[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           LIFTING THE ARMS EMBARGO ON BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to express my 
view that the arms embargo, which eliminates the right of self-defense 
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be lifted. Hopefully, the arms 
embargo can be lifted on a multilateral basis where the United States 
would be joined by our allies in such a course of conduct, an action in 
support of the Bosnia Moslems.
  Unless that can be done by international agreement on the basis of 
the current record, it seems to me that we ought to act unilaterally to 
end the arms embargo. I have talked to ranking officials at the 
Department of State who have expressed a strong view that the Dole 
resolution not be enacted so that the administration would have further 
time to try to work on an arrangement which would find support among 
our allies.
  It may well be that the resolution offered by Senator Dole, which was 
debated a week ago last Thursday, has had some significant impact, in 
view of the strong support which was expressed during the course of 
that debate. I also made a statement on the floor on April 21, 1994.
  There has been a suggestion that an alternative resolution would be 
offered by Senator Mitchell, a matter which was discussed earlier today 
in the Republican caucus, and a proposed resolution which was referred 
to by officials of the State Department. But, as yet, according to 
information provided to me, that resolution has not been filed.
  Mr. President, it is my view that some very forceful action is 
necessary to assist the Bosnian Moslems, and I am prepared to await the 
filing of the Mitchell resolution and to consider it. But unless 
something very forceful is done, it seems to me that it is minimal for 
us to remove the arms embargo and, if necessary, to take that action 
unilaterally. The atrocities in that war are really unspeakable. There 
is no call to recount them or to refer to them at this time, because 
they are universally agreed upon.
  It is my view, my legal judgment, after reviewing the legalities of 
the matter, that there is no legal impediment to the United States 
unilaterally lifting the arms embargo. The arms embargo was imposed on 
the former Yugoslavia before there was even a nation of Bosnia. The 
right of self-defense is as fundamental as any right in human 
existence--self-preservation and self-defense. That right has been 
embodied in article 51 of the U.N. Charter.
  The issue of doing more has been debated on this floor and has been 
debated around the world, in terms of airstrikes, which I have 
supported and spoken about. On the issue of ground support, it is very 
hard to see any realistic possibility of the United States or the 
United Nations engaging in ground support to try to end that bloody 
battle. We ought to be doing as much as we can realistically, and the 
airstrikes are one line of approach. Another line of approach is the 
lifting of the arms embargo.
  The issue really has to be resolved once and for all, Mr. President, 
and on the current state of the record, it is my view that the Dole 
resolution offers the best alternative. We are not scheduled to vote on 
this until tomorrow, and we will have a chance to examine whatever it 
is that Senator Mitchell may offer as an alternative.
  One further comment on this matter, Mr. President. When a resolution 
was offered on January 27, 1994, which called for support for Bosnia, I 
was one of seven Senators who opposed that resolution on a vote which I 
believe was 89-7 because that resolution had a provision which said

       The President should provide appropriate military 
     assistance to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina upon a 
     receipt from that Government for a request for assistance in 
     exercising its rights of self-defense under article 51 of the 
     United Nations Charter.''

  I was unprepared, Mr. President, to give President Clinton a blank 
check to provide what he might deem ``appropriate military assistance'' 
because I think that is really a matter for the Congress. In dissenting 
from that resolution, it was not because I was opposed to aiding Bosnia 
and Herzegovina, but because I was opposed to issuing that kind of a 
blank check for the President of the United States.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may 
proceed as in morning business for a period not to exceed 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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