WHAT are NATO's threats of air-strikes really designed to achieve? Will they stop the dismemberment of The answer to the second question is simple: 'no'. Because the real aim of the threats is to pressure the Bosnian government into accepting the division of Bosnia on ethnic lines.
For several months western governments have regarded the Bosnian government and the multi-national resistance as the major obstacles to a 'settlement'. r--------By Geoff Ryan, 48pp Send £2.10p (inc p&p) to Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU They have viewed with alarm the recent military successes of the Bosnian defence forces.
NATO has stepped in to prevent further military successes for the Bosnian army. News coverage has focused on threats against Serb forces but the NATO resolution also demands that the Bosnian government surrender its far fewer heavy weapons or face NATO air-strikes.
In effect the Bosnian resistance are being asked to give up their arms and hope the UN will protect them. Ассерtance of such demands will lead to political, if not actual, suicide. For once Sarajevo is under UN and NATO control then pressure for a 'settlement will be stepped up. New and updated edition of This is even more the case now that Russian troops are moving into Sarajevo. The Russian Parliament recently voted by 280 to 2 to call for the lifting of all sanctions against Serbia. Pro-Serbian Russian troops will ensure that the Bosnian army is unable to re-gain any territory around Sarajevo.
Escalation
Whilst the UN and NATO are trying to disarm the Bosnian resistance moves to escalate the war are taking place in both Serbia and Croa tia.
Slobodan Milosevic, fresh from his electoral victory, is attempting to conscript Bosnian Serbs, including refugees, living in Serbia.
The call up involves all Bosnian Serb men as well as women under 45, including those with children over seven. Those who refuse to serve are branded 'deserters' - a charge which, if pursued, would result in the death penalty.
Milosevic has also poured large numbers of tanks and other heavy weapons into northern and central Bosnia, accompanied by units of the so-called "Yugoslav' army.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 57, 26 February 1994, Page 3