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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release December 14, 1994

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

Former President Carter has informed President Clinton of contacts he has had with Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic. President Carter briefed the President this afternoon on representations that Karadzic has made about steps he would take.

While we are skeptical about the Bosnian Serbs' intentions, if the steps outlined by Karadzic are implemented, they would help reduce tensions and ease the humanitarian situation in Bosnia. The next step would be agreement among the parties on a country-wide ceasefire and renewed negotiations on a political settlement on the basis of the Contact Group proposal.

President Carter indicated that, if he goes to Bosnia, he would do so as a representative of the Carter Center,and that he would do so only if there were clear evidence that the commitments outlined by Karadzic were being fulfilled.

It remains our view that a solution to this conflict will only be found at the negotiating table, and that the Contact Group proposal provides the basis for a settlement that will preserve the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina while providing a viable future for all its peoples.

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