Peace Talks in Dayton, Ohio. Starting tomorrow, the Presidents of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia will be meeting in Dayton for the first direct peace negotiations. The United States and its partners will host and mediate the negotiations. The purpose is progress toward a final peace agreement.
Seizing the Chance for Peace. Thanks to American leadership, we now have the best chance for peace in Bosnia since war began four years ago. Continued American leadership is vital if we are to seize that chance and stand up for what's right -- for the people of Bosnia; for Europe; and for the United States.
The Clinton Administration's Efforts to Secure Peace in Bosnia Serve American Interests:
o End the Suffering: Securing peace will end the terrible toll of this war -- in innocent lives lost and futures destroyed. Over past four years, the people of Bosnia have suffered the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II: ethnic cleansing; concentration camps; mass executions; systematic rape and terror; terrible shortages of food, medicine, shelter and heat. The best way -- the only way -- to stop these horrors for good is to secure peace. We must stop the killing of innocent people in Bosnia, especially children.
o Stop the War from Spreading. Securing peace will prevent a war we have managed to contain from spreading into neighboring nations and igniting an even larger conflict. The former Yugoslavia borders key NATO allies and struggling new democracies -- many of which have ethnic problems of their own. Today, the violent exploitation of ethnic nationalism is the biggest threat to stability in Europe. Widespread conflict in Europe would threaten our security and require a far different and more costly American intervention.
o A Europe at Peace: The United States fought two world wars and a Cold War in Europe this century to defend freedom and advance the vision of an undivided, peaceful, democratic Europe. Securing peace will bring us another step closer to realizing that vision -- with all the benefits that it would bring for America's long term security and prosperity.
"I have lived through most of this century. The 20th century began with a war in Sarajevo. Mr. President, you must not let 20th Century end with a war in Sarajevo."
- Pope John Paul II, to President Clinton at the end of their October meeting.
Securing Peace in Bosnia Requires Continued American Leadership:
o American Leadership is Key to Peace: The progress we have made toward peace has been the result of American leadership. NATO's bombing campaign -- led by American pilots and their crews -- stopped Serb attacks against Sarajevo and the other safe areas. The Contact Group's determined diplomacy -- led by America's negotiating team -- brought the parties to the peace table. If a peace agreement is signed, NATO must help secure it and America, as NATO's leader, must take part in such an operation.
o If America Doesn't Lead, the Job Won't Get Done: The responsibilities of American leadership are real -- but its benefits are even greater. We see them all over the world: a reduced nuclear threat; democracy in Haiti; peace breaking out in the Middle East and Northern Ireland. In Bosnia, as elsewhere around the world, if America does not lead, the job will not get done.
o Thanks to intensive diplomacy by the U.S. and its partners, parties agreed in Geneva (9/8/95) and New York (9/26/95) to basic principles of settlement , and subsequently to cease-fire.
o Many, many difficult issues still must be resolved, including: (i) an internal boundary between Bosnian-Croat Federation and Serb Republic; (ii) the status of Sarajevo; (iii) practical steps for separating forces and ceasing hostilities; (iv) procedures for elections.
o After Dayton, the next steps will be an international peace conference in Paris and a conference on implementation in London.
o The United States and its partners will continue to do everything in their power to press for peace. But only the parties themselves can make it. The eyes of world will be on them in Dayton.