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U.S. Department of State 93/05/22 Opening Statement at News Conference on Bosnia Office of the Spokesman Opening statement by Secretary of State Warren Christopher at joint news conference with French Foreign Minister Juppe UK Foreign Secretary Hurd Spanish Foreign Minister Solana and Russian Foreign Minister Kozyrev Washington, DC May 22, 1993. Announcement of the Joint Action Program on the Conflict in Bosnia Joint Action Program Good morning. I am pleased to be here today with my colleagues, Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd of the United Kingdom, Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev of Russia, Foreign Minister Javier Solana of Spain, and Foreign Minister Alain Juppe of France. I have been asked by my colleagues to make a short summary statement with respect to our deliberations. We are determined that the international community will act together-- based upon shared responsibilities and common purpose--to bring increased pressure to bear on those engaged in the conflict in Bosnia. Each of us--along with our colleagues in other capitals and at the United Nations--has worked hard to find a common approach that will work to stop the killing in Bosnia, to prevent the conflict from spreading, and to bring concerted pressure on the parties to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict. This international pressure will be brought especially to bear on the Bosnian Serbs, who stand solely isolated from the community of civilized nations. During the last 3 days, we have agreed on a Joint Action Program of further steps which we are announcing today. This Joint Action Program describes the steps we'll be pursuing to extinguish this terrible war and achieve a lasting and equitable settlement. We understand, collectively, that there is an urgent need for action. Taken together, the course of action we outline today is designed to directly affect the environment in Bosnia and escalate the pressure on those still fighting so that a political settlement to this crisis--which must be achieved-- will be more likely. Let me now, on behalf of my colleagues, summarize the specific, concrete steps that we have agreed to take and which are presented in the joint document which you have received. -- We will continue our program of humanitarian assistance to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina to save lives, and we will insist that all parties allow this aid to pass without hindrance. -- We will rigorously enforce the tight and tough regime of sanctions that isolate and pressure Serbia and Montenegro. This pressure will be unrelenting until the necessary conditions of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions are met, including the withdrawal of Bosnian Serb troops from territories occupied by force. -- Each of us will contribute in our own way--for instance, through monitors, technical assistance, or surveillance--to a joint effort that will ensure that Belgrade's promise to close its border with Bosnia is not a shallow one. -- We will work in the United Nations for early adoption of measures that will implement certain "safe areas" in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Each of our nations will make appropriate contributions to securing these "safe areas." In this context, the United States is prepared to meet its commitment to help protect United Nations forces in the event they are attacked and request such action by the United States. -- We will continue to enforce vigorously the no-fly zone established over Bosnia. -- We support the rapid establishment of a war crimes tribunal so that those guilty of atrocities may be brought to justice. -- We will remain intensively involved in efforts to achieve a durable, negotiated settlement to this crisis. To the extent that the parties decide to implement mutually agreed provisions of the Vance-Owen agreement, that is something we would encourage. -- We are putting Croatia on notice that assistance to the Bosnian Croatian forces engaged in fighting and in "ethnic cleansing" could result in international sanctions against Croatia. -- Grave consequences would arise from violence spreading elsewhere in the Balkans. Accordingly, we support an increased international presence in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which we will do in consultation with the authorities in Skopje, and we support an increased presence of international monitoring in Kosovo. -- In addition, we will keep other options open for new and tougher measures, none of which is prejudged or excluded from consideration. Each of us will work--individually and collectively--to define operational plans to carry out these measures promptly. It is a testimony to the strength of our alliance and our new partnership with the Russian Federation that we have arrived at this mutual course of action that I am announcing on behalf of my colleagues and myself today. The actions we announce today will save lives, keep the conflict from spreading, and increase pressure for a negotiated settlement. As our statement says, we are firmly united and committed to prosecuting and pursuing this course of action. Joint Action Program Text of Joint Action Program released by the Office of the Spokesman, Washington, DC, May 22, 1993. France, the Russian Federation, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America are profoundly concerned that the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina is continuing despite the strenuous efforts of the international community and the Co-Chairmen of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, which they strongly support, to bring an end to it. We shall continue to work urgently to help extinguish this terrible war and to achieve a lasting and equitable settlement. We also have common views on the most productive immediate steps to take. These should lead to implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions as well as the elaboration of further steps. 1. Humanitarian Assistance. We will continue providing humanitarian assistance for the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will insist that all parties allow humanitarian aid to pass without hindrance. 2. Sanctions. The economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council against Serbia and Montenegro must be rigorously enforced by all members of the UN until the necessary conditions set out in Security Council Resolution 820, including the withdrawal of Bosnian Serb troops from territories occupied by force, are met for lifting the sanctions. 3. Sealing Borders. We note the pledge of the Belgrade authorities to close the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, in order to put pressure on the Bosnian Serbs to accept the peace plan. We are watching to see if the border closure is effective. Although the primary responsibility for enforcing this step belongs to Belgrade, we can assist, for instance by placing monitors on the borders or providing technical expertise or conducting aerial surveillance. We also note the willingness expressed by the Zagreb authorities for monitoring to take place along the border between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. 4. "Safe Areas." The concept of "safe areas" in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as France and others have proposed, could make a valuable contribution. We will work to secure early adoption of the new UN Security Council resolution now under discussion. The United Kingdom and France along with other nations already have forces serving with UNPROFOR in "safe areas." Troops from other countries, including Spain and Canada, are playing an important role on the ground. The Russian Federation is considering making forces available in Bosnia in addition to its forces presently in Croatia. The United States is prepared to meet its commitment to help protect UNPROFOR forces in the event they are attacked and request such action. Further contributions from other countries would be most welcome 5. No-Fly Zone. The No-Fly Zone should continue to be enforced in Bosnia. 6. War Crimes Tribunal. We support the rapid establishment of the War Crimes Tribunal, so that those guilty of atrocities may be brought to justice. 7. Durable Peace. Negotiated settlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, building on the Vance-Owen process and intensified international cooperation and effort, is the way a durable peace can be established. France, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States will assist and actively participate in a continued political process to this end. To the extent that the parties decide to implement promptly mutually-agreed provisions of the Vance-Owen Plan, this is to be encouraged. 8. Central Bosnia-Herzegovina. We are deeply concerned about the fighting between Bosnian Croatian and Bosnian Government forces and the related "ethnic cleansing," and we agree that Croatia should be put on notice that assistance to Bosnian Croatian forces engaged in these activities could result in the international community imposing sanctions on Croatia. 9. Containment. We will cooperate closely to enhance efforts to contain the conflict and prevent the possibility that it will spill over into neighboring countries. We would regard such a development with the utmost seriousness. 10. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It is essential that everyone in the region understands that aggression against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would have grave consequences. We will support an increase in the international presence there in consultation with the authorities in Skopje. The United States is considering a contribution to this effort. 11. Kosovo. We favor an increase in the international monitoring presence in Kosovo. International standards of human rights should be strictly respected in the formerly-autonomous region of Kosovo, although we do not support declarations of independence there. 12. Croatia. The same considerations apply to the Serb-populated areas of Croatia. We will work for the renewal and strengthening of UNPROFOR's mandate. The Croatian Government and the local Serb authorities should maintain the cease-fire and constructively pursue their dialogue leading to settling practical, economic, and, eventually, political problems between them. 13. Further Measures. We will keep open options for new and tougher measures, none of which is prejudged or excluded from consideration. We five members of the United Nations Security Council are firmly united and firmly committed to taking these immediate steps. We will work closely with the United Nations and the involved regional organizations as we carry out these efforts. (###)