During the luncheon for the NATO Information Seminar in Sarajevo 3 July 1998

Lunch Speech by General Wesley K. Clark, SACEUR Distinguished members of the government of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republika Sprska, representatives of the armed forces, political, religious and academic leaders, members of the press, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of the international community, leaders of the Stabilisation Force, ladies and gentlemen and friends, What a great program you had at this seminar and what a splendid thing it is to see this dialogue on all of these important issues. What I learned especially from Richard Holbrooke was that dialogue and discussion is a whole lot better than fighting. And it's by talking about these issues that we are making progress and moving this process forward. But today I'd like to talk beyond Bosnia, beyond that which is your day-to-day and look to the outside. Bosnia is part of the larger story. It's part of the story that President..., of Poland has called an historic transformation. The democratisation that we formed in Central and Easter Europe which is free to hold the whole Euro-Atlantic community together. You are part of that transformation and part of that story and a very important part. But to appreciate it fully, you have to think about the story of the man who fell off the cliff. As he fell reached down and grabbed a branch. He looked around and there was nobody, nobody at all, and so he began to holler, "Help, help, is anyone there?" At first, there was silence and then a majestic voice came from the sky, "Yes, my son, I am here." "Help me, help me," said the man on the ground. "My son, I will help you, but you must trust me." The man said "I trust you, I trust you. But what must I do?" And the voice said "Let go." And the man said, "Is there anyone else up there?" There are big institutions, ...forces at work today in Europe and especially in Bosnia. Ladies and Gentlemen, at NATO represent those forces. But I think the message to all of you is, you have to trust. No one would have been able to sit here in Sarajevo a15 years ago and imaging what has transpired, then tragedy and you know that at first hand but I think today there is hope. When the these presidents came together at Dayton trying to sign the initial agreement and then went to Paris, the whole international community worked there and with them. And President Clinton asked, what I think in the fundamental question in his speech. President Clinton asked, are Balkan hearts too hardened to accept this peace? I think the answer is clear now, I think the answer is Balkan hearts are not too hardened to accept this peace. In NATO and speaking for SFOR and IFOR we're very very proud to have been part of what's been achieved working with you here. Thirty-nine nations that participated with us in this historic effort. I don't know if anybody's ever counted how many men and women have come from the nations outside the Serb here in this effort, probably 200,000 over the last 2 1/2 years. And we've worked in what we hope in what we hope is an even-handed way to support the even-handed and fair implementation of the agreement. There has been a lot of progress made, but what is especially rewarding for the men and woman of the SFOR is the opportunity to participate and come to know the people in this wonderful country. We've met people ell over who are committed, they are patient and they are determined. They're courageous, they're hopeful, and they are realistic. I've travelled in recent weeks through Srbeniska, Visigrad, Kisiljak, Druvar, ...I talked to people from all ethnic groups, one on one, and they all give me the same message: They want to go home. Yet their concerns, yet their anxieties. But they are looking at the future, they want to put the past behind them, they want to home. They are depending on the political leaders and on the High Representatives of all circles that are represented here today. They are dependent on General, two days ago, reminded that security can only be found for you if your neighbour is secure. And that applies to individual people as well as the nations states. And so, we're here to try to help as we work together to this future. At my headquarters in Belgium, 27 nations are participating in Partnership for peas. They're receiving education, training, they're participating in the development of this new Euro-Atlantic community. It's an open community and I can tell you that everyone there looks forward to the day when people from here will be participating in that kind of an arrangement such as Partnership for peace. You know, I think of the 21centry as the century of internationalism not nationalism. It's going to be a century marked by peace and cooperation not war, hatred and combat. The nations of the worlds sent billions of Deutschmarks and dollars here in this country. They've done it for you and they've done it for their own interests because they want this country to have the opportunity to be with the Euro-Atlantic community. You have a beautiful land here and even more beautiful on days such as this. But let me just say on behalf of all the soldiers, who have served here, the over one hundred who died here from other countries, as part of UNPROFOR, IFOR and SFOR, pleas take this opportunity, continue the dialogue that's done so well witch in this seminar. Use this election and move this process forward to rebuild the institutions in this country and make them renewed and better. Bless the children, dreams of the future, they really have the opportunity to be all they can be regardless of where they were they born, what their name was, what religion they are, it doesn't matter. You've got to have trust: you have to let go of the branch. Thank you. Q/comment on the Partnership for Peace General Clark: With respect to PfP, I am not here offering immediate Membership, but almost all of your neighbours are involved in this Partnership. I had many discussions with Croatia and some with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia concerning this organisation. General Peresic has on many accessions expressed his interest in working closely with NATO. But there are going to have to be some pre-conditions. I am now prepared to enumerate those because those will be political decisions but clearly they are going to have to address the problem of two armies in one state. I believe that will be addressed in this country and I believe it will be addressed successfully. It's better economically, it's better for security, it's better for stability, to only have one army. And I would hope that the leaders here would be working in that direction. After that's achieved, there will be other things to talk about with respect to Partnership for Peas but I want you to understand that the opportunity is here, you must take it. Q/comment on Kosovo General Clark: Well, I think that is a very, very important question. 1.8 million Kosovar and Albanians cannot be denied the right to participate in government. As the international political leaders have said, both sides need to stop the violence and need to stop now. This is a situation that needs to be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. Q/comment on internal security in Bosnia-Herzegovina General Clark: First of all, we've always said that security is first and foremost a responsibility for the local authorities, that is certainly true in this case. Local people know who their terrorists are, local organisations can identify them and take action against them. SFOR is going to take areas responsibility for security. If you tell us, if you know these particularly dangerous areas, we'll strengthen security. If you tell us and the international police staff force some of the evidence of their activities, you help investigators. If you will publicise these activities in your media, that will help all of us bring pressure to bear against them. The activities that you describe are totally incompatible with democracy in free election. And we will do all we can to help you. But we call on you first, you build a political will in this country, you build the organisations with the assistance of the international community to handle these problems.......your leadership. And as I've said, we will help and do all we can Q/comment on Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina General Clark: Thank you for your comment, I'm glad it has found some resonance and agreement. I'd like to make one comment in conclusion here because the lunch break is drawing to a close. I want to come back to the question asked about Kosovo. The gentleman asked me what my view on a solution is, and I told him dialogue, stop the fighting. Obviously there are some options if the fighting doesn't stop, but I want to ask your support. This is a separate country, this is not Kosovo. Keep this problem separated. Don't export trouble in a neighbouring country as a sort of employment for young men searching for adventure. Don't use troubles in a neighbouring country to try to settle old scores. You have a prideless opportunity in this beautiful land to day. Please use this opportunity and keep this country together at peace and separate from the problems in your neighbour. We will be here to support you in your quest for the dreams of the 21st century. Thank you very much