons ( t h r o u g h a
l i f t i n g o f t h e arms embargo). For t h e t i m e b e i n g , we chose
UNPROFOR, b u t i t s m i s s i o n i s b e i n g degraded. I t would be h e l p f u l
i f UNPROFOR c o u l d be made more e f f e c t i v e .
We a r e l o o k i n g f o r
UNPROFOR t o f u l f i l l i t s mandate, and n o t h i n g more. The p a r a l y s i s
i s something t h a t we cannot understand -- f i r s t i n t h e b e h a v i o r
of UNPROFOR, and subsequently i n t h e behavior o f NATO. The i s s u e
i s UNPROFOR. We ask t h a t t h i s p a r a l y s i s be l i f t e d .
I f t h i s were
done, t h e s i t u a t i o n would improve as a consequence. Of course,
t h e r e would be i n c r e a s e d r i s k s f o r UNPROFOR, b u t these s h o u l d be
acceptable given the p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t s . f e T
With r e g a r d t o t h e s i t u a t i o n i n Bosnia, we ask t h a t t h e Serbs
accept t h e Contact Group p l a n . There a r e two o t h e r ideas which
are dependent on a c e a s e - f i r e . F i r s t , a c e a s e - f i r e t h r o u g h o u t
Bosnia f o r a l i m i t e d p e r i o d o f t i m e c o u l d be agreed upon under
two c o n d i t i o n s : an immediate c e a s e - f i r e i n t h e Bihac area; and
t h e w i t h d r a w a l from t h e Bihac area o f t h e s o - c a l l e d K r a j i n a
Serbs. These f o r c e s have come t o our c o u n t r y from t h e UN
P r o t e c t e d Areas, which a r e supposed t o be d e m i l i t a r i z e d .
Second,
i f there i s a c e a s e - f i r e i n f a c t , t h i s w i l l normalize t h e
h u m a n i t a r i a n a i d s i t u a t i o n i n Bosnia. So f a r , however, t h e Serbs
have r e j e c t e d a c e a s e - f i r e . I j u s t met w i t h B r i t i s h F o r e i g n
S e c r e t a r y Hurd who had met t h e p r e v i o u s evening w i t h S e r b i a n
P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c . Hurd s a i d M i l o s e v i c supports these ideas
but c l a i m e d t h a t he d i d n ' t have enough i n f l u e n c e on K a r a d z i c .
When we t a l k about M i l o s e v i c ' s i n f l u e n c e , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t
t h e r e be no f u r t h e r easing o f s a n c t i o n s , s i n c e t h e o n l y way t o
get him t o a c t p o s i t i v e l y i s t h r o u g h s a n c t i o n s . • ( G ) —
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: We have signed an agreement w i t h t h e Knin
Serbs as t h e second s t e p toward r e i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e UNPAs. We
w i l l now have t o see whether t h i s agreement i s implemented. I f
t h e Knin Serbs f a i l t o implement i t , we w i l l n o t extend
UNPROFOR's mandate. M i l o s e v i c has t h e Knin Serbs i n h i s hands.
As f o r t h e Bosnian Serbs, he does n o t q u i t e have K a r a d z i c i n h i s
hands, b u t m i l i t a r y s u p p l i e s a r e s t i l l coming i n t o Bosnia from
ooNriDoiAL CLI N O LIBRARY P O O O Y
TN
HTCP
m
i
�CONFIDENTIAL
S e r b i a . We would therefore appreciate that you not l i f t
s a n c t i o n s u n t i l we see p r a c t i c a l achievements, and not j u s t paper
agreements, leading to the s o l u t i o n of the occupied areas and to
a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n i n Bosnia, -fet
The p r i o r i t y i s s u e i s t h e c o n f l i c t i n Bosnia, b u t here too t h e
key r e s t s i n Serb hands. I f a f i r m e r l i n e i s t a k e n , t h e Serbs
w i l l be f o r c e d t o accept the Contact Group p l a n . I f t h e Contact
Group t o o k more determined a c t i o n , such as convening a summit,
the West c o u l d p r e s e n t a u n i t e d f r o n t t o show t h a t BosniaHerzegovina e x i s t s f o r t h e t h r e e peoples who l i v e t h e r e .
This
would enable you t o a v o i d a c o n f l i c t between the West and Russia
and a l s o a v o i d the involvement o f I s l a m i c c o u n t r i e s , which would
have u n d e s i r a b l e consequences i n terms o f i n c r e a s e d l o s s o f l i f e
and i n o t h e r ways. Russia o b v i o u s l y wants t o p r e s e r v e i t s
i n f l u e n c e i n Europe. We s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h i s as not a MuslimCroat, Muslim-Serb, o r Croat-Serb problem, b u t as one o f
civilization.
Any s o l u t i o n i n v o l v i n g o n l y UNPROFOR w i l l n o t
work. The Contact Group p l a n must be c a r r i e d out t o t h e end and
NATO engaged t o e n f o r c e a s e t t l e m e n t . UNPROFOR, w i t h t h e
c o u n t r i e s t h a t now form i t , has no p r o s p e c t o f success.
T h e r e f o r e , you need t o push f o r a s e t t l e m e n t and engage NATO. I
would f a v o r i n c r e a s e d involvement o f NATO a t t h e expense o f
r e d u c i n g t h e number o f UNPROFOR t r o o p s . -4C-f•
The P r e s i d e n t :
President Izetbegovic, you are for a three-month
country-wide c e a s e - f i r e ? •fet'
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Yes, on the c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e r e i s a
c e a s e - f i r e i n Bihac and w i t h d r a w a l o f the f o r c e s o f K r a j i n a Serb
l e a d e r M a r t i c . -fet
The P r e s i d e n t : During the three months, we w i l l do a l l we can to
support the Contact Group plan, "ter
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : You need t o have c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e Serbs
i n t h e meantime. P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c b e l i e v e s t h a t t i m e i s
w o r k i n g i n h i s f a v o r . He wants more time t o convince K a r a d z i c t o
a c c e p t . But we f e e l t h a t the Russian presence i s b e h i n d t h e
l a t e s t dangerous Serb a c t i o n s . Some i n the West have concluded
t h a t t h e Russian t h r e a t has disappeared, b u t we i n Bosnia s t i l l
f e e l i t , e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h the presence o f s u r f a c e - t o - a i r
m i s s i l e s . 4€tThe P r e s i d e n t :
We heard a l i t t l e o f t h a t here today i n Budapest.
End o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
COMriDCHTIMTV-
CLINTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
HTCP
�5650
-CONFI DEOTTKL
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D C. 20506
J u l y 2 1 , 1995
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR ANDREW D. SENS
FROM:
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW^/
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s J u l y 20
C o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Bosnian P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c
A t t a c h e d a t Tab A i s a memorandum o f t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s t e l e p h o n e
c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c on J u l y 20, 1995.
RECOMMENDATION
That t h e a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n be f i l e d f o r t h e
record.
^
^
Approve
Disapprove
That you s i g n t h e memo a t Tab I t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e Memorandum o f
C o n v e r s a t i o n t o t h e S t a t e Department.
Attachments
Tab I Memo t o S t a t e
Tab A Memcon w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c
DECUSSIFIED
E.0.13526, Sec 3.5(b)
White Uoy^e Guidelines, September 11,2006
CONriDCNTIAL^
-rMTPlK
Declassify okLpN+UN
TDDADV
DUH
LIDKAKY
rHU
Date \i)j<l^
�-GONFI DEN'P£ftC"''
5650
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D C. 20506
July 21, 1995
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. KENNETH C. BRILL
Executive Secretary
Department o f State
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f the President's Conversation w i t h
President Izetbegovic (U)
The attached Memorandum of Conversation between the President and
President Izetbegovic is provided for the information of the
Secretary of State. It must be distributed via NODIS channels
and'not below the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) level. It may
also be sent to our embassy in Bosnia for the Charge only, ^tf"
Exeout/ive Secretary
Attachment
Tab A Memcon w i t h President Izetbegovic
DECLASSIFIED
-LUNHDENTlAL
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W tH
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JC^D|RQ|\
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�5650
GOHFIDDNTIAL
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASH I NGTON
MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
P r e s i d e n t i a l Telephone C a l l w i t h Bosnian P r e s i d e n t
Izetbegovic
PARTICIPANTS:
President C l i n t o n
Bosnian P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c
NOTETAKERS:
Kenneth Baldwin, K a t h e r i n e O'Loughlin, John
Schmidt and Matt M i l l e r
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
J u l y 20, 1995, 1:47 p.m. - 2:02 p.m. EDT
Oval O f f i c e
President C l i n t o n :
Hello?
(U)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : H e l l o , Mr. P r e s i d e n t . Thank you f o r
c a l l i n g , and thank you f o r your t i m e . I have a l a d y w i t h me who
w i l l h e l p me c o n t i n u e i n my language i f t h a t i s a l l r i g h t w i t h
you. (U)
President C l i n t o n :
Yes, t h a t i s f i n e w i t h me.
(U)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Mr. C l i n t o n , t h e s i t u a t i o n i n Bosnia i s a
v e r y d i f f i c u l t one because o f t h e l a t e s t a t t a c k s on t h e safe
areas, e s p e c i a l l y i n Zepa. R i g h t now i n Zepa 6,000 women and
c h i l d r e n a r e i n grave danger. We have o f f e r e d d i r e c t
n e g o t i a t i o n s t o t h e Serbs t o save t h e women and c h i l d r e n , b u t we
do n o t have an answer from them and now have asked t h e UN t o
m e d i a t e . We have a l s o o f f e r e d t h a t t h e c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n , t h a t
t h e women and c h i l d r e n , should leave Zepa. However, w i t h o u t your
p r e s s u r e and h e l p o f t h e U.S. and t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community, we
w i l l n o t be able t o do t h a t . T h e r e f o r e , we ask t h a t you see what
can be done f o r these people, b e a r i n g i n mind t h e r e c e n t t r a g e d y
t h a t o c c u r r e d i n S r e b r e n i c a . A c c o r d i n g t o UNPROFOR, a t l e a s t
3,000 people have been k i l l e d i n t h e past s e v e r a l days. We f e a r
t h a t t h e f i g u r e i s b i g g e r . -(C)—
We f e e l t h e U.S. should now l e a d t h e i n i t i a t i v e t o save t h e s a f e
areas, e s p e c i a l l y those people i n Zepa. Otherwise, t h e r e w i l l be
a growing f e e l i n g b o t h i n Europe and Bosnia o f a l a c k o f American
l e a d e r s h i p t h a t w i l l f u r t h e r damage t h e s i t u a t i o n .
