Bosnian Serb Leader Signals He May Quit

Faced with an ultimatum from a top international official and threats from former ally Yugoslavia, Radovan Karadzic signaled Tuesday that he may step down as leader of the Bosnian Serbs.

As Karadzic, speaking through a top aide, said he was ready to “sacrifice his power,” international officials in Vienna set a Sept. 14 date for Bosnian elections.

International authorities have complained that Karadzic, an indicted war crimes suspect, should be removed from power before elections are held.

Even if Karadzic stepped down, he could rule the Serbian half of Bosnia-Herzegovina through proxies who shared his secessionist goals--unless he was forced to stand trial at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Only Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic or the Bosnian peace force led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization could deliver Karadzic to the tribunal. Commanders of the force say that is not their mandate, and Milosevic apparently is unwilling to act.

Momcilo Krajisnik, a top Bosnian Serb leader, floated the prospect of Karadzic’s resignation Tuesday as Serb-led Yugoslavia issued a veiled warning for Karadzic to step aside or face the consequences.

Clearly speaking for Milosevic, Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic urged Bosnia’s Serbs to “fully respect the Dayton agreement.” Full compliance with the peace accord reached in Ohio last fall would include Karadzic’s resignation.

Krajisnik, speaking to reporters, said he was relaying Karadzic’s stance.

“He would never put his interests above the peace plan and those of the Republika Srpska,” said Krajisnik, using the local name for the Serbian entity that makes up 49% of Bosnia. “He would sacrifice his power in the interest of the people of Republika Srpska.”

A former Karadzic ally, Milosevic now wants a more moderate Bosnian Serb leader--the price for rapprochement with the international community.

On Monday, Carl Bildt, the top official for implementing civilian aspects of Bosnia’s peace, issued an ultimatum requiring Karadzic to go by next Monday, according to diplomats who asked to remain anonymous. Refusal would bring renewed sanctions against the rump Yugoslavia and the Bosnian Serbs.

The threat of ruinous economic sanctions, which were imposed on Yugoslavia in 1992 for fomenting war in Bosnia and Croatia and were lifted only after the Dayton agreement, apparently led Milosevic to redouble his efforts to oust his former ally.

The United States and other nations backing the peace process in Bosnia want elections there this year despite the problems. Washington, in particular, wants to pull troops out of Bosnia by year’s end and fears postponing the vote would mean extending the military mission.