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| Identifier: | 92ZAGREB2517 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 92ZAGREB2517 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Zagreb |
| Created: | 1992-11-27 13:07:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PGOV PREL HR BK MK War Crimes |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
271307Z Nov 92
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FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1095
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 ZAGREB 02517
SIPDIS
GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, HR, BK, MK, War Crimes
SUBJECT: CGYOOL: CODEL DECONCINI OPENS THE MASH;
- MEETS WITH DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS; DISCUSSES
- UNPROFOR, B-H, AND REFUGEES WITH TUDJMAN
------------------------
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
------------------------
1. UNDER HELSINKI COMMISSION AUSPICES, SENATOR
DECONCINI AND REP. MCCLOSKEY VISITED CROATIA NOV 15.
THEY HELPED OFFICIALLY OPEN THE U.S. ARMY MASH UNIT
AT ZAGREB AIRPORT AND INTERVIEWED SEVERAL MEN FROM
THE LATEST GROUP OF SERBIAN DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS IN
KARLOVAC. PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TOLD THE CODEL THAT: HE
WANTED THE VANCE PLAN FULLY IMPLEMENTED; UNPROFOR'S
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INABILITY TO DO SO WOULD RAISE THE QUESTION OF WHY
UNPROFOR SHOULD BE EXTENDED; WITHOUT PEACE IN B-H,
CROATIA COULD NEVER SECURE ITS BORDERS; THERE ARE NO
CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN CROATIA AND THE THREE BOSNIAN
CROAT DETENTION FACILITIES HAD BEEN ORDERED CLOSED BY
BOBAN; CROATIA HAS NO TERRITORIAL DESIGNS ON B-H; IT
SUPPORTS A SOVEREIGN, INDEPENDENT B-H COMPRISED OF
THREE CONSTITUENT PEOPLES; THIS DID NOT MEAN DIVIDING
B-H INTO THREE TERRITORIAL UNITS; CROATIA IS
THREATENED WITH ECONOMIC DISASTER, IN PART OWING TO
ITS REFUGEE BURDEN; CROATIA IS ACTIVELY SEEKING
NORMALIZATION WITH THE SERBS OF CROATIA.
END INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.
-
--------------------------------
MASH 212 OPENED WITH A FLOURISH
-------------------------------
2. CODEL DECONCINI ARRIVED AT PLESO AIRPORT JUST IN
TIME TO LEAD THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE US ARMY
MOBILE SURGICAL HOSPITAL, MASH 212. THIS 300-PERSON
HOSPITAL WILL SUPPORT UNPROFOR SOLDIERS FROM FIFTEEN
NATIONS WORKING IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA.
-------------------------------------
MEETING WITH THE DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS
-------------------------------------
3. THE CODEL ARRIVED AT THE KARLOVAC UNHCR-RUN
TRANSIT CENTER TO FIND A PUBLIC SQUARE FILLED WITH
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FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2832
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2474
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MANY HUNDREDS OF SERBIAN DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS MILLING
ABOUT. THE MORE THAN 2,000 EX-DETAINEES IN KARLOVAC
AT THE TIME OF THE CODEL'S VISIT INCLUDED OVER 700
MEN JUST RELEASED FROM MANJACA. THE CODEL TOURED THE
MASSIVELY OVERCROWDED FACILITY, VIEWING SLEEPING ROOMS
WITH WALL-TO-WALL AND FLOOR-TO-CEILING BEDS, SEVERELY
TAXED SANITATION FACILITIES, HALLWAYS SO CRAMMED WITH
STILL-TRAUMATIZED MEN THAT MOVEMENT WAS NEXT TO
IMPOSSIBLE, AND UNDERSTAFFED ICRC AND UNHCR
CONTINGENTS ENGAGED IN A VALIANT, SUPERMHUMAN EFFORT
TO MEET THE EX-DETAINEES BASIC NEEDS. AT A TABLE IN
THE FEW SQUARE FEET OF SPACE NOT OCCUPIED BY BEDS OR
BODIES, THE CODEL HEARD SEVERAL MOVING FIRSTHAND
ACCOUNTS OF SAVAGE MURDERS, SADISTIC TORTURE AND
ASSORTED MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DEPRAVITY WHICH
CHARACTERIZED EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE CAMPS. ON EXITING
THE FACILITY, THE CODEL SPOKE FRANKLY TO THE PRESS
ABOUT THEIR IMPRESSIONS.