So I p l e a d t o
you, i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e U.S. and t h e w o r l d , t h a t t h e U.S. be
more a c t i v e i n r e s o l v i n g t h i s s i t u a t i o n .
Please do n o t g i v e up
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on t h e use o f f o r c e i n p r o t e c t i n g these s a f e areas and t h e
civilians.
I r e f e r t o more r o b u s t a i r s t r i k e s a g a i n s t t h e
a t t a c k e r s who have shown inhumanity i n S r e b r e n i c a .
Please do n o t
a l l o w t h e UN t o p a r a l y z e us by c o n t i n u i n g t o use t h e d u a l key.
A l s o , when t a l k i n g o f r e l a t i o n s w i t h S e r b i a , please do n o t g i v e
up t o o cheaply on t h e l i f t i n g o f s a n c t i o n s . We are n o t
i n t e r e s t e d i n j u s t any r e c o g n i t i o n o f Bosnia-Herzegovina. We are
b e i n g o f f e r e d r e c o g n i t i o n o f a phantom Bosnia — a Bosnia t h a t
does n o t e x i s t .
I f e a r t h a t t h e Contact Group s t a t e s are ready
to pay a v e r y cheap p r i c e f o r such r e c o g n i t i o n . Mr. P r e s i d e n t ,
t h e s a n c t i o n s are t h e o n l y weapon we can use a g a i n s t S e r b i a . I f
we g i v e them up, we w i l l have none. And i n t h e end, I would l i k e
t o convince you t h a t we are devoted t o t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a m u l t i e t h n i c Bosnia-Herzegovina. -fetThank you v e r y much f o r c a l l i n g me, Mr. P r e s i d e n t . I have
another f a v o r t o ask — i f you c o u l d pass on my views t o t h e
meeting i n London tomorrow and do a l l you can t o i n f l u e n c e t h e
p a r t i c i p a n t s . 4&)P r e s i d e n t C l i n t o n : Thank you, Mr. P r e s i d e n t . L e t me say t h a t we
w i l l do what we can f o r t h e people o f Zepa as you have asked. We
c e r t a i n l y w i l l n o t b a r g a i n away t h e s a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t M i l o s e v i c
and S e r b i a cheaply, and I w i l l n o t a l l o w t h e l i f t i n g o f t h e
embargo f o r weak r e c o g n i t i o n . Most i m p o r t a n t l y , I have t o l d our
a l l i e s , and we w i l l say t h e same t h i n g i n London, t h a t t h e UN
o p e r a t i o n cannot c o n t i n u e unless we are p r e p a r e d t o use s t r o n g
a i r power — by t h a t I mean d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e a i r s t r i k e s w i t h o u t
t h e d u a l key, so t h a t t h e Serbs know we mean b u s i n e s s .
I
understand why t h e UN f o r c e s f e a r b e i n g t a k e n hostage, b u t as a
p r a c t i c a l m a t t e r , i t seems t o me t h a t o f t e n UNPROFOR t r o o p s ,
w h i l e d e l i v e r i n g h u m a n i t a r i a n a i d , a l s o h e l p t h e Serbs i n t h e i r
l a r g e r designs because o f t h e i r f e a r o f b e i n g taken hostage,
which keeps us from u s i n g a i r power f o r t h e l a r g e r o b j e c t i v e s .
Now as you know, t h e French b e l i e v e i t i s a mistake j u s t t o use
s t r o n g e r a i r power. They want us t o a i r l i f t an a d d i t i o n a l 1,000
s o l d i e r s i n t o Goradze. The problem i s t h a t 1,000 more s o l d i e r s
may n o t make a d i f f e r e n c e i n h e l p i n g you h o l d t h e town. But i f
t h e Serbs know t h e damage we can do w i t h s t r o n g a i r s t r i k e s , t h a t
might s t o p them, j u s t as our t h r e a t d i d l a s t February when we
f i r s t e s t a b l i s h e d t h e safe areas and c o l l e c t i o n p o i n t s , b u t which
t h e UN has s i n c e kept from working. -fC)As you know, I would hate t o see t h e UN m i s s i o n c o l l a p s e , b u t i f
i t ' s g o i n g t o s t a y , i t must be more e f f e c t i v e .
That i s where we
are and what we're w o r k i n g f o r . I t ' s a l l I'm w o r k i n g on r i g h t
now.
I am g l a d we had a chance t o t a l k . -KG)
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President Izetbegovic: Thank you, Mr. President. I would l i k e
to p o i n t out again the importance of a i r power against the
v i o l a t i o n s of the safe areas established by the UN. The r e l a t i v e
peace which we had l a s t year, f o r about s i x months i n Sarajevo,
i s proof we can maintain some kind of peace under a t h r e a t of
a i r s t r i k e s . We i n Bosnia are i n t e r e s t e d i n peace, not i n war,
and, t h e r e f o r e , we are i n t e r e s t e d i n a p o l i t i c a l settlement. We
have accepted the Contact Group plan and before t h a t the
Vance/Owen plan. I assure you we want peace. This i s our
o p t i o n ; not war. - H e f
President C l i n t o n : Thank you. Let me say you d i d accept the
Contact Group and Vance-Owen plan, and i f I can p r e v a i l i n the
next few days w i t h the a l l i e s and get a serious a i r t h r e a t up
there, I t h i n k we can s t a b i l i z e the s i t u a t i o n . But we s t i l l need
serious peace n e g o t i a t i o n s . This matter has t o be s e t t l e d .
Thank you very much, -(cypres ident Izetbegovic: Thank you, Mr. President. Good bye. (U)
President C l i n t o n : Good bye. (U)
End of Conversation
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27, 1995
ACTION
ffifiEW D. CENS—
MEMORANDUM FOR -AM
FROM:
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t s A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f t h e
R e p u b l i c o f Bosnia-Herzegovina and F r a n j o Tudjman
o f t h e Republic o f C r o a t i a
A t t a c h e d a t Tab A i s t h e Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e
P r e s i d e n t ' s meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t s I z e t b e g o v i c and Tudjman on
October 24, 1995.
RECOMMENDATION
That you s i g n t h e memo a t Tab I t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e Memorandum o f
C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e meeting t o t h e Department o f S t a t e .
That t h e a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e m e e t i n g be
f i e l d f o r the record.
Approve
Disapprove
Attachments
Tab I Memorandum t o S t a t e
Tab A Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
•GONC-I-BEMXIAL
C l a s s i f i e d by: AVershbow
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E.0. Um, Sec .1.5(1))
White House (^iddina, September 11,2006
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October 30, 1995
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. KENNETH C. BRILL
Executive Secretary
Department o f S t a t e
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
M e e t i n g w i t h P r e s i d e n t s I z e t b e g o v i c and Tudjman
(U)
The attached Memorandum of Conversation from the meeting between
the President and Presidents Alija Izetbegovic of the Republic of
Bosnia Herzegovina and Franjo Tudjman of the Republic of Croatia
is provided for the information of the Secretary of State. It
must be distributed via NODIS channels and not below the Deputy
Assistant Secretary (DAS) level. XZ)
/.Vndrew D. Sens
£j^6utive S e c r e t a r y
Attachment
Tab A Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
C l a s s i f i e d b y : Andrew Sens
Declassify On^liop^TGN
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MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t s A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f
the Republic o f Bosnia-Herzegovina and F r a n j o
Tudjman o f t h e Republic o f C r o a t i a
PARTICIPANTS
U.S.
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Madeleine A l b r i g h t , U.S. Permanent
Representative t o the United Nations
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r
National Security A f f a i r s
R i c h a r d Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Alexander Vershbow, S p e c i a l A s s i s t a n t t o t h e
P r e s i d e n t and Senior D i r e c t o r f o r European
A f f a i r s , NSC (Notetaker)
Bosnia-Herzegovina
President A l i j a Izetbegovic
Muhamed Sacirbey, F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r
Nedzib Sacirbey, Ambassador-at-large
Mr. Ivan M i s i c , Ambassador t o t h e UN
Mr. B a k i r Sadovic, P r e s i d e n t ' s P r i v a t e
Secretary
Mr. Amela Sapcanin, Second S e c r e t a r y
Croatia
P r e s i d e n t Franjo Tudjman
Mate Granic, Deputy Foreign M i n i s t e r
Miomir Zuzul, S p e c i a l Envoy
Petar Sarcevic, Ambassador t o t h e U.S.
Zlejko Matic
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
October 24, 1995
1:35 - 2:15PM
Waldorf A s t o r i a H o t e l
New York, New York
The P r e s i d e n t : F i r s t , l e t me say how pleased I am t o have a l l o f
you t o g e t h e r i n one room, e s p e c i a l l y t h e two p r e s i d e n t s . L e t me
add how p r o f o u n d l y a p p r e c i a t i v e I am t h a t you a r e g o i n g t o Dayton
i n a few days t o t a k e p a r t i n t h e p r o x i m i t y t a l k s . We need t o do
e v e r y t h i n g we can t o make these t a l k s a success. I t i s i m p o r t a n t
n o t t o t a k e any p o s i t i o n s o r say a n y t h i n g t h a t would s h o r t COMFIDEMTIftir
C l a s s i f i e d by: Andrew Sens
Reason: 1.5(k)
D e c l a s s i f y do-Llli
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c i r c u i t t h e t a l k s b e f o r e they even b e g i n . We are committed t o an
honorable r e s o l u t i o n t h a t w i l l preserve t h e i n t e g r i t y o f Bosnia,
which would p r o t e c t t h e r i g h t s o f a l l o f i t s c i t i z e n s , and which
would s u p p o r t t h e F e d e r a t i o n .
