Note: This Electronic Research Collection is an archive site. For the most current information, please visit the
U.S. Department of State 93/03/25 Statement at Signing of Bosnian Peace Plan Office of the Spokesman Statement by Secretary of State Warren Christopher Washington, DC March 25, 1993 The signature today by the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Bosnian Croatian delegation of the principal documents of the Bosnian peace plan, developed in the process of negotiations conducted by co- chairmen Vance and Owen, marks a vital step toward a settlement of the conflict in Bosnia. The US Government welcomes the difficult and courageous decision made by the Bosnian Government. President Izetbegovic has shown commendable statesmanship. We also commend the efforts made by the Bosnian Croatian delegation in reaching this conclusion. We now have an agreement signed by two of the three parties. It is imperative that the Bosnian Serbs reach agreement immediately so that a final settlement of this tragic conflict can be achieved. We call upon the Bosnian Serbs to immediately cease their attacks, to lift the siege and bombardment of Sarajevo and other cities, and to end their campaign of ethnic cleansing. We believe the entire world community must do its utmost to impress upon the Bosnian Serbs and their supporters in Belgrade that they must abandon their present policies. As I stated on February 10 [see Dispatch, Vol. 4, No. 10, p. 81], if there is a viable agreement entered into in good faith by the parties, the United States is prepared to do its share to help implement and enforce such an agreement, working with NATO and under the United Nations. We believe it is of critical importance that this conflict be settled on terms which will preserve the independence and territorial integrity of Bosnia. Such a solution would be in keeping with our values as a nation and the goal of preventing a wider Balkan war. Looking to the day when a settlement of this terrible conflict has been reached, the entire international community should do its utmost to provide economic aid and reconstruction assistance to the Bosnian state. (###)