(9 Nov 1995) English/Nat
There's word of progress in peace talks between Bosnia's Muslims and Croats.
Sources at the talks at Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Ohio say the Muslims and Croats have initialed deals to strengthen their federation and allow refugees to go home.
Warren Christopher has announced that he will join the Ohio talks on Friday.
Movement at the Bosnia talks.
Sources say Bosnian Croats and Muslims Thursday initialed agreements to strengthen their federation.
Sources also say negotiators initialed a document to unify the local administration of the city of Mostar.
It's been divided since savage Muslim-Croat fighting in 1993.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher is to travel to the talks on Friday.
Sources say Christopher will preside over the signing of the agreements.
SOUNDBITE:
"I said when I was out at Dayton at the commencement of the talks that I might go back from time to time to try to be helpful. That's really the purpose of the visit, I don't have any announcement to make here today. When I get out there I hope I can help them to make some progress."
SUPER CAPTION: Secretary of State Warren Christopher
Christopher said he and Richard Holbrooke, the chief U-S negotiator, talked several times on Wednesday.
SOUNDBITE:
"Many, many hard problems remain, I'm encouraged by the fact that the parties are dealing with the most difficult issues sometimes in the face of a great deal of tension between them but none the less they are hard at work and that's a good sign."
SUPER CAPTION: Secretary of State Warren Christopher
Meanwhile, the State Department had some good news for the residents of Sarajevo.
Bosnia and Serbia have agreed to resume natural gas delivery to parts of both countries.
But officials cautioned the move is not a lifting, even a partial lifting, of sanctions against the region.
SOUNDBITE:
"The vast majority of the sanctions remain in place. We are making an exception on a humanitarian basis for a two month period to allow people to have a warmer winter - to get through the winter more easily than they otherwise would have."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicholas Burns, U-S State Department spokesperson
But not everyone is happy with the talks.
This small group of protesters claim the interests of their Balkan homelands are not being represented.
The ethnic Albanians fear their homeland of Kosovo, which was forcibly integrated into Serbia, will never regain its autonomy because Kosovo has no representation at the talks.
Kosovo's self-styled Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi says that until the question of his republic is solved, there will never be true peace in the Balkans.
SOUNDBITE:
"There can be no peace in the Balkans without peace and security in Kosovo"
SUPER CAPTION: Bujar Bukoshi, Kosovo Prime Minister
Others are more optimistic.
Throughout the city of Dayton, noon bells ring for peace.
It's a way for this town that has found itself thrust on the global stage to send a message.
A message of peace and support for a war torn region half-a-world away.
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