BOSNIA: THE SHELLING OF SARAJEVO

The attack must be condemned in the strongest possible terms and those responsible identified and brought to justice.

At this stage, while the attack seems to have been launched from positions occupied by the Bosnian Serbs, it has not been finally confirmed that the Bosnian Serbs were responsible.

I note that decisions taken in the follow up to the 21 July London Conference foreshadowed more decisive action, including the possibility of NATO air strikes, to deter attacks on the safe areas, which include Sarajevo.

The timing of this incident was particularly regrettable, coming, as it did, just as talks in Paris designed to give added impetus to the peace process were about to get underway.

The Government has always maintained that there will have to be a negotiated solution to this tragic conflict in which the civilian populations, as witnessed again by this latest atrocity, continue to suffer most. The sooner the warring parties accept that fact the better for all concerned.

CANBERRA