    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [September 15, 1995]
    [Pages 1359-1360]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Agreement To End Air Strikes in Bosnia and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    September 15, 1995

        The President. Good morning. I welcome the agreement by the Bosnian
    Serbs to comply with a condition set by NATO and the United Nations for
    ending the NATO air strikes.
        American pilots and crews and their NATO colleagues have been
    carrying out those strikes to prevent further slaughter of innocent
    civilians in the Sarajevo area and in the other safe areas of Bosnia.
    Now, the Bosnian Serbs have stated that they will end all offensive
    operations within the Sarajevo exclusion zone, withdraw their heavy
    weapons from the zone within 6 days, and allow road and air access to
    Sarajevo within 24 hours. NATO and the U.N., therefore, have suspended
    air operations temporarily and will carefully monitor the Serb
    compliance with these commitments.
        The suspension is appropriate. But let me emphasize, if the Bosnian
    Serbs do not comply with their commitments, the air strikes will resume.

    [[Page 1360]]

        Today's developments are a direct result of NATO's steadfastness in
    protecting the safe areas and the close cooperation between the U.N. and
    NATO. They also reflect the intense diplomatic efforts by Assistant
    Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke and the U.S. negotiating team as
    well as those of our European and Russian partners.
        Now the Bosnian Serbs must carry out their commitments and then turn
    their energies toward a political settlement that will end this terrible
    conflict for good. They should have no doubt that NATO will resume the
    air strikes if they fail to keep their commitments, if they strike again
    at Sarajevo or the other safe areas.
        Today's actions, however, following last week's successful meeting
    in Geneva of the Foreign Ministers of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia, are
    important steps along the path to peace in Bosnia. A lot of work remains
    to be done, but we are absolutely determined to press forward to reach a
    settlement to this conflict, not on the battlefield but at the
    negotiating table. We can and we must end Bosnia's long nightmare.
        Q. Mr. President, what do you think is the possibility of
    transforming this into a permanent peace in Bosnia?
        The President. I think there's a good possibility if the parties
    themselves wish to do it. And Ambassador Holbrooke and his team are
    working hard. We're getting good support from Europe and from Russia. I
    think we have a chance.
        Q. Since you last spoke in so formal a setting, even so formal a
    setting as this, a lot has happened, including the biggest military
    operation in NATO's history, something that you certainly urged, intense
    activity by your diplomats. And you have seemed almost shy about coming
    out and talking about it. Is that just an abundance of caution, or why
    is that, sir? [Laughter]
        The President. Not an abundance of caution, but what I have wanted
    to do, first of all, is let our actions speak for themselves. I thought
    it was important to have our actions speak for themselves.
        I also think it is important that even though the United States has
    provided a great deal of the energy and leadership in this effort, in
    this, the first difficult security crisis in Europe after the cold war,
    I think it is important that the NATO forces and the United Nations be
    seen to be united and working together, and we are. And so that explains
    how we have tried to handle this publicly.
        Q. In talking with Mr. Mladic and Mr. Karadzic and in really getting
    them to sign an agreement, is there a contradiction because they are
    convicted war criminals or accused war criminals----
        The President. Accused.
        Q. ----accused war criminals? And do you think they can now enter
    sort of the world of nations just like any other leader?
        The President. First of all, those decisions will all have to be
    made down the line by the community of nations. The most important thing
    is that the work continue now to make a comprehensive peace.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:04 a.m. in the Briefing Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan
    Karadzic and Gen. Ratko Mladic.