Vance Raises Peace Hopes for Yugoslavia

U.N. special envoy Cyrus R. Vance on Sunday raised expectations that up to 10,000 peacekeepers could be sent to Yugoslavia, saying that warring factions in secessionist Croatia appear to be finally honoring a cease-fire pact.

U.N. officials have said they will not send peacekeepers until a firm truce is reached in Croatia, where republic fighters have battled the Serb-led federal army and ethnic Serbs opposed to secession. Previous truces have collapsed almost immediately.

Vance met Sunday with U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. He said that Boutros-Ghali today will deliver a report on Yugoslavia to the Security Council, which has authority to send a peacekeeping force.

(The New York Times reported that part of Boutros-Ghali’s report will be a recommendation to send 50 military observers to Yugoslavia quickly to determine how well the truce is holding.)

Vance, who returned from Yugoslavia last week, said that specific details about a possible peacekeeping force would be addressed in Boutros-Ghali’s report to the 15-nation Security Council. Officials have said that such a force could number 10,000.

Asked if he is optimistic about peace, Vance broke into a smile. “I am pleased the cease-fire appears to be holding and I hope that this will continue.”

The new secretary general also grinned and appeared upbeat as he left the meeting but did not talk to reporters.

Vance, a former U.S. secretary of state, said he would try to reach top Yugoslav officials and military leaders later to encourage them to abide by the truce, agreed to Friday.

In Croatia, Sunday was one of the most peaceful days in months. Businesses reopened in some towns, and people ventured from bomb shelters.