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------------------------------
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TUDJMAN
------------------------------
-
4. SENATOR DECONCINI TOLD PRESIDENT TUDJMAN THAT THE
U.S. CONGRESS REMAINED VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EVENTS IN
THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA. HE NOTED HIS JUST-CONCLUDED
VISIT TO THE EX-DETAINEE TRANSIT CAMP AND THE UGLY
STORIES THAT HE HAD HEARD THERE.
5. TUDJMAN WELCOMED THE DELEGATION AND REITERATED
CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.
HE NOTED THAT HE HAD WON A MANDATE IN HIS RE-ELECTION
AS PRESIDENT IN AUGUST. HE RECALLED THAT THE ELECTION
CAMPAIGN HAD BEGUN WITH CONCERN THAT EXTREMISTS OF
THE RIGHT AND LEFT -- THE CROATIAN PARTY OF RIGHT AND
THE EX-COMMUNISTS CROATIAN PARTY OF RENEWAL -- WOULD
EACH GARNER SOME 15 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. IN THE
EVENT, EACH EXTREME WON ONLY 3-5 PERCENT.
-------------------------
CROATIA'S ECONOMIC PLIGHT
-------------------------
6. TUDJMAN SAID THAT CROATIA FACED SERIOUS ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS AS IT MADE THE TRANSITION FROM A SOCIALLY-
OWNED TO A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY. INFLATION IS
CLIMBING, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE
FORMER YUGOSLAV MARKET AND THE BURDEN OF MILITARY
DEFENSE EXPENDITURES. THE WAR DESTROYED A GREAT PART
OF CROATIA'S PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. .
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/028W
------------------7F56E8 271305Z /38
P 271307Z NOV 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2833
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2475
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CROATIA SUPPORTED SOME 300,000 DISPLACED CROATS AND
450,000 REFUGEES FROM BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA (B-H). THIS
WAS BEYOND CROATIA'S ABILITY TO COPE. INTERNATIONAL
HELP FOR THE REFUGEES HAD BEEN INSUFFICIENT. THE
GOVERNMENT'S AIM WAS TO CONTROL INFLATION SUFFICIENTLY
TO MOVE TO CURRENCY CONVERTIBILITY IN 1993.
----------------------
UNPROFOR AND THE UNPAS
----------------------
-
7. TUDJMAN SAID UNPROFOR MUST COMPLETE ITS MISSION,
WHICH IS TO IMPLEMENT THE VANCE PLAN FULLY. HE ASKED
RHETORICALLY WHY, IF UNPROFOR WERE UNABLE TO
IMPLEMENT THE VANCE PLAN BY MARCH 1993, IT SHOULD BE
EXTENDED. HE SAID CROATIA WANTED TO SEE: 1) THE
RETURN OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS; 2) DISARMING OF THE
SERBIAN PARAMILITARIES; AND 3) REOPENING OF
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION LINKS THROUGHOUT THE
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COUNTRY. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SERBS IN THE UNITED
NATIONS PROTECTED AREAS (UNPAS) ARE ONLY A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SERBS IN CROATIA.
BUT PROGRESS IN THESE AREAS WAS CRITICALLY DEPENDENT
ON RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA.
---------------------------------------
CROATIA'S ACTIONS IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA
---------------------------------------
8. TUDJMAN SAID CROATIA HAD A VITAL INTEREST IN
PEACE IN B-H, WITHOUT WHICH THERE COULD NEVER BE
PEACE ALONG CROATIA'S BORDERS WITH B-H. CROATIA
WANTS B-H TO REMAIN A SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT
NATION OF ITS THREE CONSTITUENT PEOPLES, TUDJMAN
STATED. B-H'S POLITICAL ORGANIZATION MUST BE BASED
ON THE RIGHTS OF ALL THREE PEOPLES. IN B-H, THE TWO
KEY PROBLEMS ARE: HOW TO STOP SERBIAN AGGRESSION AND
HOW TO GET THE MUSLIMS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.
9. SENATOR DECONCINI NOTED THAT VARIOUS CRITICISMS
WERE OFTEN LEVELLED AGAINST CROATIA IN THE U.S. HE
ASKED TUDJMAN HOW ONE OUGHT TO RESPOND TO CHARGES
THAT THE CROATS TOO HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN ATROCITIES IN
DETENTION CAMPS THEY RAN IN B-H AND THAT CROATIA HAD
TERRITORIAL DESIGNS ON PARTS OF B-H. THE SENATOR
ADDED THE QUESTION WHETHER, IF CROATIA WERE FIXED ON
A "THREE PEOPLES" APPROACH TO B-H, IT WOULD BE
POSSIBLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT A DIVISION OF
B-H TERRITORY.
