[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6404-S6407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REPORT OF SENATE DELEGATION VISIT TO BOSNIA
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, during the April recess, the Senator from
Utah [Mr. Hatch], the Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], and I traveled to
Bosnia and other countries of the former Yugoslavia as well as Albania
and Hungary to monitor developments related to implementation of the
Dayton peace accord and to visit United States troops stationed in
Bosnia and the surrounding area. We have prepared a report of our trip
and submit it for our colleagues' and the public's consideration. It
should be noted that the situation in Bosnia is constantly evolving and
that the report reflects our findings based on developments through the
period of our visit, which ended on April 12, 1996. I ask unanimous
consent that the full report be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the report was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
Report of Senate Delegation Visit to Bosnia, April 3-12, 1996
Introduction
A delegation from the United States Senate, consisting of
Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), Senator Orrin G. Hatch
(R-UT), and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), met with leading
officials in Bosnia and the other countries of the former
Yugoslavia--Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia, Slovenia--as well as Albania and
Hungary from April 3 to April 12, 1996. The delegation was
authorized by the joint leadership of the Senate to explore
outstanding issues related to implementation of the Dayton
Peace Accord formally signed on December 14, 1995, by
President Alija Izetbegovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia and Montenegro, and
President Franjo Tudjman of Croatia in Dayton, OH.
The accord is based upon the tenet that Bosnia will remain
a single state within its internationally recognized borders,
but that the state will be comprised of two entities--the
Bosnian Muslim-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska--
with substantial authority. In an effort to create the
conditions for peace in Bosnia, the Dayton agreement provides
for a peace implementation force (IFOR) under NATO command
and calls for civilian implementation through elections and
economic reconstruction.
In the period between the signing of the accord and the
delegation's departure, the ceasefire had held, elections
were being scheduled, and problems related to implementation
of the civilian aspects of the peace agreement were reported.
On the day the delegation left for the region, Americans
received the tragic news that the plane carrying Commerce
Secretary Ron Brown, 32 other Americans, and two Croatians
had crashed near Dubrovnik, Croatia. Secretary Brown had been
traveling in and around Bosnia with U.S. business leaders and
Commerce Department officials as part of the American effort
to help build democratic and economic institutions in the
region so that a lasting peace might take hold in the
Balkans. After making schedule adjustments, the delegation
chose to go forward with its planned visit to the region to
honor Ron Brown's vision and to send a clear signal to those
struggling for peace in Bosnia that the United States remains
committed to that mission.
Tom Daschle.
Orrin G. Hatch.
Harry Reid.
Summary
Senators Daschle, Hatch, and Reid met with leading
officials in Bosnia, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Albania, and Hungary. In each
country, the delegation gathered perspectives on: (1)
military implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord; (2)
civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord; (3) that
country's progress toward democratization; and (4) that
country's progress toward privatization and development of a
market economy. In Bosnia, the FYROM, and Hungary, the
delegation visited U.S. military installations and met with
troops stationed in the region.
While perspectives on progress toward peace in Bosnia and
the Balkans varied from country to country, the delegation
found there was general consensus around two basic points:
first, that NATO's Implementation Force (IFOR), led by the
United States, has been an unqualified success in terms of
stopping the war in Bosnia; and, second, that, while moving
forward, implementation of the civilian and economic aspects
of the Dayton accord has met with significant delay and
difficulty.
U.S. military and diplomatic leadership were credited by
virtually everyone in the region for progress that has been
made in Bosnia. Still, concerns persist about the prospects
for full implementation of the Dayton accord within the
timeframes laid out in the plan. Officials stressed that key
to successful implementation will be the efforts of Serbian
and Croatian leaders to garner the commitment of Serbs and
Croats within Bosnia to the borders agreed to in the Dayton
accord as well as human rights for all ethnic groups within
those borders.
Morale among U.S. troops appeared to be high, despite the
fact that they are living and working under extremely
difficult conditions. The servicemen and women with whom the
delegation spoke understood and believed in the importance of
their mission. They also spoke highly of the cooperative
spirit that has exemplified their relationship with forces
from Russia, Britain, France, and the other countries
represented in IFOR.
