Bosnian peace talks appear deadlocked

November 20, 1995
Web posted at: 7:00 p.m. EST (2400 GMT)

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department denied reports that the Bosnian peace talks had broken down late Monday -- and a spokesman added that Secretary of State Warren Christopher is determined to iron out an agreement by Tuesday afternoon.

"The parties want a peace agreement," said Nicholas Burns. "We're in the 20th day. Secretary Christopher and Ambassador (Richard) Holbrooke continue their negotiations with the Croatians, and the Serbs and the Bosnians. These talks will continue for at least some hours to come." (274K AIFF sound or 274K WAV sound)

Christopher held a marathon negotiation session with the warring parties on Sunday, ending at about 5:30 a.m. EST and beginning again just two hours later. U.S. officials had hoped to announce an agreement -- or the failure of the talks -- by 10 a.m., but that deadline passed with no word from inside the secretive session.

Late Monday afternoon, reports from Bosnia indicated that the talks were breaking down, but U.S. officials quickly denied those reports. But the rumors persisted in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, where unnamed government officials said the sticking point was the size of land corridors through Serbian territory.

A senior U.S. adminstration official, while refusing to predict the success or failure of Bosnia peace talks, told CNN that Christopher will stay for a 21st day of negotiations if the Balkan leaders commit to ending their territorial disagreement by mid-afternoon Tuesday.

Bosnian peace talks appear deadlocked

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