I want t o do e v e r y t h i n g I can t o
ensure success, b u t I urge you t o c r e a t e t h e proper atmosphere
t h a t w i l l produce a success i n Dayton. ^fG4—
We have seen things in the last few years that we never expected
to see: Israel and the PLO sitting down after 30 years of
fighting; the IRA laying down its arms, at least for a year,
after 25 years of guerrilla warfare and terrorism. But what the
world wants more than anything else is for a resolution of the
war in Bosnia. Only you can provide it, and President Milosevic
has responsibilities as well. If an agreement is made, I will
ensure that a strong, disciplined and coordinated force is there
to implement it. The United States will play a major role, and
we will also work aggressively to rebuild war-torn areas and to
open up economic opportunities for both your countries. The
Europeans will take the lead on the economic side, but we will do
our share and then some. So we are at a hopeful, positive
moment, yet we are also aware of the dire consequences if we
fail,
-m-
The o n l y o t h e r statement t h a t I wanted t o make i s t h a t you d i d a
g r e a t t h i n g when you c r e a t e d t h e F e d e r a t i o n .
I t has changed t h e
military situation.
The s i g n i f i c a n t s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e
C r o a t i a n and Bosnian armies has helped make a decent peace
p o s s i b l e . Without t h a t I am n o t sure t h a t t h e NATO bombing o r
Dick Holbrooke's diplomacy would have worked; t h e d i f f e r e n c e s
might have s t i l l been t o o g r e a t . I have n o t h i n g b u t a d m i r a t i o n ,
b u t you b o t h must work hard t o make t h e F e d e r a t i o n a r e a l i t y on
t h e ground. There are s t i l l many t e n s i o n s and problems, and we
s h o u l d n o t l e t t h e Serbs o r any o t h e r a d v e r s a r i e s e x p l o i t your
d i f f e r e n c e s . Only you can h e l p . You need t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e
F e d e r a t i o n i n t h e l i v e s , minds and h e a r t s o f your people.
They
are t h e ones who need t o make i t work. —fG-h
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Thank you f o r r e c e i v i n g us. We have
g r e a t e x p e c t a t i o n s f o r t h e peace n e g o t i a t i o n s . We a r e e n t e r i n g
the t a l k s w i t h t h e b e s t o f w i l l .
Our people want peace. The war
has gone on f o r 44 months, which i s much t o o l o n g . You s h o u l d
b e l i e v e i n our s i n c e r i t y ; we want peace. We are a f r a i d t h a t t h e
p o s i t i o n o f t h e Serb s i d e i s s t i l l v e r y f a r from ours i n t h e
negotiations.
I c o u l d summarize by s a y i n g t h a t we want t o
p r e s e r v e an i n t e g r a l Bosnia and we want t o d i s c u s s common
i n s t i t u t i o n s and f u n c t i o n s . We ask f o r your support i n
a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h i s d u r i n g t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s . The American s i d e
has made v e r y p o s i t i v e statements and now we need t o convince t h e
Serbs t o accept.
I n sum, t h e q u e s t i o n o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
p r i n c i p l e s i s more i m p o r t a n t f o r us than t h e map. I f e e l t h a t i t
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i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t we have a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l s o l u t i o n t h a t
p r e s e r v e s Bosnia-Herzegovina. Without t h i s , we cannot have
peace, - f e i
Regarding t h e F e d e r a t i o n , a l l t h e p a r t i e s p r e s e n t here s u p p o r t
t h e F e d e r a t i o n i n words. No one i s a g a i n s t i t , b u t on t h e
ground, t h e process o f i m p l e m e n t a t i o n has n o t taken p l a c e as i t
s h o u l d have. We cannot even speak o f freedom o f movement i n some
areas.
Mostar i s a s p e c i a l problem. The r e t u r n o f refugees i s
another.
Of course t h e C r o a t i a n s i d e has i t s own view o f these
problems and P r e s i d e n t Tudjman w i l l g i v e you h i s p e r s p e c t i v e . We
are a s k i n g f o r t o t a l freedom o f movement. We want refugees t o be
a b l e t o r e t u r n , e s p e c i a l l y t o areas t h a t have r e c e n t l y been
f r e e d , where t h e r e are empty houses. But they a r e b e i n g
p r e v e n t e d from r e t u r n i n g . The case i n p o i n t i s J a j c e , a c i t y
t h a t was h a l f and h a l f , C r o a t i a n and Muslim, b e f o r e t h e war.
J a j c e was l i b e r a t e d by t h e C r o a t i a n s i d e and t h e C r o a t i a n
p o p u l a t i o n has r e t u r n e d , b u t t h e Bosniac people have n o t been
p e r m i t t e d t o come back. This i s absurd.
F i f t e e n t o t w e n t y days
ago we s u p e r v i s e d t h e r e t u r n o f C r o a t i a n people t o t h e i r l a n d i n
t h e town o f Bugojno. We have r e c e i v e d a p o s i t i v e response from
t h e C r o a t i a n s i d e i n Bugojno, b u t when t h e Bosniac people want t o
r e t u r n , t h e C r o a t i a n s i d e has r e j e c t e d t h i s r i g h t . '(C)''
Yesterday and today, we had t a l k s i n Madrid among t h e F r i e n d s o f
the F e d e r a t i o n . The U.S. R e p r e s e n t a t i v e proposed two papers
r e g a r d i n g Mostar and t h e F e d e r a t i o n as a whole. I am ready t o
s i g n them r e g a r d l e s s o f what t h e papers say, because t h e y were
proposed by a t h i r d p a r t y . The EU has a l s o w r i t t e n a paper and I
am p r e p a r e d t o s i g n t h a t .
I hope t h e C r o a t i a n s i d e w i l l a l s o
accept these papers. The EU i s prepared t o do p o s i t i v e t h i n g s
f o r b o t h s i d e s and i t c o u l d h e l p s o l v e a l l o f our problems v e r y
q u i c k l y . -fref
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: Thank you Mr. P r e s i d e n t f o r seeing us and
thank you f o r t h e r o l e t h a t t h e U.S. and you p e r s o n a l l y have
p l a y e d i n o r d e r t o achieve peace i n t h e former Y u g o s l a v i a .
I
a l s o want t o thank R i c h a r d Holbrooke f o r h i s enormous e f f o r t s ,
i n c l u d i n g h i s p h y s i c a l e f f o r t s , t h a t have made t h e m e e t i n g i n
Ohio p o s s i b l e . I would l i k e t o e x p l a i n n o t o n l y what we hope t o
achieve b u t what i s necessary f o r peace. Ohio s h o u l d n o t j u s t be
a step f o r w a r d , b u t a s o l u t i o n t o t h e c o n f l i c t .
I certainly
welcome t h e i d e a o f having t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e t h r e e
c o u n t r i e s meeting u n t i l peace i s achieved.
But i f t h e t a l k s
f a i l , t a k i n g i n t o account t h e experience o f t h i s c o n f l i c t and o f
e a r l i e r h i s t o r y , I would suggest t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community impose a peace on those who are n o t
w i l l i n g t o accept i t . I t h i n k t h a t t h e idea o f i n v o l v i n g NATO
and U.S. f o r c e s can be achieved.
Once we have a r e a l agreement,
I don't thank anyone can oppose NATO's r o l e i n e n f o r c i n g i t .
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This would represent a way out of the problem, a way out of a
c a t a s t r o p h i c s i t u a t i o n , and NATO would be necessary to c r e a t i n g a
new i n t e r n a t i o n a l order i n our part of the world. -fGf
Mr. President I have t o l d your r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a number of times
that along with the Bosnian i s s u e , the agenda i n Ohio a l s o needs
to address the r e i n t e g r a t i o n of Eastern Slavonia, the l a s t Serboccupied area of C r o a t i a . Although Croatian p u b l i c opinion i s
b i t t e r over the delay i n s o l v i n g t h i s i s s u e -- and there are
s t i l l 125,000 d i s p l a c e d persons from Eastern Slavonia -- I have
made a commitment not to i n t e r f e r e with the peace process, and
not to take any other step while the peace t a l k s are underway and
before the UNCRO mandate e x p i r e s . I t i s with pleasure that I
would l i k e to p r a i s e the involvement of the U.S. Ambassador to
C r o a t i a i n the negotiations between the government of C r o a t i a and
the l o c a l Serbs. There was a meeting yesterday and t a l k s w i l l
continue l a t e r i n the week. These t a l k s provide grounds for
optimism that a peaceful s o l u t i o n can be achieved. But i f these
t a l k s f a i l , then the i s s u e of Eastern Slavonia should be included
in the Ohio t a l k s . -fCT
As for the Federation, let me remind everyone of your role and
that of your government in establishing the Federation. We can
be satisfied with the results so far. We have stopped the
hostilities to a degree greater than one sees in the Middle East
and Northern Ireland. I don't want to go into the details that
President Izetbegovic has raised regarding problems in
implementing the Federation Agreements. But I believe that first
and foremost, this is a problem for the Muslim and Croat leaders
within Bosnia. In this regard, it is surprising that there are
no Bosnian Croat representatives here. Croatia, for strategic
reasons and as a friend of Europe and the United States, will do
everything to implement the Federation in deeds as well as in
words. Jr^&
The P r e s i d e n t : I a p p r e c i a t e what you have s a i d about E a s t e r n
Slavonia.
I agree t h a t t h e i s s u e should be r e s o l v e d i n t h e peace
talks.
I t i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t h a t you have agreed t o e x e r c i s e
r e s t r a i n t w h i l e t h e peace t a l k s are t a k i n g p l a c e . With r e s p e c t
to t h e d i s p u t e s w i t h i n t h e F e d e r a t i o n and r e l a t i o n s between t h e
Bosnians and t h e Bosnian Croats, t h i s j u s t i l l u s t r a t e s my p o i n t .
We need more p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t s between your r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n
o r d e r t o make t h e F e d e r a t i o n work on t h e ground. G e t t i n g a
s e t t l e m e n t w i l l depend on t h e two o f you h a v i n g t r u s t .
Strength
l i e s i n genuine u n i t y .
