Serbian President Rejects Peace Plan Russia, West Offer End Of Sanctions If Serbia Recognizes Rivals Independence

Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, a driving force behind Bosnia’s war, dashed hopes for peace Sunday by refusing a deal to undercut Serb nationalists in exchange for getting economic sanctions lifted.

After a weekend of secret talks with Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, Milosevic turned down the plan proposed by Russia, the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

Sanctions imposed more than 2-1/2 years ago have had a devastating impact on Yugoslavia, which is dominated by the republic of Serbia. The sanctions would be lifted if Milosevic recognized the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia.

Recognizing their independence would erode the hopes of Serb nationalists in Bosnia and Croatia, who want the territory they have captured to be united with Belgrade in a “Greater Serbia.”

Milosevic made clear after speaking with Kozyrev that he would not consider concessions, or direct negotiations with his rivals, unless sanctions are lifted.

Kozyrev, speaking to reporters as he left Belgrade, said Milosevic should be rewarded for moves already made toward peace. The Serbian leader “should be helped with the lifting of sanctions,” Kozyrev said, instead of being given more conditions.

Recognition, he added, “comes at the end.”

Milosevic’s rejection was a severe blow to those who fear the Balkans will erupt in cataclysmic fighting this spring.

The 34-month-old war in Bosnia has been less intense since Jan. 1 because of a temporary ceasefire that has mostly stopped fighting in all but the northwestern Bihac region.

Bosnian radio reported more artillery and mortar fire around the town of Velika Kladusa in the Bihac region, where government troops are battling rebel Muslims and Serbs. In Sarajevo, one person was wounded by sniper fire from Serb positions, Bosnian radio reported Sunday.

Bosnia’s truce expires at the end of April and there has been no apparent progress in negotiations to extend it or to move forward on a peace plan.

In addition, the prospect of renewed fighting in Croatia looms as the end of March approaches - the date that Croatia wants the United Nations to begin withdrawing its peacekeepers. The U.N. troops have been a buffer between the Croatian army and the Serb rebels who captured one-third of the country in 1991.

Milosevic’s nationalist rhetoric is seen as one of the main causes of the Serb rebellions in Croatia and Bosnia, and he has backed the rebels materially as well. But he also has pressured them to accept a peace plan that would leave the Bosnian Serbs in control of 49 percent of Bosnia, instead of the 70 percent they now hold.