Washington, 6 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - White House spokesman Michael McCurry says there is no consensus yet among leading policy makers in Washington that American troops should stay in Bosnia beyond their scheduled departure in June.
McCurry made the comment when he was asked about a statement yesterday by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that a "consensus was building" among leading decision makers that there should be some U.S. presence in Bosnia after June 30.
Albright made the statement to reporters after attending a meeting yesterday with President Bill Clinton and senior members of the U.S. Congress to discuss whether to keep U.S. troops in Bosnia past the planned departure date.
McCurry told reporters yesterday that Albright was giving her own analysis of what was being said at the meeting. He said it wouldn't be fair to say there was any consensus now.
"I think what was clear at the meeting was that there is the prospect the president could build that consensus with hard work," said McCurry.