Relationship with Iran Jeopardizes Bosnia's
Future, Says Senate Majority Leader
(WASHINGTON—Reuters) The Senate voted Wednesday to withhold $200 million of civilian aid to Bosnia until President Clinton certifies Iranian military and intelligence officials have left the country. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, author of the proposal, said the continued presence of the Iranians was a "potential threat" to U.S. forces and urged Bosnia to choose whether it intended to be part of the West or not.
"A continuing military and intelligence relationship with Iran clearly jeopardizes Bosnia's future as a pluralistic democratic state in Europe," the Kansas senator and Republican presidential front-runner said in a statement. The Dayton Accords set a Jan. 19 deadline for departure from Bosnia of foreign fighters, including Iranian military siding with Bosnian Muslims.
Dole's plan would also limit use of U.S. aid to projects in the U.S. sector of Bosnia and require Clinton to certify that the combined donations from other countries have matched the total $532 million U.S. contribution for reconstruction. It would also prohibit use of funds to repair housing in areas where refugees were refused the right to return due to their ethnicity or political affiliation.
The Bosnia amendments were added to a general government spending bill that also provides $777.7 million for U.S. military efforts and training of Bosnian forces. The $200 million withheld was for construction projects in Bosnia. The Bosnia conditions passed without objection, but the government spending bill is still awaiting Senate approval.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and chairman of the appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations, said humanitarian aid would not be affected by the measure. He expressed concern that a continued Iranian role in Bosnia could lead to creation of a separate Muslim state, which he said was "a goal Iran has long pursued." He said he was disturbed about reports of Iranian Revolutionary Guards were building a new secret security organization in Bosnia, called the Agency for Investigation and Documentation. He said this could threaten security of American forces and undermine the Muslim-Croat federation.
Both McConnell and Dole said they opposed any delay in sending military support and training as that would drive Bosnia closer to Iran, which provided military aid when the United States and other countries refused to.
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