U.N. Imposes Sanctions on Yugoslavia - May 1992

The U.N. Security Council attempted to stop the bloodshed in Yugoslavia. On May 1, Serbian forces began shelling Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also seized many towns within the secessionist republic. Hundreds of people were killed. The federal army, dominated by Serbs, singed a truce with the Bosnian government, May 5, A cease-fire took effect, May 13, but it didn't last long. To convey its concern, the U.S. government, May 20, revoked the U.S. landing rights of the Yugoslav national airline. Sec. of State James Baker announced, May 22, that Yugoslav consulates in New York City and San Francisco would be closed and that Yugoslav military attaches based in Washington would be expelled. On May 22, the U.N. General Assembly admitted as U.N. members the former republics of Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On May 27, the European Community imposed a trade embargo on Yugoslavia. On May 29 and 30, Serbian forces shelled Sarajevo and the Croatian port city of Dubrovnik. The U.N. Security Council, May 30, approved, 13-0, broad new sanctions against Yugoslavia. The U.N. resolution demanded an end to the fighting and to all interference in Bosnia by Yugoslavia. The resolution authorized a ban on all exports to Yugoslavia except food and medical supplies, and a global ban on imports from Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia's foreign assets were frozen and commercial contacts halted. Serbian Pres. Slobodan Milosevic denied, May 31, that Yugoslavia had committed any aggression against Bosnia.