ABSTRACT: With a letter sent to Marco Pannella, the Italian Prime Minister, Giulio Andreotti, outlines the Italian government's initiatives "as regards the situation in Yugoslavia and in particular in relation to the tragic events which have shattered Bosnia Herzegovina". Andreotti, while recalling the initiatives taken on 11 May 1992 by the E.C.'s Council of Ministers, states that "the decisions taken in Brussels represent a clear warning to Belgrade, conveying that the Twelve are no longer willing to tolerate a behaviour which prevents the achievement of a negotiated solution".

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The President of the Council of Ministers

Rome, 13 May 1992

Dear Pannella,

as you know, the Italian commitment in the Yugoslav issue and in particular in relation to the tragic events which have shattered Bosnia Herzegovina has developed along guidelines which tend to privilege the moment of negotiations, represented by the Brussels Peace Conference and by the specific Lisbon Tri-party Conference on Bosnia Herzegovina, being it impossible, for the moment, to achieve a stabilization of the situation on the field through the envoy of an interposition force, as in the case of Croatia.

However, the Italian government, also as regards to this, has expressed its readiness to support the creation of a peace-keeping force, provided the following objective conditions are fulfilled: the existence of an actual cessation of hostilities, the consent of all parts involved in the conflict (Serbs, Croats and Muslims) and a precise mandate issued by the U.N. Security Council.

On 11 May 1992 the last meeting of the Council of Ministers of Brussels issued a statement on Bosnia Herzegovina, the contents of which represents the strongest step taken to date toward the Authorities of Belgrade to urge them to put an end to the destabilization action carried out in Bosnia through the Federal Armed Forces and the support given to Serbian irregular elements. The Community of the Twelve has, as a consequence, taken a series of unprecedented decisions, such as recalling their Ambassadors from Belgrade for consultations, requesting the suspension of the Delegation of Belgrade in the decisions relative to the CSCE until 29 June, when a new meeting of the conference will issue an opinion on the extension of the suspension, the progressive isolation of the delegation of Belgrade in all international fora, starting with the coming ministerial meeting of the OCSE. Moreover, the Community has asked the Commission to investigate the conditions for the introduction of further economic

sanctions.

The decisions taken in Brussels represent a clear warning to Belgrade, conveying that the Twelve are no longer willing to tolerate a behaviour which prevents the achievement of a negotiated solution, which remains the only practicable solution in the intricate pattern of the Yugoslav situation.

Our government's action regarding the problem of the refugees has been no less prompt. L. 2.5 billion have already been allotted for the refugees which have taken shelter in Croatia, and the necessary procedures are under way for further allotments amounting to L. 1.5 billion for the homeless accepted by Slovenia, and L. 2 billion for those who remain on the territory of Bosnia Herzegovina and for that which concerns the envoy of emergency aid. Moreover, we have expressed our complete availability to contributing in the most appropriate technical forms, to the transportation of humanitarian aid, in particular by offering the use of ports and airports.

Let me assure you of the personal, constant interest of myself, the Foreign Minister and the entire Government in following the situation in Bosnia Herzegovina with special attention.

Giulio Andreotti