NATO Urges U.N. to Act Swiftly in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnian government troops hold Tuzla, a city in northeastern Bosnia, but it is surrounded by Bosnian Serb forces that shell the airport to prevent planes from landing. Bosnian Serbs have also blockaded Srebrenica, a city 60 miles southeast of Tuzla. NATO officials have urged U.N. peacekeeping forces to take action, calling for plans to open the air strip at Tuzla and break the siege at Srebrenica within days.

Key Takeaways:

• NATO officials have called on U.N. peacekeeping forces to draw up urgent plans to open the air strip at Tuzla and break the siege at Srebrenica.
• The alliance stands ready to back up U.N. troops with air strikes if they come under attack, but officials stressed that air strikes may not take place.
• U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali must request air strikes in order for them to be launched.
• NATO warplanes patrol Bosnian airspace to enforce an earlier U.N. ban on military aircraft flights.
• Alliance military planners have prepared for the possibility of air strikes in defense of peacekeeping troops.
• The United Nations has not yet decided whether to follow NATO's urging to open Tuzla and Srebrenica.
• Bosnian Serbs have continued to shell and launch other attacks on the Bosnian capital despite earlier warnings.
• NATO has mounted no air strikes despite the threat contained in an August communique.

Statistics:

• 60 miles: distance between Tuzla and Srebrenica.
• 100 km: equivalent distance between Tuzla and Srebrenica in kilometers.
• 1 official: number of NATO officials who spoke to reporters.
• 1 military airport: Tuzla air strip outside of which Bosnian Serb forces are currently besieging.

Sources:

• "Bosnia-Herzegovina". News article by Bill Lamp. The New York Times.