USA: PRESIDENT CLINTON GIVES HARSH WARNING FOR BOSNIAN SERBS

(15 Jul 1997) English/Nat

US President Bill Clinton had a stern warning for Bosnian Serbs Tuesday.

Worried about the safety of NATO troops, Clinton said it would be a grave mistake for Bosnian Serbs to seek revenge for the Western arrests of war crimes suspects.

Meanwhile, a coalition of religious groups, women's organizations, human rights groups and others called on Clinton to ensure that more war criminals are arrested and brought to justice.

President Bill Clinton gave a stern admonishment to Bosnian Serbs Tuesday, in an effort to douse any smouldering violent intentions.

In a White House meeting with Congressional leaders, Clinton warned Bosnian Serbs not to seek revenge for last week's NATO raid on suspected war criminals and the sentencing of another Bosnian Serb on war crimes charges.

Clinton said the 1995 Dayton peace accords signed by Serbs clearly stated that NATO troops could arrest war crimes suspects and that suspects should be turned over by local officials.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They have clearly not complied with that provision of the Dayton agreement. They've made no effort to help us get any of these people. And, so...but they have no call to take any retaliatory action and it would be a grave mistake."
SUPER CAPTION: President Bill Clinton, United States

Clinton did not elaborate on what the US response to any retaliatory action would be.

However, a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Bosnian leadership would be held responsible and the US would react with a "swift, forceful response."

The president is weighing whether to extend US involvement in Bosnia beyond the June 1998 deadline.

Some lawmakers object to widening involvement, while others argue that Clinton hasn't done enough in Bosnia.

While Clinton was holding his meeting, across town the man who lost to him in the 1996 presidential campaign was holding a press conference.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole along with Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman urged Clinton to bring more Bosnian war criminals to justice.

Dole said the U-S risks losing its reputation for leadership if it does not do more.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Today we're here to call upon the President, President Clinton, to ensure that all war criminals in the former Yugoslavia are arrested and brought to justice. Today we're here to say that there is much more to be done to bring a stable, just and genuine peace to Bosnia. If we do not arrest the perpetrators of these crimes of genocide, we will risk the investment of billions of dollars, right now it's about seven billion dollars, thousands of military and civilian personnel, and our prestige and our influence as the greatest country on the face of the earth."
SUPER CAPTION: Bob Dole, former Senate Majority Leader and presidential candidate

Dole joined other individuals, as well as a broad coalition of religious, women's and human rights organizations, in publishing an open letter to
Clinton in Tuesday's New York Times.

The letter calls for the president to "ensure that US led NATO forces in Bosnia meet their moral obligation" in bringing war criminals to justice.

However, if US troops take a more active role in arresting war criminals, they face the prospect of casualties.

Senator Joseph Lieberman said as long as suspected war criminals such as Radovan Karadzic are still free, risks must be taken.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Joseph Lieberman, Democrat, Connecticut



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