"A DAY MANY THOUGHT WOULD NEVER COME"

In a voice cracking with emotion and exhaustion, Christopher declared that he had "reached a day many thought would never come." Joined by the presidents of Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia at a long, red-draped table at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Christopher said that the warring leaders "have agreed that four years of destruction is enough." Addressing the dignitaries gathered for the initialing of the peace accord, Christopher paid special tribute to the families of the three American diplomats killed last August outside of Sarajevo when the U.S. began its determined effort to bring peace to the Balkans. Relatives of the three were present when the Balkan presidents, put their initials on the thick stack of peace documents. The agreement "certainly does not erase the stark memories of the past or guarantee that the fabric of society will be restored," said Christopher. "Still, it is a victory."