[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[March 19, 1994]
[Page 503]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 503]]


Statement by the Director of Communications on the President's 
Discussions With the Presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia
March 19, 1994

    Following the signing ceremony yesterday, the President met with 
President Izetbegovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The two leaders discussed 
next steps following yesterday's agreements. The President told 
President Izetbegovic that the United States will work with the European 
Union and other states to provide economic assistance for the 
rehabilitation and reconstruction of Bosnia. The President also told the 
Bosnian President that the United States is prepared to sign a bilateral 
assistance agreement establishing a framework for future technical and 
economic assistance.
    The President confirmed that the United States would reopen our 
Embassy in Sarajevo in the near future. Ambassador Victor Jackovich has 
been resident in Vienna since last fall because of the security 
situation in Sarajevo. Our decision to reopen the Embassy underscores 
our commitment to Bosnia's security and stability. The President 
reaffirmed the intention of the United States to participate in the 
implementation of a viable peace agreement among the parties in Bosnia.
    The President also met with President Tudjman of Croatia. The two 
leaders discussed Croatia's role in helping make the agreements signed 
today succeed. The United States will work with Croatia and the Bosniac-
Croat Federation toward their full integration in Western political, 
economic, and security arrangements. The President announced that the 
United States is ready to sign a bilateral aid agreement to establish a 
framework for future technical and economic assistance for Croatia. The 
United States also is prepared to sign a science and technology 
agreement and to open negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty and 
a double taxation treaty.
    To help alleviate the humanitarian situation and to assist Croatia 
to care for refugees and persons displaced as a result of the conflict, 
the United States will provide $2 million for the hospital partnership 
and $1.5 million for medical supplies.
    The President announced that Croatia would be allowed to open 
consulates in New York, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles. To 
further advance the contacts between our nations, the United States will 
double the Fulbright program and donate $50,000 worth of American 
studies books to the recently rebuilt American Studies Library in 
Dubrovnik.
    The President reaffirmed United States support for the territorial 
integrity and sovereignty of Croatia and committed to help secure the 
peaceful solution to the problems of the U.N. Protected Areas (UNPA's). 
To this end, the United States will continue to use sanctions and other 
economic pressure against Serbia in the most effective way possible. We 
also intend to play an active diplomatic role in assisting Croatia in 
resolving its dispute with the Krajina Serbs.
    The United States firmly believes that adherence to the highest 
standards of human and civil rights for Croatia's Serb community is an 
essential condition for the reintegration of the UNPA's. President 
Tudjman's stated commitments in this regard are constructive; his 
proposals for autonomy for Serb-majority areas provide a good basis for 
beginning negotiations.