[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1063-E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    THE SERB STRANGLEHOLD ON SARAJEVO

                                 ______


                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 17, 1995
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the 
latest Serbian onslaught directed against innocent civilians in 
Sarajevo, an UN-designated safe-haven. The events of the past 24 hours 
underscore the fact that the besieged city of Sarajevo remains in a 
virtual stranglehold by well-armed Serb militants. UN sources confirmed 
that at least 1,000 shells were fired on Sarajevo. The heavy shelling 
of the Bosnian capital, the worst in over a year, resulted in a score 
of injuries and deaths. Sporadic shelling continues today.
  Some have had the audacity to argue that both sides are equally to 
blame for the attack, a pretext later used to deny the Bosnian 
Government's urgent request for protection of Sarajevo. Attempts to 
equate the forces of the sovereign Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina 
with the marauding bandits led by Radovan Karadzic, a mastermind of 
genocidal aggression in Bosnia, are an affront which must be 
resoundingly rejected. Karadzic, along with Bosnian Serb military 
commander Ratko Mladic and former police chief Mico Stanisic, are under 
active investigation by the War Crimes Tribunal for the former 
Yugoslavia, for their respective roles in the war launched by the Serbs 
in 1992.
  For 3 years now, international negotiators have traveled a well-worn 
path to Pale, the Bosnian Serb headquarters. Nearly a year has passed 
since the Contact Group presented its peace plan on a take-it-or-leave-
it-basis. The Bosnian Government accepted the proposal within the 2 
week deadline. The plan has been repeatedly rejected by the Bosnian 
Serbs with relative impunity despite threats by the Contract Group that 
rejection would carry severe consequences. Further negotiations at this 
time can only be expected to bring further concessions to meet 
Karadzic's demands. [[Page E1064]] 
  Yesterday's attack on Sarajevo highlights the pathetic state of 
affairs and utter impotence of the international community which has 
effectively abrogated its responsibility for enforcing Security Council 
resolutions in Bosnia. The shelling occurs at a time when the United 
Nations is reviewing its mission in Bosnia--a mission which, in my 
opinion, has been seriously undermine since UN forces began negotiating 
with the militants shortly after UNPROFOR's deployment. Further delay 
in deciding what, if any, role the UN can or should play in Bosnia will 
only make the withdrawal of UNPROFOR that much more difficult and 
potentially dangerous should such a determination ultimately be 
reached.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that measures taken by the 
Security Council to date have failed to maintain international peace 
and security as it relates to Bosnia-Herzegovina. This being the case, 
it is unconscionable that that country continues to be denied its right 
to self-defense, in clear violation of article 51 of the UN Charter.
  Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 1172, legistion which lift the 
arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina. This bill enjoys considerable 
bipartisan support as evidenced by the growing list of cosponsors. Mr. 
Speaker, I urge colleagues to support the lifting of the arms embargo, 
an action fully in keeping with Bosnia's inherent right to self-
defense.


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