CROATIA: UN ENVOY YASUSHI AKASHI DEFENDS DECISION TO SUSPEND AIRSTRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS.

Record ID: 646190

  • Title: CROATIA: UN ENVOY YASUSHI AKASHI DEFENDS DECISION TO SUSPEND AIRSTRIKES AGAINST BOSNIAN SERBS.
  • Date: 12th July 1995
  • Summary: ZAGREB, CROATIA (JULY 12, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. MCU UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY SPEAKING ABOUT THE LATEST SITUATION IN BOSNIA (ENGLISH) /MEDIA CUTERWAY (2 SHOTS) 2.00 2. MCU AKASHI SPEAKING (ENGLISH)/LEAVING BY CAR (2 SHOTS) 2.44 SEQ.1: TRANSCRIPT; AKASHI: "AS YOU KNOW OUR SOLDIERS PUT UP A VERY GREAT RESISTANCE TO THE SERB ATTEMPT TO INVADE SREBRENICA BUT THE FORCES WERE OVERWHELMING AND WHEN THEIR SAFETY WAS THREATHENED THEY CALLED FOR SUPPORT BY NATO. AFTER SEVERAL BOMBARDMENTS BY NATO, I SPOKE WITH THE DEFENCE MINISTER OF THE NETHERLANDS WHO FOR FEAR OF THREATS ON THEIR SOLDIERS ASKED ME TO SUSPEND THE ACTION TAKEN BY NATO. OUR TROOPS ARE NOW BEING CONCENTRATED AT THE BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AT THE NORTH OF THE TOWN OF SREBENICA AND THEY WILL BE REDEPLOYED TO THE NORTH OF THE SAFE AREA. WE ARE GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CIVILIANS AND THE REFUGEES AND WE ARE CONCERTED FORCES WITH THE UNHCR AND THE SAFE EVACUATION OF THOSE WISH TO LEAVE SREBENICA. THE UNHCR ENVOY WILL GO TO TUSLA TO COORDINATE ACTION WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES.WE WILL ALSO SEND OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO PALE TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS." SEQ.2: TRANSCRIPT; AKASHI: "I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE CAN DO BUT - WE WILL BE AS VIGILANT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. BUT OUR PRESENCE THERE HAS BEEN MADE RATHER PRECARIOUS AS OF NOW." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 27th July 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ZAGREB, CROATIA
  • City:
  • Country: Croatia
  • Reuters ID: LVA8HPDDP0TJIIKYD60NVP31VXEH
  • Story Text: The United Nations (U.N.) special envoy Yasushi Akashi has been defending his decision to suspend air strikes against Bosnian Serbs who on Tuesday (July 11) over-ran the so-called safe haven of Srebrenica.

    He said he was gravely concerned about the plight of refugees.

    Akashi said his troops resisted the Bosnian Serb invasion but the safety of the troops was paramount. The U.N. called for NATO air support but the Dutch Defence Minister called for a halt to this as it endangered the lives of their soldiers.

    Akashi said the U.N. troops are now mainly to the north of Srebrenica. The U.N., he said, was cooperating with the UNHCR special envoy who is going to Tuzla to coordinate their safe evacuation. They will be consulting Bosnian government authorities about the plight of the refugees and a representative will also be heading for Pale to ask Bosnian Serb assistance.

    Refugees who wish to remain will have no part in the ethnic cleansing but he believes people would like to leave the area and the U.N. has an obligation to facilitate their evacuation.

    Akashi also said he has advised the U.N. Secretary General on the situation in Srebrenica who is against air strikes and who insists there is a clear distinction between air support and air strikes.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register