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Bosnia told to uphold peace deal, or lose aid
Serbian demonstrators make headway in Yugoslavia
December 6, 1996
Web posted at: 4:15 a.m. EST (0915 GMT)LONDON (CNN) -- Foreign ministers ended their two-day conference on Bosnia Thursday with a stern warning to the former warring parties: Do more to implement the Dayton peace plan, or the flow of aid will stop.
The leaders of more than 40 countries were meeting in London to assess progress of the Dayton peace deal, now a year old, and to put in place a plan for the coming year.
Those present reached agreements on issues as diverse as restoring nationwide phone and bus service, building democratic institutions and creating an atmosphere of trust that would allow hundreds of thousand of refugees to return home.
For their part, the Bosnians promised once again to fulfill Dayton pledges, such as establishing freedom of movement, handing over war criminals and forming common political institutions -- aspects of the deal that have been largely ignored.
"All the communities are in favor of peace, but somewhat different versions of peace," international mediator Carl Bildt told reporters.
"They are trying to twist the implementation of the peace agreement to suit their own needs. That's why our presence is so important," he said.
The London hosts were anxious to underscore the progress that has been made. They said that after 43 months of bloodshed, having the Muslim, Croat and Serb leadership sit together representing a single Bosnia was a small triumph in itself.
While leaders in London focused on issues of human rights and democracy in Bosnia, they could not ignore the clamor for the same in the streets of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, as opponents of Serbia's leader kept up their peaceful protests.
"These events did cut across the spirit of reconciliation and progress at this conference," said Balkan analyst Spyros Economides. "I spoke at length as did others to the foreign minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia about these concerns and he will take back to Belgrade a clear message about the views of the international community."
Western leaders are perhaps reluctant to put too much pressure on Slobodan Milosevic. It was his policies, many say, that sparked the war in Bosnia, but he also helped to end it.
"He is a key ingredient for keeping some kind of stability in Bosnia, not only because he signed the Dayton agreement, not only because he has a certain amount of control over Bosnian Serbs and their military machine but also because he is seen as a relatively strong man in the Yugoslav context."
While events in Belgrade were debated in London, back in Yugoslavia, a record 150,000 protesters took to the streets of the capital.
Milosevic showed some signs of bending Thursday to opposition forces that have demonstrated against his leadership for the last 18 days.
Two independent radio stations were allowed to resume broadcasts, and a purge of party officials accused of election fraud continued.
The government also extended an olive branch to its people, with promises of cash for students and pensioners and cheaper electricity for the nation.
International Correspondent Siobhan Darrow and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Serbs silence 3rd radio station critical of Milosevic - December 4, 1996
- West watches warily - December 4, 1996
- Independent radio stations silenced in Yugoslavia - December 3, 1996
- U.S. warns Milosevic not to use force against protesters - December 3, 1996
- Anti-Milosevic protesters take to streets despite threats - December 2, 1996
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