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U.S. Warns Milosevic of Possible Sanctions
By Peter Greste
BELGRADE, May 22 (Reuters) — The United States warned Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic on Wednesday that renewed sanctions against rump Yugoslavia were a real prospect if the peace process in neighbouring Bosnia did not restart. "I wasn't here to issue threats, so I can't say I told him "You must do this or there will be sanctions'," Kornblum told a news conference after the meeting.
"But I did make it clear that the process must go forward and that there is the prospect of sanctions if it doesn't." Kornblum flew in from the United States earlier in the day to push forward civilian aspects of the Dayton peace accord, bogged down over faulty preparations for Bosnia-wide elections and refusal by Bosnian Serb leaders accused of being war criminals to step down.
Sanctions against Yugoslavia — now consisting of Serbia and Montegro — were lifted last year after the peace agreement was signed. Milosevic was co-signatory for the Bosnian Serbs on the accord. Kornblum said that made him responsible for its success. "I made it very clear that the U.S. is committed to
ensuring that the Dayton agreement is fully implemented," Kornblum said. "And since Milosevic is joint signatory, those obligations apply to him also."
Analaysts said Kornblum's latest trip was intended to show Milosevic a "yellow card" — a warning that time and international patience were running out. His visit follows the sacking by Bosnian Serb leader Radovan
Karadzic of his moderate "prime minister" Rajko Kasagic.
The presence in power of Karadzic, indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal, is widely regarded as the most significant obstacle to peace in Bosnia. Western diplomats said they hoped Kasagic's dismissal would uultimately lead to Karadzic's downfall. But analysts now say they believe it has only served to insulate Karadzic from international pressure without relinquishing his grip on power.
Kornblum said he made it clear to Milosevic that Karadzic and his military commander, Ratko Mladic, who has also been indicted by the tribunal, must both give up all power. "We expect them not to be in government and disappear from public view and not to have any influence in government decisions in any way," he said. |
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