February 18, 1998 BIDEN PLAN Sen. Joseph Biden proposed a plan on Thursday to facilitate sustainable peace in Bosnia. Biden urged that bilateral assistance for new Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, as well as the Federation, be conditioned on participation of municipalities in the Open Cities Program for minority refugees, seating of municipal councilors elected last September, and denial of sanctuary to indicted war criminals. Biden stressed that assistance should not be provided to localities until they comply. He also called upon the Bosniak leadership to welcome Bosnian Serb and Croat refugees back to Sarajevo. Finally, Biden suggested that the U.S. greatly increase its support to Bosnia’s non-nationalist, multiethnic political parties in preparation for this September’s elections.