Please do a l l you can t o achieve a peace
s e t t l e m e n t . We cannot r e s o l v e a l l t h e s p e c i f i c i s s u e s here, b u t
I want a good and honorable agreement. To g e t t h a t , you two w i l l
have t o be moving t o g e t h e r , and you should do e v e r y t h i n g you can
to produce a success. -fef-
CONFTDFiNT Iftfe,
CLINTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
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�^HFTnFNTTAT,
5
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : I t i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h i s meeting i s
t a k i n g p l a c e . I t would be v e r y d e s i r a b l e f o r t h e two P r e s i d e n t s
to make t h e p r o g r e s s you mentioned r e g a r d i n g t h e F e d e r a t i o n . The
U n i t e d S t a t e s w i l l have a r o l e , t h r o u g h our a r b i t r a t i o n and
m e d i a t i o n , b u t t h e p a r t i e s themselves must make t h e F e d e r a t i o n
work. -4et
The
the
P r e s i d e n t ' s time i s l i m i t e d and I know he wants t o meet w i t h
two p r e s i d e n t s a l o n e . -fef
R i c h a r d Holbrooke:
L e t me make a few p o i n t s i n b r i e f . We don't
know how l o n g t h e Dayton t a l k s w i l l l a s t . We understand t h a t
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman w i l l go back t o Zagreb a f t e r a few days, b u t
l e a v i n g a team l e d by F o r e i g n M i n s t e r Granic w i t h f u l l a u t h o r i t y
to make d e c i s i o n s . Otherwise we are s t i c k i n g w i t h o u r o r i g i n a l
program. We w i l l h o p e f u l l y e l i m i n a t e t h e s p a r r i n g and d a i l y
c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p r e s s . Our d e l e g a t i o n w i l l be i n d a i l y c o n t a c t
w i t h S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r and Tony Lake. We a r e l o o k i n g f o r w a r d
to w o r k i n g as a team. On t o Dayton! -<C) (At this point
the President
pulled
Izetbegovic
aside
for a private
Presidents
conversation)
Tudjman
and
The President:
I had a good conversation with President Y e l t s i n
about Bosnia at Hyde Park. Y e l t s i n can help a l i t t l e with the
Serbs. M i l o s e v i c b e l i e v e s that there are too many independent
contacts between the Russians and the Bosnian Serbs. We a l s o
want to show that i f we achieve an agreement, R u s s i a won't mess
i t up i n a d e s t r u c t i v e way. Getting Russia more involved i n the
peace process could do a l o t to smooth the way toward
implementation. This i s why Y e l t s i n had the idea that a l l three
Balkan Presidents would go to Russia f o r a b r i e f meeting —
l i t t l e more than a photo opportunity — j u s t before the proximity
t a l k s i n Dayton. f e t
Now I know t h a t you, P r e s i d e n t Tudjman, need t o r e t u r n t o Zagreb
because o f your e l e c t i o n s ; and t h a t you, P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c
had i n t e n d e d t o s t a y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s up u n t i l t h e s t a r t o f
the Ohio t a l k s .
But i f we proceeded as planned, w i t h no meeting
i n Moscow b e f o r e t h e Dayton t a l k s , then i t would be a d v i s a b l e t o
go t o Moscow a t some p o i n t b e f o r e t h e f i r s t week o f December. I f
we had an agreement a t t h a t t i m e , i t would n o t be a problem, i t
would l a r g e l y be a f o r m a l i t y . But i f t h e p r o x i m i t y t a l k s had
a d j o u r n e d w i t h o u t an agreement -- something which we hope w i l l
not happen -- a t r i p t o Moscow c o u l d be more c o m p l i c a t e d .
(C)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Does P r e s i d e n t Y e l t s i n i n s i s t t h a t we
come b e f o r e t h e Dayton t a l k s ?
4^—
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The President: No. But he does have a political need for a visit
at some point before the Duma elections. Let me add that I had a
very good talk with Yeltsin. He has great respect for the two of
you and believes that Russia has not done enough to pressure
Milosevic. But he is also under pressure at home over the NATO
issue and because of your recent gains on the battlefield. To
help him strengthen his political base and make sure his
opponents don't interfere with the peace process and with
implementation, Yeltsin proposes to hold this meeting in Moscow.
He is very supportive of the peace process. 4C)
Here i s what we need. I f t h e t h r e e P r e s i d e n t s c o u l d go t o Moscow
f o r j u s t t h r e e hours b e f o r e Dayton, t h e downside would be t h a t
the f i r s t p i c t u r e s o f t h e peace process would be coming from
Russia. But n o t h i n g s u b s t a n t i v e c o u l d be d i s c u s s e d i n such a
s h o r t t i m e and t h e Russians c o u l d n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h what happens
afterwards.
I n s h o r t , we don't t h i n k a n y t h i n g bad c o u l d happen
and t h e Russian people c o u l d see t h a t Y e l t s i n i s p a r t o f t h e
peace process.
I n sum, I t h i n k i t i s s a f e r t o go now, even
though I know i t i s hard on you, P r e s i d e n t Tudjman, and much
harder on you, P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c . For P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c ,
we c o u l d g i v e you a n i c e m i l i t a r y plane t h a t c o u l d t a k e you t o
Moscow and t h e n d i r e c t l y t o Ohio. There c o u l d be a d o c t o r , and
t h e p l a n e would n o t need t o r e f u e l o r t o make any o t h e r s t o p s .
Given t h e r i s k s o f d o i n g i t l a t e r , I t h i n k i t would be b e s t t o
get t h e Moscow v i s i t over w i t h .
I f i t i s too p o l i t i c a l l y
d i f f i c u l t f o r you, we can p u t i t o f f u n t i l a l a t e r d a t e . But i f
we do n o t go b e f o r e t h e Duma e l e c t i o n s -- t h a t i s , b e f o r e t h e
f i r s t week o f December -- we c o u l d be i n v i t i n g t h e Russians t o
screw up t h e peace process o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a s e t t l e m e n t .
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: I agree w i t h you t h a t i t would be b e t t e r t o
go t o Moscow b e f o r e Dayton. I t c o u l d h e l p i n f l u e n c e t h e Serb
s i d e and encourage t h e Russians t o be more c o n s t r u c t i v e . -(C)P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Should we leave on t h e 30th, g i v e n t h e
Croatian e l e c t i o n s ? --4
4CThe P r e s i d e n t : We might need t o s t a r t t h e Dayton t a l k s on
November 1 o r 2. R i c h a r d Holbrooke has a l o t o f c r e d i b i l i t y and
can e x p l a i n a s h o r t d e l a y . We would say t h a t we wanted t o have
Y e l t s i n t e l l t h e Serbs t o make peace, -f&fP r e s i d e n t Tudjman:
meeting. -f€-)-
That i s t h e o n l y reason f o r t h e Moscow
The P r e s i d e n t :
I t i s f o r t h a t reason and a l s o t o ensure t h a t t h e
Russians do n o t g e t i n t o our way on i m p l e m e n t a t i o n .
L e t me
r e p e a t t h a t Y e l t s i n was v e r y honest w i t h me. We have a good
rPlNFTPFNTTMj/
CLINTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
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�COMF1DENTIAL
r e l a t i o n s h i p . But t h e r e are bad guys i n Russia who want us t o g e t
i n t o a f i g h t w i t h t h e Serbs. We don't want those f o r c e s t o w i n
the Duma e l e c t i o n s on December 17. 4^4P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: Yes, r e c e n t l y Z h i r i n o v s k y was i n B e l g r a d e .
He was campaigning a g a i n s t peace and f o r t h e defense o f t h e
Orthodox w o r l d , -f&fP r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : When are t h e Duma e l e c t i o n s ? -(C)•
The P r e s i d e n t : December 17. Doing t h e Moscow meeting a f t e r
December 4 w i l l be t o o l a t e , because i t s p o l i t i c a l purposes would
be t o o o b v i o u s . -fC)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I t i s p o s s i b l e f o r me t o go t o Moscow on
the 3 0 t h . -fe)
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman:
The 31st would be b e t t e r f o r me. -f&f
The P r e s i d e n t : This would mean that you would a r r i v e i n Dayton
l a t e on the 31st or November 1 s t . We w i l l f l y you there so that
there are no stops for r e f u e l i n g . 4€4
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman and P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c :
The P r e s i d e n t :
(The President
discussion)
Okay. -fG-)
The f a s t e r we can do i t , t h e b e t t e r .
then
asked
Richard
Holbrooke
to
join
the
R i c h a r d Holbrooke: We need t o understand t h a t t h i s meeting i n
Moscow i s n o t a Contact Group meeting. The U.S. r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
w i l l be Ambassador P i c k e r i n g . Any o t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n would
t u r n i t i n t o a n e g o t i a t i o n s e s s i o n . Secondly, t h e r e w i l l be no
j o i n t d e c l a r a t i o n o r j o i n t statement. The Russians may make a
u n i l a t e r a l statement o f 2 or 3 sentences, b u t t h i s would n o t be
s u b j e c t t o any p r o t r a c t e d n e g o t i a t i o n s . -f6-)The President: We don't need a declaration because the purpose
of the meeting is to enable Yeltsin to send a signal to the Serbs
and for Russia to be seen to be involved in the process. •A^Richard Holbrooke: The Moscow meeting w i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y improve
Russian support both for the Dayton t a l k s and for the
implementation f o r c e . The only thing i s how to s e t things i n
motion. I w i l l c a l l M i l o s e v i c . I f he says no, then i t ' s a new
b a l l game. I f he says yes, then we w i l l proceed with a Moscow
meeting on October 31. -tCT"
-
End o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
•CONFIDENT I A I
tLINTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
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�-gflMgrnF.MTTaT.
