    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [February 20, 1996]
    [Page 304]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Balkan Peace Process
    February 20, 1996

        This afternoon I met with my senior national security team to review
    the situation in Bosnia. I received a report on this weekend's meeting
    in Rome with the Presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia.
        I am pleased that in Rome, the Balkan leaders recommitted themselves
    to keeping peace on track. The parties pledged to resume contacts with
    the NATO-led Implementation Force, to reunify Sarajevo on schedule, to
    release all remaining war prisoners, to remove any remaining foreign
    forces, to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes,
    and to strengthen the Bosnian-Croat Federation and reunify Mostar.
        I have instructed my foreign policy team to continue efforts to
    convince all the parties that their Rome commitments must be implemented
    faithfully and without delay. The road to peace is a hard road, but it
    is the right road. We are proud to be part of the NATO force, and I am
    pleased to be meeting with NATO Secretary General Solana today.
        While serious problems remain, it is important to keep the situation
    in Bosnia in perspective. After nearly 4 years of war, peace will not
    take hold overnight. We should not lose sight of the remarkable progress
    that has been made since Dayton. The cease-fire is holding. The zones of
    separation are in place. And in Sarajevo, once a dying city haunted by
    snipers and shells, the markets are filled. People are back on the
    streets. Builders are repairing shops and small businesses in the center
    of town. Sarajevo has come back to life, with a future for all of its
    people.
        These are the kinds of tangible benefits that will help give all the
    people of Bosnia a greater stake in peace than in war. Tomorrow, I am
    sending to Capitol Hill a supplemental appropriations request for $820
    million to support IFOR and its mission. This includes $200 million to
    assist the essential process of civilian implementation--specifically,
    economic reconstruction and reform, deployment of international police
    monitors, and demining. I will work with Congress to secure these funds
    as quickly as possible. The sooner the Bosnian people recover the
    blessings of a normal life, the surer the chances for a peace that
    endures.
        I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the
    enormous dedication of Assistant Secretary Holbrooke, who has
    spearheaded the peace effort for us since last August. As Ambassador
    Holbrooke steps down, I want to thank him for his service to our Nation.
    The people of Bosnia and American people owe him a tremendous debt of
    gratitude. My new Special Adviser for Implementation of the Dayton
    accords, Ambassador Robert Gallucci, one of our most experienced and
    successful diplomats, joined our meeting today and will continue our
    mission of moving the peace process forward.