-
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------------------7F56FF 271306Z /38
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FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
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INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2476
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
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10. TUDJMAN SAID THE BOSNIAN CROATS HAD TAKEN UP
ARMS BECAUSE THEY FELT THREATENED BY SERBIAN
AGGRESSION AND BECAUSE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN
SARAJEVO HAD NOT PREPARED ADEQUATELY TO DEFEND THEM.
THE BOSNIAN CROATS INITIALLY FELT SO ENDANGERED THAT
MANY OF THEM WERE ADVOCATING SECESSION AND JOINING
CROATIA. IT WAS THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT, TUDJMAN
SAID, WHICH HAD BLUNTED THE SECESSION MOVE AND
STRONGLY URGED BOSNIAN CROATS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
B-H INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM. ULTIMATELY, BOSNIA'S
CROATS WERE THE FIRST TO OPPOSE SERBIAN AGGRESSION.
ONLY LATER HAD THE MUSLIMS JOINED IN IN A SIGNIFICANT
WAY.
11. TUDJMAN SAID CATEGORICALLY THAT THERE WERE NO
CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN CROATIA AND, AS FAR AS HE
KNEW, NONE IN THE CROATIAN-DEFENDED AREAS OF B-H.
DURING THE WAR WITH THE YUGOSLAV ARMY LAST YEAR,
CROATIA HAD HAD SEVERAL POW CAMPS BUT THOSE WERE
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CLOSED WHEN THE PRISONERS WERE EXCHANGED. TUDJMAN
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN INDIVIDUAL CASES OF
VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CROATIA BY EXTREMISTS,
EVEN THOUGH THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAD CALLED ON THE
PEOPLE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY
WAS STRICT RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE
OF CROATIA. LATER IN THE CONVERSATION, DEPUTY
PREMIER GRANIC CLARIFIED THAT THE BOSNIAN CROATS
MAINTAINED THREE DETENTION CAMPS, ALL OF WHICH HAD
BEEN VISITED BY THE ICRC. MATE BOBAN, AT "GENEVA'S"
REQUEST, HAD ORDERED ALL THREE CLOSED. GRANIC SAID
CROATIA HAD ONLY SOME 30 SERBIAN PRISONERS, WHO HAD
BEEN AWAITING EXCHANGE WITH SERBIA -- BUT PANIC HAD
BEEN UNABLE TO DELIVER.
12. TUDJMAN STATED THAT CROATIA HAD NO TERRITORIAL
DESIGNS ON B-H. HOWEVER, CROATIA IS VITALLY
INTERESTED IN B-H DEVELOPMENTS928,& 59 &39-POLITICAL
AND HISTORICAL REALITIES. A B-H SOLUTION BASED ON
THE THREE CONSTITUENT PEOPLES DID NOT MEAN DIVISION
INTO THREE TERRITORIAL UNITS. CROATIA COULD WORK
WITH THE VANCE/OWEN 7-9 UNITS APPROACH.
------------------------------------------
ENDING THE B-H WAR WOULD HELP WITH KOSOVO
-----------------------------------------
13. TUDJMAN AGREED WITH REPRESENTATIVE MCCLOSKEY'S
EXPRESSION OF CONCERN OVER SERBIAN ACTIONS IN KOSOVO.
TUDJMAN SAID THE KEY TO PREVENTING WAR IN KOSOVO WAS
TO STOP IT IN B-H. THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT HAD ACTED
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INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2477
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
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GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH
UNJUSTLY IN DEPRIVING THE ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO OF THE
RIGHTS THEY HELD UNDER TITO'S SYSTEM. HE AGREED THERE
WAS A RISK OF WAR EXPANDING INTO MACEDONIA, WHICH
SERBS STILL SOMETIMES REFER TO AS "SOUTHERN SERBIA."
POSSIBLE GREEK/SERBIAN COLLUSION OVER MACEDONIA WAS
ALSO OF CONCERN.
