[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 88 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S7572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            NATO AIRSTRIKES

 Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, I strongly support today's NATO 
airstrikes in Bosnia. I am pleased that the United Nations finally 
permitted NATO to respond to the continued defiance of the U.N. 
mandates for Bosnia. I am also pleased to hear the preliminary reports 
that NATO strikes were carried out against a meaningful military 
target.
  There is certainly a risk that the Bosnian Serbs may retaliate 
against U.N. personnel. There is, however, even greater risk to U.N. 
personnel if the U.N. and NATO's credibility continues to erode. In 
addition to the terrible human suffering, I have been concerned about 
the loss of U.N. and NATO credibility that has taken place as the 
various warring parties, particularly the Bosnian Serbs, have ignored 
U.N. resolutions and international law.
  I hope today's strikes on the Bosnian Serb ammunition dumps at the 
military headquarters in Pale will serve notice to all sides that the 
United Nations and NATO can and will enforce the resolutions that have 
been approved by the U.N. Security Council.
  I am hopeful that these strikes will strengthen the resolve of the 
U.N. forces in the exclusion zone around Sarajevo where the United 
Nations has prohibited the use of heavy military equipment. This zone 
was designed to stop the indiscriminate shelling of the civilian 
population within the exclusion zone. If any side in this conflict 
ignores the U.N. ban on heavy weapons in this zone I would favor more 
strikes like today's strikes on Pale until all sides respect the U.N. 
ban on heavy weapons.
  I have long felt that any hope for peace in Bosnia requires the 
enforcement and expansion of the zone of exclusion. By expanding the 
areas where heavy weapons are prohibited, the U.N. could reduce 
civilian casualties, level the playing field between the warring 
parties, and lower the level of violence in the conflict, thus paving 
the way for a negotiated settlement.


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