[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 30 (Monday, August 2, 1993)]
[Pages 1479-1480]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Freshman Congressional 
Democrats

 July 28, 1993

Bosnia

    Q. Mr. President, are you going to send air power to Bosnia?
    The President. Let me say, I saw the stories this morning. The 
position of the United States has long been that if the United Nations 
troops were attacked there, we would do our part to protect it and by 
making available air power. We have not yet been asked to do that. If we 
are asked, that's something we'll give good consideration to. But we 
have not been asked to do it, and I----
    Q. The French did not ask you?
    The President. Not yet. But we've had some conservations with them. 
I'm very upset by the shelling of Sarajevo. And we're going to take a 
look at what the situation is and what the options are. But they have 
not formally asked yet.
    Q. Does that mean the answer could be--a request is made that the 
answer will be yes, sir?
    The President. It means just what I said. It means that the United 
States has always had the public position and the private position--
we've made it very clear that if the United Nations operations in Bosnia 
were attacked, we would be prepared to defend them with air power. And 
we have not been asked yet. If we are asked, that's something we will 
seriously consider.
    Q. You certainly are expecting it, aren't you? I mean, Bosnia has 
been attacked and they are on the----
    The President. We'll just have to see. I am going to be reviewing it 
in the next couple of days. I asked the Secretary of State to come home 
to discuss the Middle East before he goes to the Middle East. So he will 
be here. We'll have a chance to discuss it, and as soon as we make a 
decision we'll let you know.

Note: The exchange began at 8:34 a.m. in the State Dining Room at the 
White House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
this exchange.

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