The delegation's goals were to promote, and assess progress
with respect to, full implementation of the Dayton Peace
Accord; to express support for U.S. troops participating in
the NATO and UN peacekeeping efforts; to promote democracy,
economic growth, and respect for human rights in the region;
and to reflect the United States' commitment to those working
for a lasting peace in Bosnia.
Findings
The delegation returned to the United States confident that
U.S. military and diplomatic leadership has been the driving
force behind the current peace in Bosnia--that the peace
could not have been accomplished, and probably cannot be
sustained, without our efforts. The delegation returned
convinced of the value of that mission, for, as fragile as
the peace in Bosnia may be, the promise of peace, freedom and
democracy for all the people of the former Yugoslavia--and
the regional stability that would follow from that
achievement--justify their pursuit.
Several major findings--some of them confirmations of past
ones--resulted from this visit.
NATO military action, U.S. diplomacy, and military
implementation supporting that diplomacy stopped the war in
Bosnia and have been the primary deterrents to resumption of
the war.
U.S. military and foreign service personnel serve as models
for the rest of the world; their professionalism under
extraordinary circumstances should make every American proud.
Landmines pose a serious threat to U.S. and other
peacekeeing forces as well as the civilian population in
Bosnia. The United States should actively seek an
international ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines.
Regarding the military aspect of the Dayton Peace Accord,
IFOR has successfully carried out its mandate thus far.
Conditions for free and fair elections in Bosnia have not
yet been established. Numerous concerns were heard regarding
the willingness of the dominant parties in the three regions
to allow free elections.
People throughout the Balkan region are concerned about the
timing of IFOR's departure in light of problems related to
implementation of the civilian aspects of the Dayton accord
and economic reconstruction.
While these concerns should be taken seriously, the
ultimate success or failure of the Dayton accord--and the
chance for sustained peace in the region--will depend on the
political will of its signatories.
The United States must continue to pressure those
signatories to commit themselves fully to that effort.
Hungary
The delegation began its investigations in Hungary, host to
7000 American troops at three U.S. military installations,
including Taszar Airbase, the primary logistics center and
staging area for U.S. troops deployed in Bosnia. In meetings
with the Deputy Foreign Minister, American troops at Taszar,
business leaders in Budapest, and U.S. Embassy officials, the
delegation explored issues related to implementation of the
Dayton Peace Accord, Hungary's role in supporting the
military aspects of the accord, NATO expansion, and Hungary's
progress toward fulfillment of the country's political and
economic goals.
Deputy Foreign Minister Istvan Szent-Ivanyi told the
delegation that, while implementation of the military aspects
of the Dayton Peace Accord was proceeding in the right
direction, he remained concerned about implementation of the
political aspects of the accord. He expressed the view that
the American and European military presence in Bosnia has
been essential to the restoration of peace in the region and
that continued U.S. support of the peace effort will be
essential to maintenance of that peace and the
[[Page S6405]]
safe resettlement of war refugees, including ethnic
Hungarians. He reported that Hungary is fully cooperating
with the War Crimes Tribunal's efforts to identify, locate,
and prosecute perpetrators of war crimes in Bosnia.
Szent-Ivanyi also stressed Hungary's desire to be included
in the first round of candidates for NATO expansion and
called for a ``normal integration process.'' He also
discussed with the delegation the upcoming official opening
of the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest to
combat organized crime.
During a visit to the United States' Intermediate Staging
Base in Taszar, Hungary, the delegation was briefed on the
massive effort to deploy U.S. forces to Bosnia. Seventy-five
to 80 percent of the 18,000 U.S. troops stationed in Bosnia
have entered the country through the staging area in Taszar
since the deployment began last December.
