Clinton Sets Deadline for UN to Lift Bosnia Arms Embargo, Congress Divided

President Clinton yesterday announced plans to urge the United Nations to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia by late October, unless the Bosnian Serbs accept a new peace plan they have repeatedly rejected. This move comes despite intense pressure from Capitol Hill, where the Senate voted to approve conflicting amendments to the defense appropriations bill. The amendments, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole and Joseph I. Lieberman, among others, would demand that President Clinton unilaterally lift the arms embargo by November 15, or urge the UN to do so if the Bosnian Serbs have not approved the peace plan by October 31.

Key Takeaways:

• The Senate voted 58-42 to approve an amendment that would demand President Clinton unilaterally lift the arms embargo by November 15, with 37 Republicans and 21 Democrats in favor.
• A conflicting amendment, sponsored by Senator Sam Nunn and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, was also approved, with 46 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting in favor of the measure, which would urge the UN to lift the embargo if the Bosnian Serbs have not approved the peace plan by October 31.
• President Clinton's decision to press for an end to the arms embargo has been met with concern by other major powers, including Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, who fear it could lead to increased fighting.
• The current peace plan provides for the division of Bosnia's land between the Bosnian Serbs and the Muslim-dominated government, with the Serbs receiving 49 percent and the Muslims receiving 51 percent.
• President Clinton has expressed his concern that lifting the embargo unilaterally could strain relations with Western European allies and threaten the cohesiveness of NATO.

Statistics:

• The Senate voted 58-42 to approve the Dole-Lieberman amendment, with (37 Republicans and 21 Democrats voting in favor)
• The Senate approved the Nunn-Mitchell amendment by a vote of 56-44, with (46 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting in favor)
• The current peace plan provides for the division of Bosnia's land between the Bosnian Serbs and the Muslim-dominated government, with the Serbs receiving 49 percent and the Muslims receiving 51 percent
• The United States, under NATO's aegis, works with its allies to patrol shipping into Bosnia and other former Yugoslav republics (Source: Administration officials)
• The arms embargo has been in place for 3 years (Source: Administration officials)

Sources:

• President Clinton's letter to Senator Nunn
• Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole
• Joseph I. Lieberman
• Senator Sam Nunn
• Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell
• Administration officials
• European diplomat (name not specified)
• President Clinton's letter to Senator Nunn (referring to the Bosnian Muslims)