London, 8 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- The Bosnian Serb elected to the country's three-person collective presidency says he is ready to sign a pledge defending the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Momcilo Krajisnik, in an interview on the BBC broadcast today, said he would also recommend that the 11 Bosnian Serbs elected to the country's unified parliament do the same. But Krajisnik said a ceremony for the signings should be held on Bosnian Serb territory.
Krajisnik and Serb deputies angered international officials last Saturday when they boycotted official swearing in ceremonies in Sarajevo for the presidency and parliament, citing security concerns.
U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns says that American envoys talked to Krajisnik late yesterday and that his explanation for the boycott were "not satisfactory."
Burns described the United States as "furious" over the incident and warned that in addition to the possible re-imposition of U.N. sanctions, the United States could cut off any future economic aid. Burns said U.S. officials also spoke with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic last night, and called on him to use his influence with the Bosnian Serbs.