ACCESSION NUMBER:264922

FILE ID:POL405

DATE:01/28/93

TITLE:WHITE HOUSE REPORT, THURSDAY,JANUARY 28, 1993 (01/28/93)

TEXT:*93012805.POL

WHITE HOUSE REPORT, THURSDAY,JANUARY 28, 1993



(Bosnia, Israel)  (330)

NEWS BRIEFING -- Communications Director George Stephanopoulos covered

these topics:



BOSNIAN REVIEW UNDER WAY

Stephanopoulos told questioners that President Clinton was not involved

in a mid-afternoon meeting which included top administration diplomatic,

intelligence and defense officials.



1e said Secretary of State Christopher, Secretary of Defense Aspin, Joint

Chiefs of Staff Chairman Powell, and CIA Director Woolsey discussed "a

range of issues" with the staff of the National Security Council.  Clinton,

he added, has not had any special briefings on Bosnia-Hercegovina, although

the matter has been covered in his normal security and intelligence

briefings each day.



He called the renewed fighting in Croatia and Bosnia "a very serious

situation that we're watching very closely.  We're reviewing our options

now."  He noted that the United States "supported the Vance process to

bring the parties together," but pointed out, "This is very serious.

Obviously if you read the newspapers and look at what is happening over

there, it's something that's of deep concern to all of us and we're working

on it now.  We're reviewing all of our options right now."  (Cyrus Vance is

co-chairman of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia in

Geneva.)



ISRAELI DISCUSSIONS INTENSIFIED

Stephanopoulos would not comment on the Israeli Supreme Court decision

holding that the expulsion of Palestinians can stand, but that the

government must arrange for the men to have appeals.



He said Washington is "intensifying" its contacts with Tel Aviv and is

concentrating on bringing the parties together.  U.S. officials are in

touch with United Nations diplomats and with other parties.



"It's most appropriate right now to see what we can do to get a diplomatic

solution," he said.  "That's what we're focussing on."  Stephanopoulos

added that "the important thing right now...is to get a solution among the

parties in the region.  We're trying everything we can do diplomatically to

achieve that."



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