On the recordJanuary 27, 1994
first let me commend the Republican leader for this amendment. It is a very important amendment. I believe it speaks the majority sentiment of this body--maybe unanimous--but surely the majority of this body that at least we should allow the Bosnians to defend themselves. It is one thing not to come to their assistance militarily as the capital, Sarajevo, is being pounded day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. The siege goes on of a capital of a European country recognized by all of us, a member of the United Nations, a capital under siege being pounded by Serbian artillery. It is bad enough that the world does not come to the military aid of that country, but it is absolutely shameful that we will not let them defend themselves. I find that to be the totally unacceptable response to this tragic situation. We had a visit a couple months ago here in Washington by a newspaper publisher in Sarajevo, a newspaper called the Liberator. His name is Kemal Kurspahic. This brave man has published a paper for the last 2 years while that capital has been under siege. His staff is multiethnic. There are Moslems on his staff; there are Serbs on his staff; there are Croatians on his staff, day after day being able to get out a paper reflecting the diversity of that capital under those circumstances.
