MSG111G/01E BOSNIA: Italy Calls on United Nations to Act With Prudence

ROME, Nov 24 (IPS) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi urged United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Boutros Boutros- Ghali to promote prudence in the world body's actions in Bosnia when the two leaders met in Rome on Thursday.

Berlusconi stressed the importance that recent air strikes by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - requested by the United Nations - be balanced with the U.N. goal of achieving a peaceful solution in the interest of the civilian population.

This Wednesday, NATO aircraft attacked two positions of the Bosnian Serbs, who breached the U.N.-established "safe zone" in the city of Bihac in the former Yugoslavia.

Berlusconi and Boutros-Ghali expressed their concern for the political, military and human rights repercussions that will accompany the lifting of the arms embargo that the United States imposed unilaterally against the warring factions in Bosnia.

The Italian Head of State added that his country is concerned by the unstable situation so near its borders, as United Nations sources said the situation in the region is "on the brink of catastrophe."

Boutros-Ghali thanked Berlusconi for Italy's support of peace operations in Mozambique and Somalia, as well as the decision to create a base of logistical support in the southern region of Brindisi, for use by future U.N. peacekeeping missions.

Meanwhile, Berlusconi stressed that Italy is aware of the importance of its new role as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the 1995-96 period.

He also informed Boutros-Ghali that the Western European Union had decided in favour of an Italian proposal to create an international peace force.

The new body would be charged with addressing human rights emergencies and safeguarding the security of civilian populations.

According to a government communique, the initiative will be considered at a summit of the Presidents of Security Council members, scheduled for Jan. 31, 1995 in New York.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service