Bosnian Serbs expected to veto peace plan

SERBIAN leaders at the Bosnia conference agreed to a modified peace plan yesterday, at the price of a one-week delay while the proposal is ratified by the Bosnian Serb 'parliament'.

But Biljana Plavsic, Vice-President of the Bosnian Serb republic, when asked whether the parliament would accept the plan, said: 'No. For me it is completely clear and I know the opinion not only of the representatives in parliament . . . but also the opinion of Serb people in Bosnia and people on the front line.'

After hours of confused diplomacy, the self-styled president of the Bosnian Serb republic, Radovan Karadzic, gave in to heavy pressure and agreed to sign a revised nine-point document if his assembly ratified it. He later said he would offer his resignation if the assembly rejected it.

His move, hailed by the Serbian President, Slobodan Milosevic, as 'a big success', was also a triumph for Mr Milosevic, who by his presence and wholehearted endorsement of the plan has, in effect, immunised Serbia against Western military intervention.

Lord Owen and Cyrus Vance, the two mediators in the Geneva talks, were said to be very unhappy over the one-week delay. But they believed it was worth the wait for a comprehensive agreement to end the war and set up a rebuilt state. Muslim and Croat leaders have agreed to the plan.

Demands for action over Bosnia have been growing, especially in Paris and in Washington, where Mr Vance, Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter, has been severely criticised in the press for 'appeasing' the Serbs.

The nine-point plan formalises a new decentralised Bosnian state while forbidding the provinces to conduct foreign policy or make alliances abroad. Lord Owen and Mr Vance remained firmly committed to this principle which, in their view, puts an end to dreams of a greater Serbia. For that reason Mr Karadzic had resisted it. The Serbian concession came after formal talks broke down yesterday morning.

A further breakdown would have led to new moves in the UN Security Council and raised the prospect of military action. Mr Karadzic faced intense persuasion from Mr Milosevic, together with the presidents of the Yugoslav federation and Montenegro. A few hours later he agreed to the plan, on the condition of delay. The Bosnian Serb assembly will almost certainly turn the plan down, unless ordered to do otherwise by Mr Milosevic, whose support for their cause is vital. But by passing the buck to the parliament, Mr Karadzic has gained a valuable breathing space and shored up his standing among local leaders, most of whom are much more extreme than the delegation in Geneva.

LONDON - The Cabinet's Overseas Policy and Defence Committee discussed ways of defending Britons with the UN force last night. But it was decided to defer action until tomorrow's full Cabinet - at the earliest.

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