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In Sarajevo, Perry Hopes to Accelerate US Arms Deal By Robert Kearns
The United States believes the weaponry would give Bosnia's uneasy federation of Croats and Muslims enough military muscle to match Bosnia's Serbs. "We hope we can come close to finalising it," said a U.S. official travelling with Perry. "We just don't see how they can survive as separate...it's pivotal," said the official, who asked not be named.
Perry was meeting Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, leaders of Bosnia's military and key members of the coalition government to hammer out a deal that would define how the Croats and Muslims would share power over the military. The two sides must agree to a new defence law that would require approval of Bosnia's parliament.
The arms flow from the United States, which refused throughout the 43-month war to send weapons to the outgunned
Muslims, has been bottled up because of the unwillingness of the two to settle on what level of the military would operate under joint command and what would remain Croat or Muslim controlled.
The United States has enlisted four Muslim countries to help train and equip Bosnia: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States plans to provide the Bosnian army with 45 M-60 tanks, far superior to the ageing Soviet-era tanks used by Bosnia's Serbs, some of which are over 50 years old and have now been secured in barn yards and at factory sites under the terms of the U.S.-brokered Dayton peace accord.
Bosnia would also get 46,000 M-16 automatic weapons, machine guns, 113 armoured personnel carriers, 15 helicopters and 840 anti-tank weapons. It would also get communications equipment. Perry plans to spend July 4, American Independence Day, with U.S. troops in Bosnia. The United States has about 18,000 troops on the ground in Bosnia and is the largest contributor to the NATO-led peace force in the country. |
SARAJEVO, July 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary William Perry hopes feuding Bosnian Croats and Muslims can quickly break a logjam over powersharing and so unleash a flood of American weapons into the country, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Perry, who arrived in Sarajevo on Wednesday as part of a European tour, wants to conclude a deal allowing the shipment of $100 million worth of tanks, guns, ammunition and equipment.
Berserkistan, June 12 · Bosnian Parliament Said Ready to Pass Army Integration Law
Berserkistan, June 10 · Muslims, Croats Urged to Align for U.S. Military Assistance
Berserkistan, June 8 · U.S. Envoy Attempts to Resolve Bosnia’s Train and Equip Plan
Berserkistan, June 6 · Ethnic Tensions Blocking Bosnian-Croat Army
Berserkistan, June 5 · Bitter Debate Over Army Tests Muslim-Croat Federation
Berserkistan, May 31 · US Firm Contracted to Train Bosnia’s Army
Berserkistan, May 15 · Bosnian Soldiers to Turkey On NATO Training Program
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