Bob Dole: “I just wanted to put in the Record a fax we have just gotten from the Prime Minister of Bosnia. Let me read it to my…”

“I just wanted to put in the Record a fax we have just gotten from the Prime Minister of Bosnia. Let me read it to my colleagues. Certainly we are willing, if we need to modify the amendment in some appropriate way, not to take any teeth out of it, to make a strong statement. But I have to check with my cosponsors on both sides of the aisle. This is a letter we just received from Dr. Silajdzic, the Prime Minister: Excellency: We have just been informed that Serbian extremist forces besieging the ``safe area'' of Gorazde have issued an ultimatum to Government defense forces located within the center of the city. The Serbian extremist's ultimatum demands that Government forces withdraw completely from areas in the city lying on the Eastern bank of the river Drina, in addition Government forces are required to withdraw from areas lying within a three kilometer radius from the western side of the Drina. Under this ultimatum, UNPROFOR troops will not be permitted to enter the city and any evacuation of wounded civilians or UNPROFOR personnel will be prevented, until Government defense forces comply. The ultimatum further states that if Government forces refuse to comply with its provision by 16:00 CET, the Serbian aggressor will level the city to the ground. May I ask, Excellency, for Your kind assistance in circulating this letter as a document of the Security Council. Please accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest considerations.…”