BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: U.N. PERSONNEL LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHRIS VERNON VERNON AND CHRIS GUNNESS COMMENT ON THE LIFTING OF SIEGE ON SARAJEVO.

Record ID: 588493

  • Title: BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: U.N. PERSONNEL LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHRIS VERNON VERNON AND CHRIS GUNNESS COMMENT ON THE LIFTING OF SIEGE ON SARAJEVO.
  • Date: 16th September 1995
  • Summary: SARAJEVO (SEPTEMBER 16, 1995) (RTV - AVAILABLE ALL) 1. GV NEWS CONFERENCE 0.05 2. SV U.N. SPOKESMAN LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHRIS VERNON SPEAKING (ENGLISH)/ CUTAWAY 1.06 3. SV PANS TO U.N. SPOKESMAN CHRIS GUNNESS SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 1.50 SEQ.2: TRANSCRIPT; VERNON: " AS REGARDS TO THE THIRD AND PRIMARY DEMAND WE HAVE SEEN A SMALL NUMBER TO BE EXACT 4 ARTILLERY PIECES, 3 TANKS AND 5 MORTARS ACTUALLY MOVE OUTSIDE THE EXCLUSION ZONE. WE ARE ALSO OBSERVING A DEGREE OF ASSEMBLING AND COLLECTING OF WHICH WE COULD CONSTRUED TO BE THE FIRST PHASE OF A WITHDRAWAL OUTSIDE THE EXCLUSION ZONE. WE ARE NOW EFFECTIVELY 36 HOURS, HALF WAY THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT PERIOD. IF THEY ARE TO MEET THE DEMAND AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WEAPONS OUT BY THE 72 HOUR PERIOD, THEY NEED NOW TO START DOING THAT QUICKLY, JUST TO MEET THE PURE MILITARY MECHANICS OF MOVING THESE VEHICLES WITHIN THE TIME FRAME. IF THEY DO NOT ADMIRAL SMITH AND GENERAL JANVIER WILL MAKE AN ASSESSMENT THAT MAY NOT GO THEIR WAY." SEQ.3: TRANSCRIPT; GUNNESS: "THE SIEGE HAS LIFTED WHEN ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS, THROUGH ALL ROADS TO ALL AREAS OF THE CITY, THAT IS A MOMENT WHICH WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS. IT MAY BE ARGUED THAT FOR THE TIME BEING IT IS UNREALISTIC . IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THE BOSNIAN (UNCLEAR WORD), THE ONLY ROUTE THEY HAVE NOW IS OVER MOUNT IGMAN, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BUT ULTIMATELY YOU ASK WHAT CONSTITUTES THE LIFTING OF THE SIEGE THAT IS HOW I CHARACTERISE IT. (WHICH IS) THE ABILITY OF ALL CIVILIANS TO MOVE BY ALL ROUTES TO ALL AREAS OF THE CITY, I MEAN THAT'S A PERFECTLY REASONABLE DEFINITION OF THE LIFTING OF A SIEGE BECAUSE I SAY THAT REMAINS A CONCEPT WHICH WE (UN) ARE WORKING TOWARDS. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS IT REALISTICALLY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 1st October 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8EBRK34XRI02Y1YY7YKU4EA8V
  • Story Text: The United Nations (U.N.) said on Saturday (September 16) that they had observed a small number of heavy weapons moving out of the 20 kilometre (12 mile) exclusion zone around Sarajevo, but warned there needed to be further evidence of withdrawal.

    U.N. spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Vernon said the U.N.

    had seen four artillery pieces, three tanks and five mortars leaving the exclusion zone.

    Chris Gunness, another U.N. spokesman said the siege would only be completely lifted when all people had access to all areas of the city and that this may only be a "pipedream".

    The U.N. had also observed the collecting of weapons but could not confirm whether they were to be removed from the zone. He warned that if the Bosnian Serbs did not meet U.N. demands within the 72-hour time frame there would be an "assessment of the situation which would not go their way".


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