    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [September 8, 1995]
    [Page 1333]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1333]]

    Statement on the Agreed Basic Principles for a Settlement in Bosnia-
    Herzegovina
    September 8, 1995

        Today's successful meeting in Geneva of the Foreign Ministers of
    Bosnia, Croatia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is an important
    milestone on the road to peace in the former Yugoslavia. As a result of
    intensive mediation by Ambassador Holbrooke and his team--supported by
    our Contact Group partners in the European Union and Russia--the three
    Foreign Ministers have endorsed a set of Agreed Basic Principles that
    will serve as the framework for a political settlement to the conflict
    in Bosnia. The Foreign Ministers of Croatia and the Federal Republic of
    Yugoslavia have also agreed to work actively toward a peaceful solution
    in Eastern Slavonia, the Serb-controlled area of the Republic of Croatia
    also known as U.N. Sector East.
        The Agreed Basic Principles commit all three governments to support
    a settlement consistent with the goals we have long sought in Bosnia.
    Most importantly, for the first time, all three have agreed that Bosnia-
    Herzegovina will continue as a single state, with its present borders
    and with continuing international recognition. Consistent with the
    Contact Group plan, under the terms of a settlement, all three agree
    that Bosnia-Herzegovina will consist of two entities: the Federation,
    established under last year's Washington Agreements, and the Serb
    Republic. The 51:49 parameter of the Contact Group's territorial
    proposal will be the basis for a settlement, subject to any adjustments
    that the parties make by mutual agreement. The two entities will have
    the right to establish relationships with neighboring states, but these
    must be consistent with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
    Bosnia-Herzegovina. The parties have pledged to adhere to international
    human rights standards, to ensure freedom of movement and the right of
    displaced persons to return to their homes and to collaborate on joint
    economic projects that will promote transportation links and
    communication among all of Bosnia's peoples. These are important
    principles around which we now can move toward intensive negotiations
    for a full peace agreement.
        I want to congratulate the three Foreign Ministers, Secretary of
    State Christopher, National Security Adviser Anthony Lake, Ambassador
    Holbrooke and his team, and our Russian and other European partners for
    today's impressive achievement. Much work remains to be done in
    translating these principles into a final peace agreement. All the
    parties will need to display the same flexibility and statesmanship that
    made today's agreement possible if we are to turn away from war and
    achieve our common goal of a durable peace in the Balkans.