- Title: USA: U.S. PEACE PLAN FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WILL NOT BE DERAILED
- Date: 21st August 1995
- Summary: ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 21, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER, UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ANTHONY LAKE LEAVING STRATEGY SESSION ON THE U.S. PEACE PLAN FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA (3 SHOTS) 0.24 2. LV/SV OFFICERS CARRY FL
- Embargoed: 5th September 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA3YE0SR95UB190PC0KNH59956V
- Story Text: The United States (U.S.) said on Monday (August 21) its peace plan for the former Yugoslavia would not be derailed by the deaths of three American diplomats who were killed while shuttling between Balkan capitals to present that plan to leaders in the region.
Following a solemn ceremony in which the bodies of the diplomats were returned to U.S. soil, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Defense Secretary William Perry and National Security Advisor Anthony Lake immediately began consultations on how to get the peace process back on-track with new hands to carry on the work of the deceased.
Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, who headed the five-man peace delegation, was expected to return shortly to the former Yugoslavia to resume those efforts although precise details were not released.
Flag drapped coffins containing the bodies of the diplomats were flown to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington.
Christopher and Lake eulogised the diplomats and pledged to honour them by finishing their work no matter the obstacle.
The three diplomats were Robert Frasure, the U.S. special envoy on former Yugoslavia; Joseph Kruzel, a deputy assistant secretary of defence; and Air Force Col. Samuel Nelson Drew. They died, along with a French U.N. soldier, when the French armoured car they were riding in ran off the road and plunged into a deep ravine near Sarajevo.
Christopher, Perry and Lake likened their efforts to those of Sisyphus, condemned in Greek myth to forever push a rock up a mountain only to see it roll back -- but they vowed this would turn out quite differently.
"The loss ... is a terrible blow but the effort to bring peace to Bosnia will continue and with a renewed sense of commitment," said Christopher. "We will honour their sacrifice by striving to complete their work." President Clinton was expected on Wednesday to interrupt a vacation in Wyoming to attend memorial services for the three diplomats at Arlington National Cemetery.
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