Major General Walter H. Yates, Jr., Deputy Commanding
General, V Corps, United States Army, Europe, advised the
delegation that the size and configuration of the U.S.
deployment in Bosnia would be assessed again in early summer
and that any minor adjustments that might be needed would be
made at that time. He also reported that, from a military
perspective, all sides have been in general compliance with
the Dayton Peace Accord. He concluded that the greatest
challenge facing the multinational force in Bosnia is the
existence of 3 to 8 million landmines in that country. He
added that U.S. forces are encouraging, training, and
monitoring the work of various factions to deactivate the
mines. Finally, the group was told that the Hungarian
government has been especially helpful to U.S. military
efforts and that U.S. personnel at Taszar is seeking to
further its cooperation with Hungary and the local community
at the military, political, and civic levels.
Senator Daschle addressed the troops in attendance at the
briefing, thanking them for their role in the mission and
expressing the support of the Senate. He and the entire
delegation also had a chance to visit with individual
servicemembers.
Serbia and Montenegro
In Belgrade, the delegation met with President Slobodan
Milosevic, opposition leaders, union leaders, members of the
independent press, and U.S. Embassy officials. Discussions
focused on Serbia's compliance with the Dayton agreement,
cooperation with the War Crimes Tribunal, relations with
other republics of the former Yugoslavia, movement toward
democratization and privatization, the situation in Eastern
Slavonia, resettlement of the Krajina Serbs, and progress
toward a peaceful solution to the disputes between the
government and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
In its meeting with President Slobodan Milosevic, the
delegation reiterated and expressed strong support for U.S.
policy concerning normalization of relations with Serbia--
that the ``outer wall'' of UN sanctions will remain in place
until the Dayton agreement is fully and successfully
implemented, Serbia has fully cooperated with the War Crimes
Tribunal's effort to arrest and prosecute war criminals, and
there is significant progress in Kosovo. The delegation also
pressed Milosevic on the need for progress toward the
development of democratic institutions, including a free and
independent media. The delegation stressed the importance of
normalization of Serbian-FYROM relations.
Milosevic characterized developments since the signing of
the Dayton accord as ``pretty positive,'' concluding that the
military aspects of the agreement have been ``absolutely
successful'' and that civilian implementation of the
agreement has slowed somewhat. Although he said he questions
the objectivity of the War Crimes Tribunal, Milosevic stated
that Serbia has cooperated with the Tribunal and ``will not
protect war criminals.'' While acknowledging that respect for
human rights is a ``global issue,'' he called the situation
in Kosovo ``an internal matter.'' Milosevic suggested that
the independent press in Serbia is thriving and that Serbian-
FYROM relations would be normalized in the near future.
Bosnia
Sarajevo
The flight over Bosnia and into Sarajevo gave the
delegation its first sense of the magnitude of the
devastation in that country, and the drives from the Sarajevo
airport through the city and through the Sarajevo suburbs
revealed the reality of ``ethnic cleansing'' in a way that
news reports can only suggest. Burned and bombed buildings
lined the main street running through Sarajevo. The
delegation's visit to the ruins of the Sarajevo library,
which was known as one of the most magnificent buildings in
the country was graphic evidence of the war's devastating
impact on Bosnia. Some have proposed to leave the library as
it currently stands--if it can be stabilized structurally--
and turn it into a war memorial.
Make-shift cemeteries in what were formerly soccer fields
and other public spaces served as sad reminders of the
200,000 Bosnians, including 10,000 Sarajevans, who died in
the 4\1/2\ year war. Still, the resumption of activity all
over Sarajevo served as evidence that peace is both hoped for
and possible if all sides commit themselves to it.
At the U.S. Embassy, the delegation was briefed by Admiral
Leighton W. Smith, Jr., Commander in Chief, IFOR (Smith also
serves as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe
and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces), and by Embassy
officials accompanied by various U.S. and international
representatives charged with implementation of various
aspects of the Dayton accord. The delegation also met with
President Alija Izetbegovic.
