CROATIA: UNITED STATES (U.S) ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE COMMENTS ON FORTHCOMING MEETING WITH CROATIAN, BOSNIAN AND SERB FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GENEVA.

Record ID: 337825

  • Title: CROATIA: UNITED STATES (U.S) ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE COMMENTS ON FORTHCOMING MEETING WITH CROATIAN, BOSNIAN AND SERB FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GENEVA.
  • Date: 6th September 1995
  • Summary: ZAGREB, CROATIA, (SEPTEMBER 6, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV PANS TO UNITED STATES ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE SHAKES HANDS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN. 0.11 2. GV/SV HOLBROOKE AND OTHER UNIDENTIFIED AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES IN ROOM/ MEETING IN PROGRESS (4 SHOTS) 0.44 3. SV HOLBROOKE SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FORTHCOMING MEETING WITH CROATIAN, BOSNIAN AND SERB FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GENEVA (ENGLISH) 3.14 SEQ.3: TRANSCRIPT; HOLBROOKE: "WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED ANOTHER USEFUL AND IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME WE HAVE CONSULTED IN TWO WEEKS. WE HAVE A FEELING THAT WHENEVER WE TALK IN BELGRADE OR TO THE GOVERNMENT IN SARAJEVO WE SHOULD COME BACK TO ZAGREB TO CONSULT PRESIDENT TUDJMAN. WE DISCUSSED THE ONGOING PEACE INITIATIVE OF THE U.S. WE DESCRIBED IT IN DETAIL. I CANNOT GO INTO IT BECAUSE IT IS CONFIDENTIAL, THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WITH PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. WE DISCUSSED THE FORTHCOMING GENEVA MEETING, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW. PRIME MINISTER GRANIC WILL REPRESENT CROATIA. THIS MEETING IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT MEETING BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST TIME THE FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM SERBIA, CROATIA AND BOSNIA HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT DIVIDE THEM. WE HAVE A LIMITED OBJECTIVE HERE, TO LAY OUT SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT WILL GOVERN THE CONTINUING EFFORT FOR PEACE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SOME PROGRESS IN GENEVA BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO BE SURE HOW IT WILL COME OUT. PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC HAS BEEN EMPOWERED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS TO HEAD A SIX PERSON DELEGATION FOR PEACE, COMPOSED OF 3 PEOPLE FROM BELGRADE AND 3 FROM PALE. GENERAL MILADIC (BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY LEADER) IS LISTED AS ONE OF THOSE 6 PEOPLE. IF HE WISHES TO DEFY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS HE HAS DONE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, HE GETS THE RESPONSE THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. IT IS RELATED TO THE UNITED NATIONS ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE ITS MANDATE. IT IS A BELATED RESPONSE BUT IT IS AN UNAVOIDABLE ONE AND POLITICALLY AND MORALLY ESSENTIAL. WE WILL SEE WHETHER HE PARTICIPATES IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE OR NOT." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 21st September 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ZAGREB, CROATIA
  • City:
  • Country: Croatia
  • Reuters ID: LVA1IUBIKVEW8QKT9YCJ79687FLG
  • Story Text: United States (U.S.) envoy Richard Holbrooke denied on Wednesday (September 6) that NATO air power was being used by the United States to bomb the Bosnian Serbs to the negotiating table.

    Holbrooke, speaking to reporters in Zagreb following his meeting with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman when he briefed Croatian leaders on his peace drive, stressed the United States' strong commitment to Croatia adding that "whenever we talk in Belgrade or in Sarajevo we should consult with president Tudjman".

    On the crucial Geneva meeting scheduled for Friday between the foreign ministers of Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia, which he said will be the first of its kind, he explained that the limited objective was "to lay out basic principles that will govern the continuing efforts for peace".

    Holbrooke stressed that the Nato bombing of Bosnian Serb targets had nothing to do with the diplomatic search for peace and was designed to help the United Nation enforce its mandate.

    "If it affects the negotiations," he said, "that's not its intent"
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