ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96062606.WWE
DATE:06/26/96
TITLE:26-06-96  TEXT: CLINTON CERTIFIES ALL FOREIGN FORCES OUT OF BOSNIA

TEXT:
(Releases $70 million in economic reconstruction funds) (530)

Washington -- President Clinton released $70 million in economic
reconstruction funds for Bosnia June 26.

The president, meeting conditions set by Congress in appropriating
1996 assistance funds, certified that the government of Bosnia has
complied with a provision of the Dayton Accords requiring that foreign
forces be withdrawn. Clinton also certified that Iranian-Bosnian
intelligence cooperation has been terminated.

The certification clears the way to use the funds for "the needs of
the Bosnian people, and to begin the long process of rebuilding the
war-shattered Bosnian economy," according to a statement by the White
House press secretary.

The statement said the certification "removes a major stumbling block"
to beginning the U.S.-led process of training and equipping Bosnian
Federation armed Forces. "We are eager to move ahead with this program
and will do so as soon as final defense arrangements between the
Bosnians and Croats have been completed."

Following is the text of the statement:

(Begin text)

The President today certified the Bosnian government's compliance with
the requirement in the Dayton Accords that foreign forces be withdrawn
from Bosnia. He also certified that Iranian-Bosnian intelligence
cooperation on training, investigations, and related activities has
been terminated.

Since the signing of the Dayton Accords, the Bosnian government has
made major progress in meeting our demands on foreign forces and in
ending its military and intelligence relationship with Iran. Although
some individuals have assimilated into Bosnian society and assumed
civilian roles, there is no evidence of any remaining organized
Mujahedin units.

With respect to the Iranians, the Bosnian government has assured that
all IRGC personnel we identified to them have left Bosnia. We have no
evidence that those IRGC remain. The Bosnian government has also
assured us that none of the Iranians can be brought back to Bosnia
without its knowledge and that, should any of them return, they would
be expelled.

Although we have never demanded that all Iranian nationals depart
Bosnia or that Bosnia terminate diplomatic or economic relations with
Tehran, we have insisted that the Bosnian government end bilateral
intelligence cooperation in such operational areas as training and
investigations, and end all military ties. The Bosnian government has
moved to end the operational military and intelligence relationship
with Iran. It has removed from positions of authority key officials
that were heavily engaged in intelligence cooperation with Iran,
including the former head of the Bosnian intelligence agency.

Congress conditioned appropriation of the final $70 million for
economic reconstruction assistance in FY 1996 on the president
certifying Bosnian compliance with these requirements. With this
certification, these funds will now be available to meet the needs of
the Bosnian people and to begin the long process of rebuilding the
war-shattered Bosnian economy. The president's certification also
removes a major stumbling block to commencing the U.S.-led program to
train and equip Bosnian Federation armed forces and to strengthening
Bosnia's self-defense capability. We are eager to move ahead with this
program and will do so as soon as final defense arrangements between
the Bosnians and Croats have been completed.

(End text)
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