C ND N f
OrCT
i
l
t
NATIONAL SECURITY
9024
COUNCIL
W A S H I N G T O N , D.C. 2 0 5 0 4
December 29, 1995
MEMORANDUM FOR MS. MARISA R. LINO
A c t i n g Executive Secretary
Department o f S t a t e
Memoranda o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e Q u a d r i l a t e r a l
M e e t i n g and t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s P u l l - A s i d e Meetings
w i t h P r e s i d e n t F r a n j o Tudjman o f t h e R e p u b l i c o f
C r o a t i a , President A l i j a Izetbegovic Republic o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina and P r e s i d e n t Slobodan
M i l o s e v i c o f Serbia
SUBJECT:
The a t t a c h e d Memoranda o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e December 14, 1995
Q u a d r i l a t e r a l M e e t i n g and t h e p u l l - a s i d e meetings w i t h P r e s i d e n t
F r a n j o Tudjman o f t h e Republic o f C r o a t i a , P r e s i d e n t A l i j a
I z e t b e g o v i c R e p u b l i c o f Bosnia-Herzegovina and P r e s i d e n t Slobodan
M i l o s e v i c o f Serbia are provided f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e . They must be d i s t r i b u t e d v i a NODIS channels
and n o t below t h e Deputy A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y (DAS) l e v e l .
idrew D. Sens
Executive Secretary
Attachments
Tab A
Q u a d r i l a t e r a l Meeting
Tab B
P u l l - a s i d e w i t h P r e s i d e n t Tudjman
Tab C
P u l l - a s i d e w i t h President Izetbegovic
Tab D
P u l l - a s i d e w i t h President M i l o s e v i c
DECUSSfFIED
F..0.! l^,Sc .3i(b)
White Hon tidclinasSeptemberl ,2006
""(.'uicMincsSepteni'
By
N R , D t lOffilf
A A ae
;
•COMF1DEWTTRL
Classified
Reason: 1
Declassify
.^LOTTIBRARY
On:
12/28/05
DU
0T0
C
�NATIONAL SECURITY
9024
COUNCIL
W A S H I N G T O N , D.C. 2 0 5 0 4
December 28, 1995
ACTION
MEMORANDUM FOR ANDREW D. SENS
FROM:
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW
SUBJECT:
Memoranda o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e Q u a d r i l a t e r a l
Meeting and t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s P u l l - A s i d e Meetings
w i t h P r e s i d e n t Franjo Tudjman o f t h e R e p u b l i c o f
Croatia, President A l i j a Izetbegovic Republic o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina and P r e s i d e n t Slobodan
M i l o s e v i c o f Serbia
A t t a c h e d a t Tabs A t h r o u g h D a r e t h e Memoranda o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
from t h e December 14, 1995 Q u a d r i l a t e r a l Meeting and t h e
P r e s i d e n t ' s P u l l - A s i d e Meetings w i t h P r e s i d e n t F r a n j o Tudjman o f
the R e p u b l i c o f C r o a t i a , P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c R e p u b l i c o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and P r e s i d e n t Slobodan M i l o s e v i c o f S e r b i a .
RECOMMENDATION
That you s i g n t h e memo a t Tab I t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e Memoranda o f
C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e meetings t o t h e Department o f S t a t e .
That t h e a t t a c h e d Memoranda o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
f i l e d f o r the record.
Approve
o f t h e meetings be
Disapprove
Attachments
Tab I Memorandum t o S t a t e
Tab A
Q u a d r i l a t e r a l Meeting
Tab B
P u l l - a s i d e w i t h P r e s i d e n t Tudjman
Tab C
Pull-aside with President Izetbegovic
Pull-aside with President Milosevic
Tab D
DECLASSIKIKI)
E.0.13516, Sre.3i»(h)
Whhe House (hidden, tynmkr II, 2006
-GQHfTDttNTlAL
Reason: 1.5
Declassify O
l
h LIBRARY
DN
Jm.
�9
C I T N L B A Y POOOY
L N O I R R HTCP
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COHFIDENTiftfr
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Q u a d r i l a t e r a l Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t s F r a n j o
Tudjman o f C r o a t i a , A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Slobodan M i l o s e v i c o f
Serbia
(U)
PARTICIPANTS
U.S.
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t
for National Security A f f a i r s
Samuel R. Berger, Deputy A s s i s t a n t t o t h e
President f o r National Security A f f a i r s
R i c h a r d Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC S t a f f ( N o t e t a k e r )
F r a n j o Tudjman, P r e s i d e n t o f t h e R e p u b l i c o f
Croatia
A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Republic
of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Slobodan M i l o s e v i c . P r e s i d e n t o f S e r b i a
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
December 14, 1995, 9:20-9:45 a.m.
U.S. Ambassador's Residence, P a r i s , France
The P r e s i d e n t : Welcome. You have a l l taken s i g n i f i c a n t r i s k s i n
g e t t i n g t o today's peace agreement, and t h e r e a r e s e r i o u s r i s k s
s t i l l ahead. We are prepared t o share those r i s k s , n o t o n l y i n
our m i l i t a r y involvement, b u t i n doing our p a r t i n t h e
reconstruction effort.
I would l i k e t o hear your views, b u t
f i r s t l e t me make a few p o i n t s .
—
F i r s t , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t we s t ay w i t h t h i s agreement. There
can be f l e x i b i l i t y i n implementat ion, b u t we should n o t change
the terms o f t h e Dayton agreement
Genuine freedom o f movement
needs t o be guaranteed as soon as p o s s i b l e . The e l e c t i o n s need
to be c a r r i e d o u t . The removal o f a l l f o r e i g n f o r c e s i s v e r y
important.
I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t a l l o f you b e l i e v e t h a t IFOR i s
d o i n g t h e j o b t h a t you agreed i t should do i n an evenhanded way.
Let me say t o each o f you persona l l y t h a t I have g r e a t p e r s o n a l
JZmFi DENT IAL
Reason: 1.5(b)(g)
_
Declassify ogLWFOff LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY PERFO.'
�CONFIDENTIMT
c o n f i d e n c e i n General Joulwan and A d m i r a l Smith. They are b o t h
v e r y good men.
But i f any o f you b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e y are not
d o i n g t h e i r j o b i n an evenhanded way, l e t me know d i r e c t l y .
The
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n f o r c e w i l l make the agreement you c r e a t e d a t
Dayton a r e a l i t y .
Our t r o o p s are t r a i n e d and ready t o do j u s t
t h a t . -fetSecond, I want t o s t r e s s how i m p o r t a n t I r e g a r d t h e l e t t e r t h a t
you w r o t e t o me e x p r e s s i n g your commitment t o ensure t h e s a f e t y
of U.S. and A l l i e d t r o o p s . T h i s l e t t e r h e l p e d g r e a t l y w i t h t h e
American people. Other t h i n g s t h a t are a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o me and
t o t h e American people i n c l u d e : the r i g h t o f refugees t o r e t u r n ;
the p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e human r i g h t s o f every e t h n i c group,
wherever t h e y l i v e ; and t h e a b i l i t y o f t h e work o f t h e War Crimes
T r i b u n a l t o go f o r w a r d and be r e s p e c t e d . I a l s o b e l i e v e t h a t any
step t h a t you can t a k e t o symbolize t h e b e n e f i t s o f peace would
be v e r y i m p o r t a n t . I encourage you t o move toward mutual
r e c o g n i t i o n and t o c o n s i d e r v i s i t i n g one a n o t h e r ' s c a p i t a l s .
Symbolic a c t i o n s can have a major impact on your own people and
the r e s t o f t h e w o r l d . -fet
What you have done i n r e a c h i n g t h i s peace agreement i s v e r y
i m p o r t a n t ; i t t r u l y m a t t e r s t o people t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d .
We
w i l l do a l l we can t o make i t succeed.
You need t o work i n an
open atmosphere i n o r d e r t o i n c r e a s e mutual t r u s t .
The U n i t e d
S t a t e s w i l l be t r u e to' i t s word -- t o each and a l l o f you. • (CfP r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c : The s t r o n g e s t guarantee o f success i s the
f a c t t h a t a l l t h e people are f o r peace. The Serbs, Muslims and
Croats -- or a t l e a s t a b i g m a j o r i t y -- a l l want peace. That i s
why I'm an o p t i m i s t . No one can say t h e r e won't be any problems.
There i s a rough road ahead, but t h e r e i s no doubt i n my mind
t h a t success i s guaranteed. The main key t o success i s t h e
evenhanded i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the agreement.
-frC)The P r e s i d e n t : One t h i n g t h a t a l l o f you s h o u l d t h i n k about, i n
a d d i t i o n t o r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , i s how t o f i n d ways t o demonstrate t o
the people who l i v e i n t h e r e g i o n and t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d t h a t
o r d i n a r y people want peace. The media don't do t h a t . They p a i d
g r e a t a t t e n t i o n when people were d y i n g , when o r d i n a r y people were
s u f f e r i n g . But s i n c e you agreed t o a c e a s e f i r e and t o the peace
agreement, the o n l y p u b l i c i t y i s focused on t h e p o i n t s o f
t r o u b l e . You need t o f i n d ways t o show t h e w o r l d and t h e people
i n s i d e Bosnia t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n wants peace. A
b i g problem t h a t we had w i t h members o f Congress i s t h e f a c t
t h a t , from the minute the f i g h t i n g stopped, t h e y have been
f o c u s i n g o n l y on t h e bad t h i n g s . There w i l l always be problems,
but we need t o do a b e t t e r j o b i n h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e good news.
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P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: You can be sure, Mr. P r e s i d e n t , t h a t we w i l l
do e v e r y t h i n g necessary f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e peace
agreement. I would l i k e t o s t r e s s one p o i n t t h a t i s o f g r e a t
importance:
implementation of the settlement i n Eastern
Slavonia.
•fef
The P r e s i d e n t :
I agree.
I want t o d i s c u s s t h a t w i t h you.
*
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : The common people i n Bosnia want peace.
I'm n o t sure about some groups, however. We expect t h a t
P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c w i l l calm those groups, - ( ^ h
President Milosevic:
With your h e l p .
4C4-
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : We w i l l cooperate i n t h i s r e g a r d . The
p r o o f t h a t t h e people want peace i s t h a t t h e c e a s e f i r e has been
m a i n t a i n e d w i t h o u t any s e r i o u s i n c i d e n t s , and t h e s m a l l i n c i d e n t s
have been v e r y r a r e . People are t i r e d o f war. I t i s v e r y
i m p o r t a n t t h a t a l l t h e p a r t s o f t h e peace agreement be
implemented, e s p e c i a l l y those on human r i g h t s and t h e r i g h t o f
refugees t o r e t u r n . Perhaps t h e most i m p o r t a n t p r o v i s i o n s o f a l l
are those c o n c e r n i n g e l e c t i o n s . This i s a problem f o r t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l community — f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e
OSCE. Help on e l e c t i o n s i s as i m p o r t a n t as your t r o o p s , s i n c e i t
i s t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e t o removing those who c r e a t e d t h e h a t r e d from
power, and t h e r e b y c r e a t i n g an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r Bosnia and t h e
r e g i o n t o achieve a b e t t e r f u t u r e . L e t me assure you t h a t your
t r o o p s a r e welcome i n Bosnia. I b e l i e v e t h e y w i l l have no
problems, - f e t "
The P r e s i d e n t : The e l e c t i o n s are i m p o r t a n t n o t o n l y t o
e l i m i n a t i n g those who may n o t r u n f o r o f f i c e from p o l i t i c a l l i f e
(as you agreed a t Dayton), b u t t o show every e t h n i c group t h a t
t h e y can be r e p r e s e n t e d , t h a t t h e i r v o i c e s w i l l be heard.
