France Proposes International Army for Bosnia’s Hot Spots
France on Friday tested President Clinton’s threat of military force to halt the Balkan war by proposing an international army of up to 40,000 troops to occupy hot spots in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The French government circulated a proposal among the 15 Security Council members that spells out how to protect Muslims in six besieged Bosnian cities.
Last week, the council declared the cities--Bosnia’s capital of Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zepa, Gorazde, Bihac and Srebrenica--”safe areas” which should be free of armed attacks. It called on Bosnian Serb forces to withdraw immediately from the areas but provided for no enforcement.
France’s proposal is designed to put in the teeth.
It suggests a range of options, from a symbolic force of 8,600 that would simply deter aggression to one of up to 40,000 that would oppose aggression and “occupy key points.” Military force would be used against attackers who shell the six areas or disrupt humanitarian relief convoys.
The plan says air power--something Clinton has suggested--should be used “to confront potential major aggression.”
It also challenges the United States to contribute ground troops to the U.N. peacekeeping operation, something Clinton has resisted. France and Britain have contributed the most troops to the current U.N. mission in Bosnia.
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