Bosnian Leader Brings Arms Plea to U.S.

Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic appealed here Monday for an end to the arms embargo that he said is preventing his Muslim-led government from defending itself. But he apparently did no more than reopen a dispute between the Clinton Administration and the Republican-led Congress.

Silajdzic called on the United States to issue an ultimatum to the rebel Bosnian Serbs that Washington will begin to supply the government forces with weapons unless the Serbs accept an international peace plan by spring.

Administration officials renewed their rhetorical support for Silajdzic’s government but said there is virtually no possibility of ending the U.N.-imposed arms embargo that covers all of the former Yugoslav federation but hits hardest at the under-equipped Bosnian army.

Silajdzic was more successful on Capitol Hill than he was in his separate meetings with Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) vowed to press for legislation requiring the Administration to ignore the embargo if the combatants in Bosnia-Herzegovina do not make peace by May 1.

“We’re serious about lifting the arms embargo,” Dole told reporters after his talks with the Bosnian prime minister. “We certainly haven’t lost our resolve. They’re not asking for American troops. They have a right to self-defense.”

The Administration has urged the U.N. Security Council to lift the embargo and permit the Bosnians to seek arms wherever they are available. But Administration officials say that if Washington acts alone to defy the embargo, it will damage the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, undermine other U.N. embargoes against countries like Iraq and draw the United States into the conflict if arms alone are not enough to bring victory to the Bosnian side.

Appearing before the House International Relations Committee last week, Christopher urged Republicans to think twice before voting to defy the embargo.

“If the arms embargo is unilaterally lifted and the Muslims get into trouble, will you send United States troops to help (them)?” Christopher asked the lawmakers. Referring to Silajdzic’s meetings this week on Capitol Hill, the secretary of state said, “I think we owe him an honorable, accurate, honest answer to the questions that he’ll be asking.”

Britain and France, which have contributed troops to the U.N. force that would face Serbian retaliation if the embargo is eased, are solidly opposed to lifting the embargo. Britain, France and Russia, which also opposes the step, all have veto power on the U.N. Security Council.