Again, the delegation heard that the military aspects of
the Dayton agreement had been very successful, but that
civilian implementation of the agreement has proven more
complex. Of particular concern were efforts to ensure the
Muslim-Croat Federation in Bosnia remains viable, ensure that
the Bosnian elections--at the municipality, canton, entity,
and republic levels--are free, fair, and in full compliance
with the Dayton guidelines, and ensure the safe resettlement
of refugees from all ethnic groups as well as general freedom
of movement.
The delegation was told by international representatives at
the Embassy briefing that Serb, Croat, and Muslim factions
within Bosnia all have been accused of varying degrees of
authoritarianism and violations of human and civil rights and
that concerns about Serbian President Milosevic's and
Croatian President Tudjman's interests in pursuing a
``Greater Serbia'' and a ``Greater Croatia'' persist.
Nevertheless, most analysts reported that Milosevic and
Tudjman appeared to be complying with the Dayton accord,
though limits on Serbian cooperation on the release of
prisoners continues to pose a serious challenge, and greater
cooperation in turning over war criminals remains wanting
from both leaders. Furthermore, many are concerned that
Bosnian Serb Army Commander Ratko Mladic and Bosnian Serb
President Radovan Karadzic are still in control of the
Bosnian Serbs, and that Tudjman has been reluctant to
disassociate himself from troubling actions by the Bosnian
Croats. It is clear that close monitoring of these factors
and continued pressure on all sides to comply with the
Accord, including the removal of all indicted war criminals
from political power and their submission to the Hague, will
be important to the long-term viability of the Muslim-Croat
Federation and peace in general.
The delegation was briefed on efforts to build the civilian
police and criminal justice systems in Bosnia. The importance
of having these systems in working order by the time the NATO
implementation force departs was stressed.
In its meeting with President Izetbegovic, the delegation
discussed the President Izetbegovic's perspective on the
military and civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace
Accord; ways to strengthen the Muslim-Croat Federation;
progress toward free and fair elections; the importance of
freedom of the press; and efforts to ensure that borders in
the Dayton Accord, as well as the human rights of all ethnic
groups within those borders, are respected. The senators
stressed the importance of ensuring that all Iranian and
other foreign forces leave Bosnia. The delegation
congratulated Izetbegovic for his efforts to release
prisoners under Muslim control and reiterated the United
States' commitment to a lasting peace and a multiethnic
Bosnia.
Tuzla Airbase
After an aerial tour of the devastation of countless
Bosnian villages, the delegation was briefed by U.S. military
personnel, led by Major General William L. Nash, Commanding
General, First Armored Division, Operation Joint Endeavor,
and Colonel John R. S. Batiste, Commander, Second Brigade,
First Armored Division, Operation Joint Endeavor. They
described a combat team evenly distributed between the
Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation and stressed
the importance of operating within both entities in an even-
handed, impartial way and always reflecting the competence
and discipline that have given NATO the legitimacy to make
this operation a success. Batiste stated that IFOR operates
on the premise that any violation of the peace accord demands
an appropriate response.
Colonel Batiste reported that contact between the Muslim,
Croat, and Serb factions in Bosnia has become less
confrontational over time, but that civilian freedom of
movement has been restricted by all factions and that this is
a key area of concern. He stated that exemplary U.S.-Russian
troop cooperation has led to combined patrols and that the
U.S. military's relationships with both NATO and non-NATO
countries involved in the mission has been excellent.
Reiterating what the delegation had heard in Hungary,
Colonel Batiste reported that one of the greatest challenges
facing IFOR is the threat posed by remaining landmines. He
said there had been good cooperation in clearing the
minefields for which there are records but that only 30 to 40
percent of the mines are included in that category. He
reported that, on the previous day, 68 mines in the area had
been cleared through the Mine Action Center in Tuzla. Only
minutes after the delegation was given that information,
Colonel Batiste's briefing was interrupted by a report that a
Russian soldier had just lost his foot in a mine explosion.
