[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10230-S10231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST BOSNIA

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, my reaction to this agreement which may 
soon be entered into is: At long last. On the first day that the Senate 
this year accepted bills and resolutions to be introduced, this 
resolution was introduced by the distinguished majority leader with 
some of the rest of us as cosponsors. The Foreign Relations Committee, 
of which I am chairman, has not acted on this resolution, at the 
specific request of the majority leader and others. But I am delighted 
that finally we are confronting the questions that have been raised 
about the delay in the resolution.
  In short, Mr. President, it is high time for the Senate to 
acknowledge what is already perfectly clear to any objective observer: 
The U.N. peacekeeping effort in Bosnia is an abject failure.
  The Bosnian Serbs have certainly known this for a long time, as has 
the beleaguered Bosnian Muslim government. Yet, the United Nations 
persists in a policy that, at best, has given the appearance of action 
while, in fact, allowing the slow-motion genocide of Bosnian Muslims.
  Lest the President of the United States need reminding, along with 
the leaders of our European allies, Bosnia was recognized as an 
independent nation 3 years ago. Commensurate with that status is the 
explicit right of self-defense. For 3 years, the Bosnian Serbs have 
pursued an aggressive campaign, aided and abetted by the Government of 
Serbia. Irrefutable evidence, such as the integrated air defense of 
these two brutal forces, demonstrates that this is truly a war of 
aggression being waged by Serbia. How any democratic government can 
continue to justify the arms embargo against Bosnia on either moral or 
legal grounds escapes me. It absolutely escapes me.
  So-called safe areas are being overrun, U.N. peacekeepers have been 
taken hostage, humanitarian assistance convoys are either blocked or 
being looted by Bosnian Serb fighters, and Sarajevo airport has been 
closed for 3 months. Despite this deteriorating situation, the U.S. 
Government persists in supporting the illusion of peacekeeping--as if 
there is any peace to keep in that part of the world. Most recently, 
President Clinton has stated his intention to spend an additional $95 
million on the U.N. so-called rapid reaction force in order to 
perpetuate this failed policy. Under the current rules 

[[Page S 10231]]
of engagement, that force will do nothing to confront Serb aggression.
  Mr. President, it would be an exaggeration to suggest that the 
situation in Bosnia is at a diplomatic standstill. It is moving 
backward. It appears that the closest the Western Powers can get to a 
negotiated solution is to reward the Serbian dictator who started this 
entire war by easing the sanctions against his country. Even this 
effort--which is an embarrassment to the United States--has fallen 
short.
  So in recognition of this failure, and as chairman of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee, I declare that it is time for us to take a 
step which should have happened 3 years ago. We must approve this 
legislation to lift the arms embargo against the Bosnians and allow 
those people to defend themselves.
  I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who seeks recognition?
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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