[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[April 7, 1992]
[Page 553]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on United States Recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republics

April 7, 1992
    The United States recognizes Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, and 
Slovenia as sovereign and independent states and will begin immediate 
consultations to establish full diplomatic relations. The United States 
accepts the pre-crisis Republic borders as the legitimate international 
borders of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia.
    We take this step because we are satisfied that these states meet 
the requisite criteria for recognition. We acknowledge the peaceful and 
democratic expression of the will of citizens of these states for 
sovereignty.
    We will continue to work intensively with the European Community and 
its member states to resolve expeditiously the outstanding issues 
between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia, thus enabling the U.S. to 
recognize formally the independence of that Republic as well. The United 
States will also discuss with the Governments of Serbia and Montenegro 
their interest in remaining in a common state known as Yugoslavia.
    In light of our decisions on recognition, the U.S. will lift 
economic sanctions from Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and 
Slovenia. Sanctions were applied to Yugoslavia on December 6, 1991. We 
will lift sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro contingent on 
Belgrade's lifting the economic blockades directed against Bosnia-
Hercegovina and Macedonia. The U.N. arms embargo remains in effect.
    It has been U.S. policy throughout the Yugoslav crisis to accept any 
resolution arrived at peacefully, democratically, and by negotiation. 
The United States strongly supports the U.N. peacekeeping plan, as 
worked out by Cyrus Vance, and the full deployment of the U.N. 
peacekeeping force. We continue to support the EC Peace Conference as 
the indispensable forum for the parties to reach a peaceful settlement 
of their dispute and to establish the basis for future relations. U.S. 
recognition is without prejudice to any future association Yugoslav 
successor states might agree to establish.
    The United States views the demonstrated commitment of the emerging 
states to respect borders and to protect all Yugoslav nationalities as 
an essential element in establishing full diplomatic relations. Equally, 
we view such a commitment by Serbia and Montenegro as essential to 
proceed in discussions on their future status.
    The deployment of the U.N. peacekeeping force, the continuation of 
the EC Peace Conference, and the process of international recognition 
offer all of the former Yugoslav Republics an historic opportunity to 
reject decisively the tragic violence which has marked this crisis. 
Continued commitment to peaceful dialog should lead toward 
reconciliation, toward integration within Europe, and toward cordial and 
productive relations with the United States. The United States will 
continue to work to achieve these goals.