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Clinton Rules out Military Intervention in Yugoslavia
US President Bill Clinton, while taking firm stand on the side of opposition-led demonstrators in Belgrade, said on Thursday that he would not intervene militarily in Yugoslavia for fear of negative effect it might produce.
Speaking with reporters in the Rose Garden after an education event, Clinton switched to the topic of Yugoslavia, saying that the United States supports what he called "democracy and the will of the Serbian people."
Asked if the United States would intervene if demonstrators fail to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic out of power, Clinton said it would not be inappropriate for the US military intervention.
"I don't believe that it's an appropriate case for military intervention and I don't believe that the United States should say or do anything which would only strengthen Mr. Milosevic's hand."
White House officials said Washington was expected to maintain contacts with Russia over the events in Yugoslavia, and Clinton spoke by telephone last Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping that Moscow would help force Milosevic to step down.
Clinton's national security adviser Sandy Berger and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright also called their Russian counterparts over the weekend, and contacts are continuing at lower level this week.
But the dialogue between Washington and Moscow has yet to produce results.
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