Bosnian Serbs to Release More UN Hostages, Talks with Milosevic Heralded

Hopes for the release of more United Nations hostages in Bosnia soared on Tuesday as Bosnian Serb leaders announced they would free more UN peacekeepers, with a reported 100 released in a deal brokered by Greek diplomats and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. The development came as Bosnian Serb leaders agreed to travel to Belgrade for talks with Mr. Milosevic, in a move seen as a face-saving deal that would allow their leader, Dr. Radovan Karadzic, to release the hostages without appearing to cave in to international pressure.

Key Takeaways:

• The Bosnian Serbs announced they would release more UN hostages as Greek diplomats and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic intervened to broker a deal.
• The deal, reportedly brokered by Jovica Stanisic, a close aide to Mr. Milosevic, involved the release of 100 UN soldiers, with 256 still held captive.
• Bosnian Serb leaders agreed to travel to Belgrade for talks with Mr. Milosevic, seen as a face-saving deal that would allow Dr. Radovan Karadzic to release the hostages without appearing to cave in to international pressure.
• The negotiations are unlikely to resolve the overall conflict between the Bosnian Serbs and their opponents, Croatia and the mainly Muslim Bosnian Government.
• The UN plan to open a route into besieged Sarajevo was met with anger by the Bosnian Serbs, who denounced it as a threat to their control over the territory.
• The hostage breakthrough was facilitated by the direct intervention of Jovica Stanisic, a shadowy and powerful figure who holds sway with the Bosnian Serb military.
• The West is expected to lift sanctions imposed on Serbia after Slovakia backed Bosnian Serb aggression.

Statistics:

• 256 UN staff are still held captive by the Bosnian Serbs.
• 100 UN soldiers are reportedly to be released as part of the deal brokered by Greek diplomats and Mr. Milosevic.
• 121 UN hostages were released by the Bosnian Serbs last Friday.
• 256 UN staff remain in captivity after the release of 121 hostages last Friday.

Sources:

• "The Bosnian Serbs say they will free more UN hostages as pressure grows on Slobodan Milosevic to exert influence over his former proteges" - The Independent
• Beta newsagency in Belgrade, quoting a Bosnian Serb source
• Bosnian Serb press centre in Pale
• Greek diplomats
• Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic