Russian To Petition Serbia’s President

Russia’s foreign minister arrived on a sensitive mission Friday, looking for help from Serbia’s powerful president to end the bloodshed in former Yugoslavia.

Russia, the United States and three European countries are offering to ease punishing trade sanctions if President Slobodan Milosevic recognizes Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and two other former Yugoslav republics.

If Milosevic agrees, that would work against rebel Serbs in Bosnia and Croatia who are trying to get international recognition and want to unite their captured territory with Serbia.