Empty words as the war raged on

June 1991

'All of the countries think it is extraordinarily important and necessary that the principle of respecting human rights, the principle of democracy, the principle of unity and the principle of the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia all be respected.'

James Baker, US Secretary of State, Belgrade

August 1992

'We must resolve no longer to tolerate continuing and flagrant violations of the sanctions.'

Lawrence Eagleburger, acting US Secretary of State, London conference on the former Yugoslavia

August 1992

'The idea that simply because you or your friends have occupied swaths of territory, the world simply packs up and accepts that, will be shown to be wrong.'

Douglas Hurd, Foreign Secretary

September 1992

'It was agreed by all at the London conference that Bosnia-Herzegovina should not be partitioned between neighbouring states.'

Douglas Hurd

May 1993

'There are 15,000 UN troops in Bosnia who have managed to save 400,000 civilians from starving to death. If the air strikes are launched, what will become of them? We must ensure that any new action does not jeopardise what we have done or make us lose more than we have gained.'

Malcolm Rifkind, Defence Secretary

July 1993

'We are hoping that we can get allied and UN co-operation to save Sarajevo and make sure that Sarajevo is an open city.'

President Bill Clinton