Colonel Batiste stressed the importance of the effort to
ensure that the political and civilian aspects of the Dayton
accord are fully implemented and to keep the economic
reconstruction effort on track. He discussed the difficulties
related to the election process, since many, particularly
Serbs, are uninformed about where they must vote (under the
Dayton agreement, all Bosnians' voting
[[Page S6406]]
eligibility is based on where they lived in the spring of
1990 before the war began). The economic impact of Serb,
Muslim, and Croat army downsizing was also discussed, as were
the ongoing effort at arms control within Bosnia and the
importance of the development of a professional, civilian
police force.
The delegation was briefed on the medical facilities
serving U.S. forces (every lodgement has a medic and a
surgeon) and advised that environmental data collection that
might be needed in any follow-up health investigations has
been vigorous.
Senators Daschle, Hatch, and Reid addressed the servicemen
and women at the briefing, acknowledging their personal
sacrifices and praising and thanking them for the
professionalism with which they are carrying out their
mission. Members of the delegation also had an opportunity to
share a lunch of soup and MREs (meals ready to eat) with
personnel from their respective states.
Albania
The delegation's visit to Albania was marked by visual
impressions as much as verbal reports. As soon as the plane
made its descent, the American mental image of one of the
world's most closed societies was overshadowed by the reality
of a green, mountainous countryside and a capital filled with
activity. Reminders of Albania's past, including 600,000 to
750,000 seven-ton concrete-and-steel bunkers built to respond
to the perceived threat of simultaneous attacks from NATO and
the Warsaw Pact, remain, but the future is clearly Albania's
focus.
In Tirana, in addition to sessions with the President and
opposition leaders, the delegation met with U.S. Embassy
officials joined by representatives of the U.S. Information
Agency and the U.S. Peace Corps mission in Albania. They were
briefed on the repression suffered by the Albanians for 40
years at the hands of dictator Enver Hoxha. It is estimated
that 25 to 30 percent of Albanian families experienced that
repression--imprisonment, exile, torture, or execution--
firsthand. Albania had been a bankrupted economy that for
decades had outlawed private ownership of cars, monitored the
direction of people's television antennas, and declared
itself atheist, turning its largest Catholic cathedral into a
basketball court to prove it. In April 1992, Albania elected
a new president and was on its way to filling its streets
with cars and every other form of transportation, tuning in
to ``CNN International,'' erecting coffeehouses on every city
curb, privatizing its economy, and reducing inflation from
400 percent to single digits.
Certainly Albania faces serious challenges. According to
the briefing team, reports of discrimination against the
ethnic Greek minority continue; criminal justice and judicial
reforms are needed; the state controls Albania's electronic
media; the civilian police force is ill-trained; opposition
parties complain the country's ``Lustration'' law, which bars
certain former communist officials and others from seeking
political office until 2002, is too broad; the military is
severely underfunded; and the country's economy and
infrastructure have a long way to go. Still, they report that
Albania has made significant progress toward the
establishment of democracy.
In a meeting with the delegation, Albanian President Sali
Berisha reported that his administration has focused on
efforts to promote fast growth, make possible integration
into NATO and the European Union, and improve educational
opportunities within the country. He thanked the delegation
for U.S. support for progress in Albania and reported that
U.S.-Albanian military cooperation has been especially good.
He also expressed thanks for U.S.A.I.D.'s reforestation
program in Albania, adding that the construction of the
ubiquitous bunkers had caused serious damage to Albania's
forests.
President Berisha added his voice to those who rate the
military implementation of the Dayton accord as successful
and the political progress slow. He also provided an Albanian
perspective on the situation in Kosova, saying that Albania
wants a peaceful solution with Serbia. He defended Albania's
Lustration law, arguing that Albania faced a true ``cultural
genocide'' at the hands of its former rulers and that
those barred from political candidacy may appeal that
ruling if they can show that documents linking them to
abuses have been falsified. He addressed concerns about
state-controlled media outlets by saying that private
entities are forming and that state-controlled outlets
will be privatized as independent outlets develop.
