[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         BOSNIA'S SECOND WINTER

  Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, after a long recess, Congress has now 
reconvened for the new session. During the recess, the war in Bosnia 
and Herzegovina continued unabated:
  Serb shelling intensified in many places, including Sarajevo.
  Croat-Bosnian fighting, brought about by Croation attempts to join 
with Serbia in taking Bosnian territory, persisted in the central part 
of the country, with atrocities by both sides reported.
  Humanitarian relief operations continue to be deliberately 
interrupted.
  Also during the break, unfortunately, we saw the international 
community do virtually nothing--certainly nothing effective--to bring 
an end to the war. NATO repeated its warning of air strikes against the 
Serbs laying siege to Sarajevo and other civilian centers, but 
conveniently left a decision on the matter to the United Nations. In 
the meantime, the major European powers and the United States bicker 
endlessly over who is at fault for this mess and who should take the 
lead in cleaning it up. Hopefully, President Clinton's reaffirmation of 
the air strike option yesterday will encourage more forceful 
involvement by our European allies.
  I was glad to see that this Senate took up the issue soon after its 
return to Washington. The 87-to-9 vote calling for the lifting of the 
arms embargo on Bosnia-Herzegovina, made it clear that Bosnia-
Herzegovina is the victim in the war, not just one of the so-called 
warring factions. It recognized Bosnia's right to self-defense, a right 
that must be respected if the international community is unwilling to 
defend this U.N. member.
  More broadly, the vote made clear that Bosnia is not going to go 
away, no matter how much the world, the administration, and perhaps 
some here would like it to do. Morally, we cannot ignore it; it is 
genocide in our own time.
  Strategically, we cannot ignore it; it still threatens to spread and 
affect our European security interests, directly and indirectly.
  Tomorrow, Mr. President, I am hosting a Helsinki Commission briefing 
with the first official Bosnian representative to the United States, 
Mr. Sven Alkalaj, who arrived here late last year and has now 
established an Embassy. I would like to invite all my colleagues in the 
Senate to attend, even if only for a few minutes.
  Given the importance of the Bosnian conflict, and irrespective of 
one's personal views on it, the briefing will give many of us a first 
chance to meet Mr. Alkalaj to hear about the situation in his country 
right now, and to learn the Bosnian Government's views.
  The room is H328 of the Capitol, and the time is 2:30 tomorrow, 
February 2. I hope to see my colleagues there.

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