I will
emphasize t h e e l e c t i o n s when I speak t o t h e conference t h i s
morning. We w i l l do a l l we can t o make sure t h a t t h e agreement
you designed can work. One o f t h e missions o f IFOR i s t o c r e a t e
a secure environment so t h a t t h e e l e c t i o n s can be h e l d . We want
the IFOR m i s s i o n t o be t e r m i n a t e d i n an a p p r o p r i a t e way. We
can't do t h a t unless f r e e e l e c t i o n s a r e a f a c t . -(C)
P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c : A f t e r t h e f i r s t e l e c t i o n s , I'm convinced
t h a t we w i l l be a b l e t o d e f i n e t h e s i t u a t i o n as normal.
E l e c t i o n s w i l l be a t u r n i n g p o i n t . -fG-h
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e e l e c t i o n s be
h e l d i n normal c o n d i t i o n s — t h a t i s , t e r r o r must have been
removed, and most people must have been r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r homes.
Without such c o n d i t i o n s , i n areas where r a d i c a l e t h n i c c l e a n s i n g
o c c u r r e d and t e r r o r now r u l e s , t h e r e w i l l n o t be a p o s s i b i l i t y o f
conn DENT IALP I TNTDN LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
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f r e e and f a i r e l e c t i o n s . So we must f i r s t c r e a t e t h e c o n d i t i o n s
f o r e l e c t i o n s b e f o r e t h e e l e c t i o n s can take p l a c e . -(C)P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: I t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t a l l t h r e e
c o n s t i t u e n t peoples be equal d u r i n g and a f t e r t h e e l e c t i o n s .
This i s i m p o r t a n t f o r Bosnia's f u t u r e peace. ( f )
Secretary Christopher: All three Presidents worked hard to
maximize the chances for successful elections, in terms of the
allocation of offices and provisions for voting. The main thing
is to implement the terms you so carefully worked out in Dayton.
Now I suggest that the President meet for a few minutes
individually with each leader. -{&)
The P r e s i d e n t : L e t me make one more comment. The c o n f i d e n c e you
have expressed i n t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n needs t o be communicated t o
the people on t h e ground. You can change t h e psychology o f t h e
situation.
I was j u s t i n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d , where they f o u g h t
each o t h e r f o r 25 years. Now we have had over 15 months w i t h o u t
fighting.
I t i s u n t h i n k a b l e f o r most people t h a t they c o u l d go
back. W i t h t h e growth i n confidence, t h e whole s i t u a t i o n has
changed. I n t h e face o f s k e p t i c i s m about t h e peace i n Bosnia,
you need t o v o i c e confidence i n your p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t s . -(C)End o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
--
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THE
WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
P u l l - A s i d e Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t F r a n j o
Tudjman o f the Republic o f C r o a t i a (U)
PARTICIPANTS :
U.S.
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t
for National Security A f f a i r s
R i c h a r d Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC S t a f f ( N o t e t a k e r )
Croatia
Franjo Tudjman, P r e s i d e n t
Mate Granic, M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s
Gojko Susak, M i n i s t e r o f Defense
Ambassador Miomir Zuzul, S p e c i a l Envoy
Other A d v i s o r s
December 14, 1995, 9:45-9:55 a.m.
U.S. Ambassador's Residence, P a r i s , France
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
The P r e s i d e n t :
I know how i m p o r t a n t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e
E a s t e r n S l a v o n i a s e t t l e m e n t i s f o r you.
L e t me say t h a t i f you
hadn't shown r e s t r a i n t , t h e whole peace agreement would not have
happened. We want t o h e l p on Eastern S l a v o n i a . -(C)P r e s i d e n t Tudjman: Mr. P r e s i d e n t , t h e r e p o r t by B o u t r o s - G h a l i i s
terrible.
He i s p l a y i n g games i n p r o p o s i n g 9300-11,000 t r o o p s
and s t r e t c h i n g i m p l e m e n t a t i o n over s i x months. I t i s i m p o r t a n t
t h a t you have a p p o i n t e d a r e t i r e d General as c i v i l i a n
a d m i n i s t r a t o r . He can go ahead and b e g i n the process now. -(C)The
President:
He's a good man. "TCT"
P r e s i d e n t Tudjman:
Belgian forces.
You should t r y t o g e t the Nordics
—
CONFIDENTIAIJ
Reason: 1.5(b
5
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�• CONFI DDHTIMiR i c h a r d Holbrooke:
are c r a z y . • (C) "
We agree t h a t B o u t r o s - G h a l i ' s
President Tudjman:
And six months is too long.
t r o o p numbers
JrG^
The P r e s i d e n t :
I w i l l work on t h i s today.
I w i l l t r y t o speak
w i t h B o u t r o s - G h a l i and g e t him t o move. We can't w a i t .
(O—
President Tudjman: If new troops are needed, the Nordic
battalion can be redeployed to Eastern Slavonia from Tuzla now
that U.S. forces have arrived. That would only take a couple of
days. -{Cf
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : We a l s o wanted t o exchange views w i t h you
on t h e importance t h a t we and our Congress a t t a c h t o t h e
Federation.
4^The President: We won a big vote in the Senate yesterday. We
managed to get a group of Republicans to vote with me. Many in
Congress are saying that they are worried that the Federation
will break up. I ask you to make sure that the Croats in the
Federation work hard to strengthen the Federation. We will work
to ensure that they are treated fairly. "tChP r e s i d e n t Tudjman: I am sure t h e Croats w i l l do a l l they can t o
make t h e F e d e r a t i o n work. You need t o convince t h e Muslim
leadership.
For example, t h e r e need t o be more Croats
r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e F e d e r a t i o n abroad. .(•€-)'•
The
President:
I agree,
End
o f Conversation
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
P u l l - A s i d e Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t A l i j a
I z e t b e g o v i c o f t h e Republic o f BosniaHerzegovina (U)
PARTICIPANTS:
U.S.
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t
for National Security A f f a i r s
R i c h a r d Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC S t a f f (Notetaker)
Bosnia-Herzegovina
A l i j a Izetbegovic, President
K r e s i m i r Zubak, P r e s i d e n t o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n
Muhamed Sacirbey, M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s
Hasan M u r a t o v i c , M i n i s t e r f o r R e l a t i o n s w i t h
the UN
Other A d v i s o r s
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
December 14, 1995, 9:55-10:05 a.m.
U.S. Ambassador's Residence, P a r i s , France
The P r e s i d e n t : You a r e a b s o l u t e l y r i g h t about t h e importance o f
the e l e c t i o n s . They a r e an i m p o r t a n t measure o f success f o r us
as well. We can't leave honorably if the elections aren't done
right. We will do all we can. I will emphasize the importance
of the elections with the Europeans today. I will also announce
some reconstruction funds. -^Gf-^
One o f t h e g r e a t e s t concerns we faced i n seeking Congressional
s u p p o r t , and an i s s u e t h a t we have r a i s e d w i t h you b e f o r e , i s t h e
s a f e t y o f our t r o o p s i n t h e event t h e Mujahedin do n o t leave and
i f you do n o t end your m i l i t a r y and o p e r a t i o n a l i n t e l l i g e n c e
c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h I r a n . Our people a r e v u l n e r a b l e . I f any a c t i o n
were t a k e n by these f o r c e s a g a i n s t our t r o o p s , i t c o u l d s h a t t e r
the whole o p e r a t i o n . I t c o u l d j e o p a r d i z e o u r a b i l i t y t o equip
and t r a i n your f o r c e s . As you know, I t o l d t h e Congress t h a t we
w i l l equip and t r a i n your f o r c e s -- t h i s i s something we must do
•CONFIDENTIAL »
Reason:
1.51b)(d)
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�CONriDCNTIALor e l s e t h e r e w i l l n o t be a l a s t i n g peace. I am stronglycommitted t o t h i s .
But i f we were t o l o s e a couple o f s o l d i e r s
to f o r c e s connected t o I r a n , i t c o u l d wreck t h e whole t h i n g . So
I want t o do what I promised t o do, b u t t h i s i s t h e one area t h a t
c o u l d undermine my commitment.
President Izetbegovic: As I told you earlier, your troops will
be completely safe. The units of the Mujahedin have been
dismantled. In the days to come, we will give you more details.
The majority of these forces have already left. But there are
small numbers that do not have any place to go. They are
political opponents in their home countries, and many have
families in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But as military units, they have
ceased to exist. I understand your concern on this. There will
be individuals who stay, but it will be as civilians and in parts
of the country in which they will be under complete control. We
don't know what to do with them as persons, but they are not
soldiers anymore, and they have given a solemn promise that they
will not deal with anything military. We will watch them. It is
in our interest not to create any problems in this regard. If
you provide us with evidence that people are terrorists, we will
take action. But the Mujahedin units do not exist.
(Cf
The P r e s i d e n t :
I understand why they came. You needed h e l p
wherever you c o u l d f i n d i t . Those were desperate t i m e s . But we
are your f r i e n d s . We want t o h e l p -- t o make t h e F e d e r a t i o n
work, t o make Bosnia a u n i f i e d s t a t e i n every r e s p e c t . But t h i s
problem c o u l d d e s t r o y t h e p u b l i c base o f support i n t h e U.S. f o r
IFOR. We w i l l work w i t h you and t e l l you what we know, b u t t h i s
i s s t i l l a p o t e n t i a l l y s e r i o u s problem. We are doing what we can
to guard a g a i n s t t h i s danger. We w i l l take you a t your word.
Secretary Christopher: Let me say a few words about the
importance of making a success of the Federation. We heard
considerable worry from the Congress about the Federation's
future. Providing a real role for the Croats is going to be very
important. In this regard, we are pleased that President Zubak
is here. I know you will do your part. -(Cf
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : We are d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n our power t o
ensure t h a t t h e F e d e r a t i o n f u n c t i o n s . Three days ago, we had a
meeting o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n p a r l i a m e n t . Things are moving f o r w a r d .
