International Herald Tribune, The New York Times,

tuesday, september 13, 1994

Ease the Sanctions Now

President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia is now willing to let international observers monitor the trade embargo he has imposed on the Bosnian Serbs. In return, the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Russia will ask the UN Security Council to begin easing sanctions on the Yugoslav Federation, now consisting only of Serbia and Montenegro.

That makes sense - if the monitors can verify that the embargo is being enforced. The United Nations imposed sanctions against Yugoslavia to get Belgrade to cut off the Bosnian Serbs. If that is what Belgrade is now doing, it deserves relief. The first steps planned, reopenong Yugoslavia's airports to international flights and allowing its citizens to participate in international sporting and cultural events, are harmless enough in themselves. But it would be a mistake to take even these steps without using the same UN resolution to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia.

The two will be linked only if the Clinton administration insists on it. Europe, including Russia, is eager to help Mr. Milosevic, hoping he will pressure the Bosnian Serbs to accept the international partition plan that the Bosnian government has already accepted. The partition would be patrolled by international troops, including at least 15.000 Americans. But these same European countries vehemently oppose Washington's proposal to pressure the Bosnian Serbs by lifting the unjust arms embargo against the Bosnian government, a step that would eventually let Bosnia protect its own interests without massive international intervention.

Unlike the sanctions against Mr. Milosevic, the Bosnian arms embargo is not tied to specific policies. Originally imposed against all parts of the former Yugoslavia, it disproportionately hurts Bosnia because the heavy weapons left by the Yugoslav Army on Bosnian soil were seized by Serb militias when the fighting began. Sealing Mr. Milosevic's border will not be enough to overcome this disadvantage. Only when Bosnia can buy arms to defend itself can it assure compliance with any peace terms without outside intervention.

There is a risk that Bosnia would use new arms to abandon peace diplomacy and try to recapture lost territory. But that danger can be countered if relief from the arms embargo is linked to Bosnia's continued acceptance of the latest international peace plan.

If the issues of sanctions relief for Yugoslavia and for Bosnia are now separated, Europe will never agree to lift the Bosnia embargo. That is why the United States must insist on linking the two from the outset, beginning this week.