Clinton: Harmony should be clarion call of the future (2'01")

President Bill Clinton has called on the ethnic communities of Bosnia to work together to bring about lasting peace.

Speaking on television on his first visit to Sarajevo, he urged them to find more opportunities to reach across the lines of division for the sake of their children's future.

Clinton: proud to be making his speech

He said: "To the people of Bosnia I say today, you must make your desire for peace and a common future clear to your leaders."

He added: "In the end the future is up to you.

"Your responsibility is to make the document signed in Dayton into a living reality ... those who rise to that responsibility will have the full support of the United States and the international community. Those who shirk it will face our wrath.

Mr Clinton promised continued support for Bosnia but made it clear he sees the final resolution of the conflict as in the hands of the Bosnians.

"The world who continue to invest in your peace, rightfully expects you will work for it," he said.

Mr Clinton gave the examples of Guatemala and Northern Ireland as places where people are turning from conflict to reconciliation.

He also mentioned the American civil war as a time of violence leading to a stronger nation.

"After such a hard war, fighting aggressively for peace is difficult," he said.

"We find that affirming our union, allows us the security to respect, even celebrate, our differences."

The Clintons stopped in a coffee shop

He admitted that "especially for the young people here, finding strength in your diversity may seem an act of faith that requires a leap" but he said it could be achieved in the "dawn after a long darkness."

"At the edge of the 21st century we come here to resolve and build a new era free of the 20th century's worst moments," he said.

"What my family and I have seen in the streets of Sarajevo has been deeply moving to us."

President Clinton made his speech in Sarajevo's National Theatre, which stayed open during the war despite being hit by 25 shells.

By making the brief visit, Mr Clinton hopes to show the Bosnians his commitment to keeping the peace agreed under Dayton and remind them they have not been forgotten since the end of the worst fighting.

But his remarks were aimed equally at the US Congress and other groups back in America.

Clinton travelled with 11 Congressmen and a large security entourage

The visit follows his announcement three days ago that American troops would stay in Bosnia indefinitely. They had previously been scheduled to leave in June.

Earlier the President held two hours of talks with Bosnia's three-man presidency: Alija Izetbegovic, a Muslim, Kresimir Zubak, a Croat, and Momcilo Krajisnik, a Serb.

He then popped into a coffee shop with his wife, Hilary, and daughter, Chelsea, making him late for his awaited speech.

The aftermath of violence remains visible in Sarajevo

He said the most important thing Sarajevans inside the cafe had told him the US could do was to stay in Bosnia.

Mr Clinton said he had told the three leaders the United States would do what it could to assist Bosnia.

He added: "The future of the country is still in their hands. ... In the end, they've got to behave."

After his speech, Mr Clinton is travelling north to Tuzla to support his troops at the US base.

As well as his immediate family, Mr Clinton was joined by 10 members of Congress and the Republican Senate leader and former presidential candidate Bob Dole.
 

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