Between December 20 and 22, some v e r y s e n s i t i v e laws should be
passed -- on defense and f o r m a t i o n o f a j o i n t army and j o i n t
p o l i c e f o r c e . Judging by what I have seen, t h e r e f o r e , t h i n g s a r e
i m p r o v i n g . -(&)
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : You a l s o signed a good agreement i n
Dayton which needs t o be f i l l e d o u t . • (C)
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The P r e s i d e n t : What about t h e Serbs i n t h e suburbs o f Sarajevo?
Can you do more t o discourage them from l e a v i n g and t o make them
f e e l t h a t t h e y w i l l be t r e a t e d f a i r l y ? "fefP r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : Yesterday I had a meeting on t h i s s u b j e c t
w i t h M i l o s e v i c t h a t l a s t e d n e a r l y two hours. I t o l d him -- and I
w i l l r e p e a t t h i s i n my speech -- t h a t t h e Serbs i n Sarajevo w i l l
be g i v e n a c h o i c e as t o whether t o leave or s t a y . We a r e c a l l i n g
on them t o s t a y . We are t r y i n g t o e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t ; we have
sent d e l e g a t i o n s t o speak w i t h them, b u t they don't dare t o see
us.
I even asked t h e German Ambassador t o go t o those suburbs
where Farben had a f a c t o r y t o encourage them t o remain. • (Cf
R i c h a r d Holbrooke:
The Serbs w i l l t a l k w i t h you a f t e r A d m i r a l
Smith and h i s f o r c e s a r r i v e . 4C)
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : That i s p o s s i b l e . Once t h e f o r c e s o f
K a r a d z i c l e a v e , t h e r e w i l l be a p e r i o d when no army i s i n those
areas. Then we w i l l have a b e t t e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n t a c t t h e
Serbs.
We a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n seeing them s t a y . We want t o
m a i n t a i n a c o s m o p o l i t a n p i c t u r e i n Sarajevo. -(C)-- End o f C o n v e r s a t i o n --
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THE WHITE
HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
P u l l - A s i d e Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t
M i l o s e v i c o f Serbia (U)
Slobodan
PARTICIPANTS
U.S .
The P r e s i d e n t
Warren C h r i s t o p h e r , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t
for National Security A f f a i r s
R i c h a r d Holbrooke, A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r European and Canadian A f f a i r s
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC S t a f f ( N o t e t a k e r )
Serbia
Slobodan M i l o s e v i c , P r e s i d e n t o f S e r b i a
Momir B u l a t o v i c , P r e s i d e n t o f Montenegro
Milan M i l u t i n o v i c , M i n i s t e r of Foreign
A f f a i r s o f t h e Federal Republic o f
Yugoslavia
Goran M i l i n o v i c , Chief o f Cabinet t o
President Milosevic
Other A d v i s o r s
December 14, 1995, 10:05-10:15 a.m.
U.S. Ambassador's Residence, P a r i s , France
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
The President: I just wanted to say that I know that this
agreement would not have been possible without you. Whatever our
differences in the past, you made Dayton possible. Now it is
important to make it work. I want to personally ask that you
work with Admiral Smith. He's a good man and committed to his
mission. If you cooperate, I think we can make it happen. We
are depending on you to keep the radicals among the Bosnian Serbs
from derailing the agreement. On Sarajevo, I know you had a long
discussion with President Izetbegovic. He needs to make the
Serbs who stay in the Federation -- and we hope that many of them
will stay -- believe that they will be treated fairly and have
their voices heard. •{Cf -
Reason: 1.5(b)
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2
President M i l o s e v i c :
The only dangerous spot i s Sarajevo.
This
i s not because of a d i r e c t m a t e r i a l threat, but because of the
psychology of the s i t u a t i o n . I f there i s an understanding on an
implementation plan -- a t r a n s i t i o n period that makes the Serbs
f e e l that they have a r e a l choice — then things w i l l calm down.
I explained t h i s to Admiral Smith when I met him together with
Ambassador Harriman. We have time to work t h i s out. -fet"
The keys to solving all problems are in the Dayton agreement.
The force commander is authorized to extend the transition period
if, in his personal judgment, an extension is needed. So he can
use the possibility he has under the agreement. Please encourage
Izetbegovic to understand this now. The winter is not adequate
for the transition period; it must be extended in order to calm
the situation. J&jYou know, I asked I z e t b e g o v i c i f he wants t o keep t h e Serbs i n
Sarajevo o r n o t . You must understand t h a t he would l i k e them t o
go and s t a y a t t h e same time -- he wants enough Serbs t o s t a y as
are needed t o m a i n t a i n h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l image. That i s t h e
reality.
Sarajevo was a b i g wound f o r Europe a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f
t h i s c e n t u r y ; i t l e d t o t h e s t a r t o f World War I . I t would be
b e t t e r n o t t o p r o l o n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h i s wound. People must
have a c h o i c e . Under t h e Dayton agreement, people a r e f r e e t o
choose t h e i r p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e .
This i s more i m p o r t a n t than t h e
s t a t i s t i c s o f how many Serbs and how many Muslims t h e r e are i n
Sarajevo.
Let's ensure freedom o f movement and i n d i v i d u a l
freedom and then l e t people decide. We need a t r a n s i t i o n p e r i o d
to move t o a new s i t u a t i o n .
There w i l l need t o be a new c u l t u r a l
c e n t e r i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t o f t h e Republika Srpska -- f o r a
u n i v e r s i t y , academy o f sciences, museums, n a t i o n a l t h e a t e r -- b u t
t h i s w i l l be i n t h e same neighborhood as Sarajevo, t h a t i s , i n
Pale and Lukavica.
So t h i s w i l l be manageable i f t h e r e i s an
u n d e r s t a n d i n g on i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . — (C-)—•
Secretary Christopher:
I want t o thank P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c f o r
h i s c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e r e c e n t Congressional d e l e g a t i o n s . fC)'
P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c : Some o f them s a i d they would l i k e you t o
see so many Congressmen i n such a s h o r t t i m e , Mr. P r e s i d e n t ! -fe-j
S e c r e t a r y C h r i s t o p h e r : You and I had some d i f f i c u l t sessions i n
Dayton, b u t you have done what you s a i d you would. -fC) P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c : Without your h e l p , Mr. C h r i s t o p h e r , we
would n o t have achieved t h e r e s u l t . You were t h e key a t c r i t i c a l
moments . (C)—
1
The P r e s i d e n t :
mall.
(U)
I understand
cmrmarraiCLINTON
you were a b i g h i t a t t h e shopping
LIBRARY
PHOTOCOPY
�«€QMFID#W 1 IAL***
3
Secretary Christopher:
President Milosevic:
And a t t h e O f f i c e r ' s Club.
(U)
We had a good time t h e r e . . (U)
The P r e s i d e n t : A l t h o u g h t h i n g s have been calm s i n c e t h e
c e a s e f i r e , t h e press i s always l o o k i n g f o r something bad t o
r e p o r t . 4C) •
President M i l o s e v i c :
For the press, only bad news i s good news.
Mr. President, may I ask you to think of f u l l normalization of
r e l a t i o n s with Federal Yugoslavia. We have been a l l i e s
throughout our h i s t o r y . Few countries have had such c l o s e
r e l a t i o n s f o r so long with the United S t a t e s . We stood shoulder
to shoulder i n two world wars. The s p o i l i n g of our r e l a t i o n s was
over a t h i r d i s s u e and the r e s u l t of a d i s t o r t e d p i c t u r e on the
part of your p u b l i c opinion. We need f u l l normalization -- we
are the c e n t r a l f a c t o r i n the Balkans, "fet"
The
President:
We've e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t .
President Milosevic:
n o r m a l i z a t i o n . (U)
I don't see any reason n o t t o have
Secretary Christopher:
R i c h a r d Holbrooke:
w a i t i n g . (U)
The
President:
(U)
You've taken a b i g s t e p today.
•(•C)-
Mr. P r e s i d e n t , we can't keep P r e s i d e n t
Chirac
Dick has done w e l l so f a r , hasn't he? (U)
P r e s i d e n t M i l o s e v i c : He's a l u c k y man.
t o implement h i s agreement. (U)
Now t h e r e s t o f you have
-- End o f Conversation
—
CLINTON LIBRARY P O O O Y
HTCP
CONFIDENT
full
�NATIONAL SECURITY
0262
COUNCIL
W A S H I N G T O N , D.C. 2 0 5 0 4
January 23, 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR ANDREW D. SENS
FROM:
ALEXANDER VERSHBOW
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n from t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s
Meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina, January 13, 1996
A t t a c h e d a t Tab A i s t h e Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e
P r e s i d e n t ' s meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c on January 13,
1996.
RECOMMENDATION
That you s i g n t h e memo a t Tab I t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e Memorandum o f
C o n v e r s a t i o n t o t h e Department o f S t a t e .
That t h e a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n be f i l e d f o r t h e
record.
Approve
approve
Attachments
Tab I Memorandum t o S t a t e
Tab A Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
QWasASSIHilD)
*0;.13.5?Mte.3;5
GuidtlinevSepi
:
>€QUFTr)F.mT&LReason: 1.5
Declassify o{
LIBRARY P
H
�*COMFIDENTIAfc-
NATIONAL
SECURITY
0262
COUNCIL
W A S H I N G T O N , D.C. 2 0 5 0 4
January 23, 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. WILLIAM J. BURNS
Executive Secretary
Department o f S t a t e
SUBJECT:
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n Between t h e P r e s i d e n t
and P r e s i d e n t A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia-.
Herzegovina (U)
The a t t a c h e d Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n between t h e P r e s i d e n t and
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c o f Bosnia-Herzegovina i s p r o v i d e d f o r t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e . I t must be d i s t r i b u t e d
v i a NODIS channels and n o t below t h e Deputy A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y
(DAS) l e v e l .