President Berisha expressed optimism about Greek-Albanian
relations and discussed the process in place for Albania's
upcoming elections. He concluded by saying that Albania's
greatest challenges are to maintain the country's fast
economic growth and continue to build its democratic
institutions.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is the only
former republic to make a completely peaceful transition to
independence, and, in virtually every discussion the
delegation had with political leaders in that country, a
pragmatic and democratic attitude about how to approach
problems and resolve disputes was reflected. The delegation
met with Tito Petkovski, President of the Macedonian
Parliament, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, and President
Kiro Gligorov, as well as U.S. Embassy officials. The
discussions focused on implementation of the Dayton accord,
the impact of potential instability in Bosnia and Kosovo on
the FYROM, the FYROM's political process, efforts to fully
privatize the country's economy, and the FYROM's relations
with its neighbors. The delegation also visited two U.N.
Preventative Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) observation posts
along the Serbian border.
Parliament President Tito Petkovski advised the delegation
that Serbia and the FYROM had agreed within the previous 24
hours to establish full diplomatic relations, though the
details of the agreement were not fully available at the time
of the meeting. He said he was hopeful that the issue of his
country's name could be resolved with Greece in the near
future and noted that his country has no other open problems
with Greece. Petkovski stressed the importance of a lasting
peace in Bosnia, saying that failure to fully implement the
Dayton accord would threaten the FYROM's stability. He
thanked the delegation for the United States' military
cooperation and support of FYROM's efforts to develop
democratic institutions and a stronger economy. Petkovski
also briefed the delegation on the parliament's preparation
of a new electoral law and the current situation with respect
to political parties in the FYROM.
Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski declared the UN military
presence, led by a force of 550 Americans, to be an
overwhelming success, arguing that such preventive efforts
are much more cost-effective than war, and predicted that the
deployment would serve as a prototype for other deployments.
He discussed the impact on the FYROM's economy of past UN
sanctions against Serbia and stressed the importance of
turning around the negative economic trends that have been
suffered by the Macedonian people. Crvenkovski acknowledged
the difficulties the FYROM has faced in the area of the
schooling for ethnic Albanians and outlined the FYROM's plan
to increase the percentage of classes taught in the Albanian
language. He also noted the importance of stabilizing the
situation in Kosovo.
The delegation met with President Kiro Gligorov and was
pleased to learn both that he had recovered well from his
injuries resulting from an assassination attempt several
months earlier, and that, during his absence from office, the
FYROM government adhered strictly to its constitutional
precepts. President Gligorov spoke of the resiliency of the
Macedonian people and their willingness to accept great
personal sacrifices to achieve independence and democracy. He
expressed his commitment to a peaceful, fair resolution of
the Kosovo issue and, like Petkovski and Crvenkovski, noted
that Albanians are active participants in FYROM's government.
Gligorov spoke of his country's two most basic challenges and
obligations during the war in Bosnia were: to do nothing to
cause the expansion of the war to the south and to care for
the FYROM's internal stability. He noted that he had
substantial support from the United States in these efforts.
Gligorov expressed the hope that continued US-FYROM
cooperation would lead to his country's integration into NATO
and the European Union.
The delegation traveled by helicopter to two U.S.-operated
UNPREDEP observation posts along the Serbian border, meeting
with servicemembers at each post. Five hundred fifty U.S.
troops are stationed in the FYROM as part of this effort,
first proposed by President Bush and later implemented by
President Clinton, to monitor the FYROM-Serbia border and
prevent the Bosnian conflict from spreading to the south.
Slovenia
In addition to a briefing from U.S. Embassy officials, the
delegation's visit to Slovenia, the most economically
advanced country of the former Yugoslavia, was marked by
meetings with President Milan Kucan, State Secretary Ignac
Golob, and Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek.
In the meeting with President Kucan, the delegation
discussed the historic roots of Slovenia, which he described
as a traditional identification with Austria-Hungary that has
manifested itself in the Slovenian people through
individualism, realism, a strong work ethic, and tolerance of
different peoples. He stated that Tito interrupted that
tradition but that Slovenia has maintained its Central
European, rather than Balkan, orientation.
