Joe Lieberman: “I rise on a matter of some urgency. Several colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, and I, have introduced an…”

“I rise on a matter of some urgency. Several colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, and I, have introduced an amendment which we hope will advance the twin causes of peace and justice in the former Yugoslavia. I thank my co-sponsors, Senator Lugar, Senator Biden, Senator Specter, Senator Feinstein, Senator Moynihan, Senator Hatch, Senator Levin and Senator D'Amato, for joining in what is, and must be, a bi-partisan effort to bring indicted war criminals to justice. It should now be apparent that we cannot divorce peace from justice in this traumatized region. To fail to address fundamental issues of justice in the former Yugoslavia, and Bosnia in particular, will mean the certain failure of the current international efforts to secure a lasting peace in the region. I will explain why the problem is one requiring urgent attention in a moment. Let me first summarize the problem and the solutions required. The problem is that progress in the rebuilding of Bosnia has been slow at best. This slowness is, in part, due to the slowness in overcoming the antagonisms engendered throughout a tragic war and the effect of the creation of ethnic areas. Nevertheless, the majority of Bosnian peoples of all ethnic affiliations, desperately seek peace and accommodation.”