President Clinton told the people of Sarajevo and their leaders yesterday they must safeguard peace and he pledged to support those who were ready to build a united Bosnia.
On a one-day visit to political leaders and US forces serving under the NATO-led peacekeeping force, Mr Clinton made an impassioned speech in the city's ornate national theatre after walking through the town, where he was greeted by hundreds of Sarajevans.
"I come before you with a message for those in whose hands the future of Bosnia lies - its leaders and its people. For in the end the future is up to you, not to the Americans, not to the Europeans and not to anybody else," he said.
The leaders of Bosnia's three ethnic factions had made a "fateful choice for peace" when they signed the Dayton peace accords in Ohio two years ago, ending the country's 3 1/2-year war, he said.
"But their responsibility and yours did not end there on that day. In fact it only began. Your responsibility is to turn the documents signed in Dayton into a living reality. To make good on the pledge to bring Bosnia together in one country with two multi-ethnic parts sharing a common destiny."
In a clear warning to those who have obstructed the peace process, Mr Clinton said: "Those who rise to that responsibility will have the full support of the United States and the international community. Those who shirk it will isolate themselves."
Mr Clinton thanked the Muslim chairman of Bosnia's collective presidency, Mr Alija Izetbegovic, and the Croat member, Mr Kresimir Zubak. He did not mention the Serb member, Mr Momcilo Krajisnik, who has been accused of hampering the work of the joint presidency. Mr Krajisnik did not appear to be present in the theatre, though he had attended a meeting with Mr Clinton earlier in the morning.
Mr Clinton announced last week that the United States would continue to support peace in Bosnia by extending indefinitely the mandate of the 8,500 US troops serving there. Britain and France said they would pull their soldiers out of the former Yugoslav republic unless the Americans stayed.
Bosnia remains deeply divided between the Serb Republic and the Muslim-Croat federation and the two entities still have not reached agreement on a national flag or currency.
Mr Clinton left Sarajevo to fly to the north-eastern Bosnian town of Tuzla, where he met some of the 8,500 US troops serving with the NATO-led peace force. He will return to Washington early today.