With respect to the break-up of Yugoslavia, Kucan argued
that, while Islam and socialism had served as integrating
elements beginning in 1918, there had been no ``new idea'' to
keep Yugoslavia unified beyond those periods. He called that
explanation an oversimplification, but said he believed it
was a major factor in the former Yugoslav republics'
declarations of independence.
Kucan called the Dayton agreement ``a decisive point,''
stating that the United States had successfully interrupted
the cycle of violence and ignorance. He reiterated what many
others had said about the roots of the conflict--that the war
was not a civil or religious one, but an attempt to use
ultranationalism to create a ``Greater Serbia'' and, later, a
``Greater Croatia'' by exporting the war to Bosnia-
Herzegovina. Kucan stated that the U.S. presence has been
critical to the effort to prevent resumption of the war, he
believes the ultimate success of the Dayton accord will
depend on a commitment to that peace reflected in Belgrade
and Zagreb, and he called for continued U.S. and European
pressure on Serbia and Croatia toward that end.
[[Page S6407]]
Kucan also discussed Slovenia's current dispute with Italy
over Slovene land that was owned by Italians before 1945. The
Slovene parliament was to consider a law to ease restrictions
on foreign ownership of property later that day. (The
parliament did later approve a proposal by the Spanish
presidency of the European Union to resolve the dispute. The
Italians foreign ministry has responded positively, but the
final outcome of the issue, which rests in the Italian
parliament, remains uncertain.)
With State Secretary Golob of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the delegation discussed the Kosovo issue. Golob
shared the view of many others--that war in Kosovo would
destabilize the entire region and that the foreign presence
in the area--particularly that of the United States--is
``extremely important.'' He described the situation in the
former Yugoslavia as ``complicated, but not hopeless,'' and
argued that the price the international community is paying
for the IFOR deployment is small compared to the costs that
would be associated with failure in Bosnia and a spread of
the war.
Prime Minister Drnovsek also argued the legitimacy and
importance of the U.S. role in Bosnia. He acknowledged the
challenges the involvement poses for the United States in the
short term, but expressed its long-term value in terms of the
cost-effectiveness of prevention as well as the benefit of
helping small democracies develop in Central Europe and the
Balkans. He said, ``You who espouse democracy, and have
enjoyed it for 200 years, have the opportunity to see people
who have lived for generations under tyranny, dictatorship,
and communism now breathe freely under democracy. We, the
small struggling republics, could be like you.''
Croatia
In addition to a briefing from the Ambassador and other
U.S. Embassy officials in Zagreb, the delegation met with
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to discuss progress related
to implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord, the prospects
for long-term peace in the region, and the investigation of
the crash of Secretary Brown's plane in Dubrovnik.
The delegation thanked President Tudjman for Croatia's
assistance in the aftermath of the plane crash and expressed
the delegation's and the United States' interest in
continuing the mission that Secretary Brown started. The
senators pressed Tudjman on the importance to U.S.-Croatian
relations of continued progress toward democratization and
privatization. The delegation also indicated that the United
States would be monitoring the following issues over the next
6 to 18 months: continued support for the Muslim-Croat
Federation, including respect for Bosnia's borders and
protection of human rights within those borders, and for
peaceful resolutions of regional disputes; fair treatment and
resettlement of Serbs who lived in Croatia before the war;
continued progress in Eastern Slavonia; and cooperation with
the War Crimes Tribunal. The delegation stated that the
United States is looking to Croatia for leadership toward a
lasting peace in the region.
Tudjman reported that good progress is being made in
Eastern Slavonia, and supported the idea of Serb family
reunification, but said that it ``would not be realistic'' to
expect the return of all Serbs from that region. He argued
that Bosnian Croats have been more cooperative than Bosnian
Muslims with respect to implementation of the Dayton
agreement and pointed to recent problems in Mostar to support
that claim. Still, Tudjman called himself ``an optimist,''
saying that optimism is based on peace being in Croatia's
strategic interest and the Bosnians having no other option.
He summarily dismissed rumors of his willingness to enter
into an agreement with Serbian President Milosevic to divide
Bosnia.
____________________