Secretary of State James Baker is taking an active role in trying to stop the fighting and preserve the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the latest former Yugoslav republic to become a battleground.
His assertiveness on behalf of the United States is a welcome change from last year, when U.S. policy consisted largely of cheering on the European Community as it addressed the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. Slovenia and Croatia declared independence last summer, precipitating civil war.
Baker, who was criticized for America`s decision to stand aloof from the fray in Croatia, is wise to take a different tack now that the match has been put to the Bosnian powderkeg. His immediate aim is to drum up support for isolating Serbia and the Serb-dominated federal government unless they halt the fighting.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, hundreds of people have been killed in two weeks of conflict, and about 200,000 have been displaced. Gunfire and explosions ring out in Sarajevo and small towns despite a cease-fire signed by ethnic community leaders on Sunday.
Serbs, who make up about one-third of Bosnia`s population, oppose independence, approved by the Muslim and Croat majority in late February. The European Community and the United States recognized Bosnia`s statehood earlier this month.
In the last few days, Baker has been in touch with counterparts in the European Community, urging concerted action to thwart Serb militias waging war for Bosnian territory. The State Department has sent stern warnings to Serbia and the federal government. Both entities support Serb fighters in Bosnia, where the Yugoslav army still has 100,000 troops.
The U.S. also proposes to expel Yugoslavia from the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe if it does not stop anti-Bosnia aggression. But expulsion from the CSCE, a 51-nation human-rights and security organization, would be little more than a slap on the wrist. Tougher measures might have to be adopted if war in Bosnia continues. The trouble is, there aren`t many strong measures likely to be effective in this situation.
This is all the more reason to invest faith and hope in the intensive jawboning Secretary Baker is promoting. What a boon it would be if moral pressure from the EC and the U.S., coupled with the tireless peacemaking of United Nations envoy Cyrus Vance, carried the day in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
