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Peace negotiations

Serbia's President Threatens to End Support for Bosnian Serbs if Peace Plan is Not Accepted

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Serbia's President Slobodan Milosevic has issued a stern warning to the Bosnian Serbs, threatening to end his vital support for them if they do not accept an international peace plan. The warning comes as the United Nations prepares to consider tougher sanctions against Serbia if the Bosnian Serbs do not comply. The peace plan, backed by the United States, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany, requires the Bosnian Serbs to give up a significant portion of the territory they have won in battle, which they have thus far refused to do.

Key Takeaways:

  • Slobodan Milosevic has threatened to end his support for Bosnia's Serbs if they do not accept the peace plan, warning of "unforeseeable tragic consequences" for all Serbs in the region.
  • The peace plan aims to reduce the Bosnian Serbs' holdings to 49% of Bosnia from 70% and give the rest to a Muslim-Croat federation.
  • The United Nations is expected to meet in about a week to consider tightening sanctions against Serb-dominated Yugoslavia, which were first imposed in May 1992.
  • Russia's foreign minister, Andrei Kozyrev, arrived in Belgrade to ask Milosevic to exert more pressure on the Bosnian Serbs to accept the peace plan.
  • Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic commended the nations for reaffirming Bosnia's territorial integrity but criticized them for failing to chart military action if the Serbs do not yield territory.
  • Drastic sanctions have been in place for two years, but have not restrained Serb behavior in Bosnia.
  • The self-styled Serb republic in Bosnia would have a hard time surviving without help from Yugoslavia, which has sent ammunition and weapons to the fighters, and food to the people.

Statistics:

  • About 200,000 people are dead or missing in the conflict.
  • 597 sniper and small-arms incidents were reported by UN observers over the past week.
  • A shell killed a civilian and wounded nine in the government-held central town of Travnik.
  • The UN Security Council is expected to meet in about a week to consider tightening sanctions.
  • The peace plan would reduce the Bosnian Serbs' holdings to 49% of Bosnia from 70%.

Sources:

  • Tanjug news agency
  • Politika
  • The Associated Press
  • Reuters

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