:ew D. Sens
Exdcutfive S e c r e t a r y
Attachment
Tab A
Memorandum o f C o n v e r s a t i o n
-CQMPEDENTIAL
Andxew
C l a s s i f i e d by.; Andrew D. Sexi
Reason: 1. 5 l £
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D e c l a s s i f y On: 01/23/06
OECLASSIHED
T.;:.. 13526, Sec 3.5(b)
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�CQEIFIDEMTIAL-
0262
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASH I NGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting w i t h A l i j a I z e t b e g o v i c , P r e s i d e n t o f
Bosnia-Herzegovina
PARTICIPANTS
The P r e s i d e n t
John Menzies, U.S. Ambassador t o Sarajevo
Anthony Lake, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e P r e s i d e n t f o r
National Security A f f a i r s
Samuel Berger, Deputy A s s i s t a n t t o t h e
President f o r National S e c u r i t y A f f a i r s
Robert G a l l u c c i , Ambassador-at-Large
B r i a n J. Atwood, A d m i n i s t r a t o r , USAID
Alexander Vershbow, Senior D i r e c t o r f o r
European A f f a i r s , NSC S t a f f , N o t e t a k e r
President A l i j a Izetbegovic
Foreign M i n i s t e r Muhamed Sacirbey
M i n i s t e r f o r R e l a t i o n s w i t h IFOR Hasan
Muratovic
F e d e r a t i o n P r e s i d e n t K r e s i m i r Zubak
F e d e r a t i o n Vice P r e s i d e n t Ejup Ganic
F e d e r a t i o n Prime M i n i s t e r Kapetanovic
Presidency Member Lasovic
Ambassador t o U.S. Sven A l k a l a j
DATE, TIME
AND PLACE:
January 13, 1996, 3:52 p.m. - 4:15
p.m.
Vocal, Tuzla A i r Force Base, BosniaHerzegovina
P r e s i d e n t I z e t b e g o v i c : I know we have l i m i t e d t i m e , so I w i l l go
s t r a i g h t t o t h e p o i n t . Our assessment i s t h a t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f
t h e Peace Agreement i s going w e l l o v e r a l l .
I n some areas, i t i s
going v e r y w e l l and U.S. f o r c e s , i n our o p i n i o n , s h o u l d be
c o n g r a t u l a t e d f o r t h e i r v e r y s u c c e s s f u l work. We c o n g r a t u l a t e
them i n p a r t i c u l a r f o r t h e i r r a p i d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e pontoon
b r i d g e , which t h e people o f Bosnia f o l l o w e d w i t h a d m i r a t i o n .
I m p l e m e n t a t i o n has been going v e r y w e l l d e s p i t e the d i f f i c u l t
weather c o n d i t i o n s and the d i f f i c u l t t e r r a i n . We a l l f e l t t h e
weather today.
There are, however, c e r t a i n d i f f i c u l t i e s .
You
• O F DEMraar
CNI
C l a s s i f i e d by: Andrew D. Sens
Reason: 1.5 (b,d)
Declassify og:|_ I O I Y T O N
6
LIBRARY
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COPY PER E.0.13526
�CONFIDENTIAL
have heard o f t h e problems around Mostar. F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e are
s i g n s t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n i s calming down today, and I hope t h e r e
w i l l n o t be any more v i o l e n c e . -fC-)
I would l i k e t o t e l l you p e r s o n a l l y our d i a g n o s i s o f t h e problem
i n Mostar. The t e n s i o n s t h e r e are not a problem o f b o r d e r s ,
f r o n t i e r s or m u n i c i p a l i t i e s b u t a r e s u l t o f the l a c k o f b a s i c
human r i g h t s t h e r e . There i s no r e l i g i o u s or p o l i t i c a l freedom,
no freedom o f movement. I t i s a sad s i t u a t i o n w i t h which t h e
w o r l d must d e a l . I f the problem o f human r i g h t s i s r e s o l v e d , t h e
problem o f Mostar be w i l l r e s o l v e d as w e l l .
I understand t h a t
t o n i g h t you w i l l be meeting w i t h P r e s i d e n t Tudjman. I p l e a d w i t h
you t o have t h i s i n mind when you meet. He can change t h e
s i t u a t i o n t h e r e i n a day.
That i s my o p i n i o n , a l t h o u g h perhaps
n o t t h a t o f every member o f my d e l e g a t i o n . Without p r o g r e s s i n
Mostar, we cannot implement the program f o r the F e d e r a t i o n .
We have a l s o had c e r t a i n d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h r e s p e c t t o S a r a j e v o .
You know t h a t we have p r o c l a i m e d an amnesty w i t h the aim o f
h e l p i n g t o r e s o l v e the issues t h e r e . There are a l r e a d y s i g n s
t h a t t h i s was the r i g h t d e c i s i o n , a l t h o u g h i t i s t o o e a r l y t o
judge s i n c e the amnesty i s o n l y f o u r days o l d . However, t h e r e i s
one aspect t h a t d i s t u r b s our people i n Sarajevo. A l l t h e t i m e
the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community t a l k s about the r i g h t o f Serbs t o
s t a y i n t h e i r homes. We accept t h i s , b u t no one ever speaks o f
the r i g h t o f those who were f o r c i b l y e x p e l l e d t h r e e our f o u r
years ago t o r e t u r n t o t h e i r homes. As f o r t h e f o u r suburbs
around Sarajevo t h a t are coming back t o the F e d e r a t i o n , i t i s not
w i t h o u t reason t h a t M i l o s e v i c handed these over. The f o u r are i n
f a c t n o t Serb areas:
a c c o r d i n g t o the 1991 census, none o f them
were o r i g i n a l l y Serb; a l l were m a j o r i t y non-Serb. A l l t h e nonSerb p o p u l a t i o n was k i l l e d or f o r c i b l y e x p e l l e d . T h e r e f o r e , i t
i s i m p o r t a n t t o speak o f s e v e r a l r i g h t s i n Sarajevo:
the r i g h t
of Serbs t o s t a y i n t h e i r homes; the r i g h t o f non-Serbs t o go
back t o t h e i r homes; and the r i g h t o f war c r i m i n a l s t o be
punished f o r what they d i d . I f these t h r e e r i g h t s are p u t i n t o
e f f e c t , t h e n we w i l l f i n d a s o l u t i o n f o r Sarajevo.
I n any case,
l e t me assure you t h a t our government w i l l cooperate i n t h e b e s t
way t o ease your m i s s i o n i n Sarajevo. -fC-)
There i s s t i l l another problem t h a t the U n i t e d S t a t e s s h o u l d know
about.
I r e f e r t o one o f the a r t i c l e s i n the Peace Agreement
about t h e exchange o f p r i s o n e r s and m i s s i n g persons.
The Serb
s i d e has s u b m i t t e d a l i s t o f o n l y 120-130 p r i s o n e r s , even though
we have more than 20,000 who are m i s s i n g . This c r e a t e s a s e r i o u s
problem.
R e c e n t l y , Americans d i s c o v e r e d a new mass grave i n
Bosnia-Herzegovina. We are a s k i n g t h a t the grave s i t e s be
checked and t h a t the m i s s i n g from S r e b r e n i c a be accounted f o r .
^ ^ C L I N T O N LIBRARY P O O O Y
HTCP
�''CONFI DEMTIAL
3
Let me r e p e a t t h a t we thank you f o r coming t o Bosnia, and we a l s o
thank t h e American people and the American government f o r your
engagement i n s o l v i n g the c o n f l i c t .
I t i s our b e l i e f t h a t your
e f f o r t w i l l not be i n v a i n . -fGf
The P r e s i d e n t :
I a p p r e c i a t e your e f f o r t i n coming here today.
I
know how d i f f i c u l t i t was.
The weather i s d e t e r i o r a t i n g , and I
w i l l have t o be b r i e f i n o r d e r t o make my d e p a r t u r e b u t l e t me
make a few p o i n t s . F i r s t , w i t h r e s p e c t t o Mostar, we are v e r y
concerned about the s i t u a t i o n , and I w i l l have a v e r y c l e a r
c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h P r e s i d e n t Tudjman t o n i g h t on t h i s s u b j e c t .
We
cannot l e t t h a t s i t u a t i o n endanger the i n t e g r i t y o f t h e
Federation.
For the Peace Agreement t o work o u t , we must
p r e s e r v e the F e d e r a t i o n and human r i g h t s w i t h i n t h e F e d e r a t i o n ,
-fetSecond, on Sarajevo, we are v e r y concerned about the a t t a c k s on
innocent c i v i l i a n s .
I'm pleased t h a t , d e s p i t e those i n c i d e n t s ,
you went ahead w i t h your amnesty. I n doing t h i s , you d i d the
right thing.
These kinds o f c o n f i d e n c e - b u i l d i n g measures w i l l be
w e l l r e c e i v e d . But I a l s o agree t h a t we have not done a good j o b
i n s a y i n g n o t o n l y t h a t the Serbs have the r i g h t t o s t a y b u t t h a t
o t h e r groups have the r i g h t t o come back. We w i l l t r y t o do a
b e t t e r j o b o f t h i s i n t h e f u t u r e . Meanwhile, a n y t h i n g e l s e you
can do i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f b u i l d i n g c o n f i d e n c e -- f o r example,
e s t a b l i s h i n g a m u l t i - e t h n i c p o l i c e f o r c e — would be v e r y good.
I am r e l y i n g h e a v i l y on Ambassador Menzies and Ambassador
Gallucci.
They w i l l be w o r k i n g v e r y hard on these i s s u e s .
We
w i l l a l s o be s u p p o r t i n g C a r l B i l d t i n the r e c o n s t r u c t i o n e f f o r t .
-tcr
Let me r a i s e one more i s s u e r e l a t i n g t o the equip and t r a i n
program. I understand you have met w i t h Jim Pardew, who i s
a l r e a d y d o i n g a l o t t o assess your needs and t o i d e n t i f y p o s s i b l e
sources f o r meeting those needs. As we have d i s c u s s e d b e f o r e , we
remain concerned about the q u e s t i o n of the Mujahedin. While i t
i s h a r d t o determine who i s i n and who i s o u t , i t i s v e r y
i m p o r t a n t f o r us t h a t the I r a n i a n s go and t h a t t h e terms o f t h e
Dayton Agreement be honored. We want our people t o h e l p t o b u i l d
a s t a b l e democratic s o c i e t y . T h e r e f o r e , I want t o r e a f f i r m our
s t r o n g p o s i t i o n on I r a n . You know how s t r o n g l y we f e e l about
t h i s . -tet
Mr. P r e s i d e n t , i f we don't stop the meeting now, my plane
not be a b l e t o get o u t . Thank you v e r y much.
(U)
President Izetbegovic:
Thank you, Mr.
End o f
President.
(U)
Conversation
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2011-0964-M
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This Mandatory Declassification Review contains material on memcons and telcons between President Clinton and Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic from 1993 thru 1995. Also included is a "pull-aside" memcon with President Clinton and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.
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Bosnia
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Slobodan Milosevic