OSCE Chairman-in-Office condemns Bosnian-Serb take-over in Srebrenica

BUDAPEST, 12 July 1995 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Hungarian Foreign Minister László Kovács, issued the following statement today:

Another humanitarian disaster is unfolding in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a consequence of the recent large-scale attack by the Bosnian Serbs, the UN-declared safe areas of Srebrenica has fallen. 40,000 civilians lives are now at risk. The situation in Zepa and Gorazde, two other safe areas, is also critical. The Dutch UN peacekeepers deployed in Srebrenica were forced to leave the town together with thousands of fleeing civilians. A mere expression of outrage and condemnation is no longer enough.

The Bosnian Serb take-over in Srebrenica, the attacks launched against the civilian population and the UN personnel there and in other safe areas, the blockade of humanitarian deliveries to Sarajevo are elements of a larger, consistent pattern of Bosnian Serb repudiation of the United Nations and the international community as a whole, of the rejection by Pale of all efforts at a peaceful settlement. With these actions, the Bosnian Serbs are sending a clear and defiant message to the world community. Those who are condoning, supporting or committing these unqualifiable actions, in blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, must be held accountable. The UN personnel detained by the Bosnian Serbs in Srebrenica must be immediately released. UNPROFOR's freedom of movement must be unconditionally ensured.

The concept of safe areas has been fundamental to the United Nations presence in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was destined to be a means to provide security for the civilian population there and to ensure their humanitarian support. It is worth recalling that events in Srebrenica were instrumental in the decision by the United Nations two years ago to introduce the very concept of safe areas in the country. Failure to provide protection to them and to stop yet another humanitarian tragedy raises the question of the viability of the entire concept. The international community should look for more adequate and efficient ways to ensure the continuation of its conflict management activities in the former Yugoslavia as it seeks answers to some fundamental questions regarding its role and response to the unprecedented challenges stemming from this conflict. The OSCE reiterates its readiness to continue to actively support all such efforts which are aimed at bringing peace and justice to this tormented region.