United Nations
French President Jacques Chirac authorized French troops to shoot back if they were attacked again, amid a pitched battle between French peacekeepers and Bosnian Serbs. The French government did not repeat earlier threats to withdraw its three battalions from Bosnia, but instead renewed diplomatic efforts to stop the violence. The
Soldiers
President Clinton stood by NATO's recent air strikes on Serbian ammunition dumps in Bosnia, emphasizing that they were carried out in response to stepped-up shelling of Sarajevo. He condemned the Serbs for their actions, including the seizure of United Nations peacekeepers, and called on them to release the
United Nations
The UN Security Council has announced its determination to protect its peacekeepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina, following a sharp escalation of violence in the region. Two peacekeepers were killed in a firefight, and scores of UN troops are being held at the mercy of the Bosnian Serbs. The council members expressed their
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Faced with mounting French casualties, French Prime Minister Alain Juppe warned that the UN protection force in the former Yugoslavia, Unprofor, would lose all purpose if Serbia did not recognise Bosnia. This threat has further strained diplomatic relations between France and Britain, which is opposed to withdrawal and relies on
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British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd reiterated on Wednesday that London has not decided to withdraw its peacekeepers from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but acknowledged the need to reconfigure the mission to better protect troops. Hurd, who spoke alongside US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, emphasized that the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina continues to deteriorate,
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The French government reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but cautioned that it cannot accept being seen as an obstacle to a political settlement. Foreign Minister Alain Juppe warned that France, the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operation, would consider withdrawing its troops if conditions on the
United Nations
Fighting intensified across northern Bosnia yesterday as the government and rebel Serbs dismissed appeals to renew a ceasefire that is set to expire on Monday at noon. United Nations troops came under attack in multiple areas, with NATO jets responding to airstrikes in some regions. The fighting marks a significant
United Nations
As the United Nations tribunal for the former Yugoslavia identified Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic as suspected war criminals, a fundamental contradiction within the organization has come to the forefront. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Bosnia sees these leaders as respectable interlocutors, essential for maintaining a
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France, with 4,530 peacekeeping troops in Bosnia, has warned that it will withdraw them unless their safety can be assured. The government of Prime Minister Edouard Balladur has called for a cease-fire extension and demanded that the international community take action to prevent a withdrawal. Foreign Minister Alain Juppe
Soldiers
France has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the deteriorating security conditions for UN peacekeepers in Bosnia, following the killings of two French soldiers last week. Prime Minister Edouard Balladur warned that France will withdraw its troops if certain conditions are not met, including
United Nations
The Russian Defense Ministry has vehemently denied charges against Major General Aleksandr Perelyakin, who was recently dismissed from his position as commander of Russian peacekeeping troops in a Serbian-held area near Vukovar. The United Nations had accused General Perelyakin of severe shortcomings, including corruption and complicity in smuggling oil and
United Nations
Serbian mortar bombs slammed into the city center of Sarajevo, killing three people, including a 15-year-old girl, and wounding seven others, sparking a NATO response. The United Nations peacekeeping officers had requested the escalation after the security situation in the city deteriorated sharply over the weekend. Serbian forces had been
