U.S. Seeks Talks on Final OK for Bosnia Air Strikes

WASHINGTON — The United States began laying the groundwork Thursday for a possible meeting of the North Atlantic Council to consider final approval for air strikes against the Bosnian Serbs.

In another round of telephone diplomacy, Secretary of State Warren Christopher placed calls to his counterparts in several European countries to convey Washington’s view that, as one official put it, “things are not getting better” in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.

Although the State Department insisted that the allies still have not set a time or date for such a NATO session, U.S. officials said they are, as one put it, “working on the assumption that that’s going to happen” soon.

But the officials cautioned that no such session is likely for at least a few days, as the allies continue to watch the situation around Sarajevo for more evidence of Serbian intentions.

Christopher said in a late-evening interview on Cable News Network that U.N. officials plan to send a survey team this morning to two strategic mountains that dominate Sarajevo to see whether the Serbs have withdrawn.

“The real issue is whether or not the siege of Sarajevo has been lifted--whether or not the stranglehold has been removed,” he said.

He said that the allies’ real concern will be whether power and water are available and humanitarian relief convoys once again are allowed to pass, he said.

Under a plan endorsed by NATO on Monday, the allies agreed to consider air strikes if the Serbs do not meet a series of conditions, but the action would require approval by a second meeting of the North Atlantic Council, which is NATO’s top political coordinating body.

On Wednesday, Christopher had upped the ante by warning the Serbs that their continued occupation of the two mountains alone could trigger NATO air strikes. The Serbs’ position on the peaks gives them virtual control over the Bosnian capital.

Serbian leaders insisted Thursday that their troops had pulled back from the two mountains, Mt. Igman and Mt. Bjelasnica, but U.N. officials--and U.S. intelligence reports--asserted that thousands of Serb fighters remain.

In a move that could further intensify pressure on the Serbs, the U.N. commander of operations in the former republics of Yugoslavia, French Gen. Jean Cot, publicly asked the United States to move a mobile army surgical hospital, staffed by 300 U.S. medical personnel, from its current location in Zagreb, Croatia, to Sarajevo.

Such a move could create an insurance policy of sorts for French peacekeeping troops, by making it more likely that the United States might have to send ground troops if the hospital were shelled. U.S. officials said that the request came without warning.

Although the State Department said only that the United States would await a request through official channels before responding, officials said it is doubtful that President Clinton would agree to the plan. Clinton has ruled out the use of any U.S. ground troops.

Washington has been providing regular intelligence reports, including satellite photos, to the allies in an attempt to keep them aware of Serbian maneuvers so that they will be able to act quickly if it becomes clear that the Serbs are flouting NATO’s demands.

In essence, the allies want the Serbs to halt their siege of Sarajevo--especially to withdraw from Bjelasnica and Igman--and to allow humanitarian relief convoys to enter the beleaguered city. They also want the Serbs to stop firing on U.N. troops.

“Any one of those three things could give rise to a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to consider whether or not firm action should be taken,” Christopher said.

While there were reports Thursday that the Serbs were continuing to retreat from the two peaks, U.S. officials continued to express skepticism, insisting that the Serbian withdrawal is still far from complete.

They also noted pointedly that despite the Serbs’ insistence that they are complying with last week’s allied ultimatum that they withdraw, Serbian units were continuing to shell Sarajevo, and the city was being plagued by Serbian sniper fire.

Officials said one point that Christopher is driving home to the allies is that the Serbs appear to be trying to hoodwink and divide the West by complying in some ways and holding back in others.

“We’re not going to be played for a sucker,” one official said.

Bosnian Vice President Ejup Ganic charged Thursday that Serbian forces have positioned rockets on Igman and that the United Nations is trying to hide the development. U.S. officials said they were unable to confirm the report.

In New York, a NATO delegation visited the staff of U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to provide intelligence needed to make a formal assessment of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.