-----------------------------------
THE UNITED STATES HAS THE MAIN ROLE
-------------------.---------------
14. TUDJMAN SAID THE U.S., AS THE LEADING WORLD
POWER, HAS THE MAIN ROLE IN THE SOLUTION OF THE
BALKAN PROBLEMS. HE RECALLED THERE HAD BEEN A STRONG
AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA AND HE
SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD AGAIN BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE
IN THE PRESENT SITUATION. HE SAID THAT CROATIA IS
READY TO COOPERATE IN FINDING WAYS TO END THE
CONFLICTS IN THE REGION AND TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS
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WITH ALL OF ITS NEIGHBORS.
15. SENATOR DECONCINI TOLD TUDJMAN THAT HE AND THE
CROATIAN PEOPLE HAD MANY FRIENDS IN THE CONGRESS AND
THAT HIS VISIT WAS A TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF THAT
FRIENDSHIP AND INTEREST IN CROATIA. HE SAID HIS
DELEGATION WAS PLEASED TO HEAR FROM HIM DIRECTLY OF
CROATIA'S COMMITMENT TO NEGOTIATIONS AND DEDICATION
TO PEACE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
-------------------------
CROATIA AND THE REFUGEES
------------------------
16. THE SENATOR EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR CROATIA'S
REFUGEE BURDEN, ABOUT WHICH NOT ENOUGH WAS KNOWN IN
THE WEST. HE PLEDGED TO DO WHAT HE COULD TO GET THE
WORD OUT ON CROATIA'S REFUGEE BURDEN AND THE NEED FOR
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
17. TUDJMAN SAID THE CROATIAN PEOPLE WERE PRETTY
DISSATISFIED WITH THE EC AND THE UN CONSTANTLY
TELLING THEM OF THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATION TO TAKE
EVER MORE REFUGEES, EVEN AS CROATIA LACKED THE MEANS
TO CARE FOR ITS OWN DISPLACED PEOPLE. HE NOTED THAT
THE PREVIOUS DAY HE HAD PERSONALLY INTERVENED AT THE
BEHEST OF THE ZAGREB JEWISH COMMUNITY TO APPROVE THE
MOVEMENT TO CROATIA OF A GROUP OF 500 FROM SARAJEVO.
"BUT WE ARE NOW THREATENED WITH ECONOMIC DISASTER,"
TUDJMAN EXCLAIMED.
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------------------7F575C 271309Z /38
P 271307Z NOV 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2836
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2478
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
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18. DEPUTY PREMIER GRANIC SAID CROATIA NOW HAS
450,000 BOSNIAN REFUGEES, 80 PERCENT OF WHOM ARE
MUSLIM. THE REFUGEE BURDEN ABSORBS 20 PERCENT OF THE
CROATIAN STATE BUDGET. GRANIC SAID CROATIA WAS
EXTREMELY PERPLEXED BY CRITICISM OF CROATIA'S
SUPPOSEDLY CLOSED BORDERS. THE FACT IS THAT
CROATIA'S ARE THE ONLY OPEN BORDERS IN THE REGION.
SINCE CROATIA HAD INSTITUTED ITS BORDER "CONTROLS" ON
JULY 13, SOME 100,000 BOSNIAN REFUGEES HAD ARRIVED IN
CROATIA AND ANOTHER 100,000 HAD TRANSITTED. CROATIA
IS ALSO TAKING IN HUNDREDS OF EX-DETAINEES FROM THE
SERBIAN PRISON CAMPS IN B-H. GRANIC REITERATED
CROATIA'S APPRECIATION FOR THE MATERIAL HELP IT HAD
RECEIVED, BUT HE STRESSED THAT CROATIA ALSO NEEDS
MONEY TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY, GASOLINE AND OTHER
REFUGEE-RELATED DIRECT COSTS -- NOW RUNNING AT 110
MILLION DOLLARS PER MONTH.
--------------------------------------------- --
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RELATIONS WITH CROATIANS OF SERBIAN NATIONALITY
--------------------------------------------- --
19. CROATIA WANTS TO SEE AN END TO AGGRESSION AND A
RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE, INCLUDING NORMALIZATION OF
RELATIONS WITH SERBS IN CROATIA, TUDJMAN SAID. HE
POINTED OUT THAT CROATIA HAD PASSED LAWS ON ABOLITION
(FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR AGAINST
CROATIA BUT DID NOT COMMIT WAR CRIMES) AND AMNESTY
(FOR THOSE ALREADY INDICTED OR SENTENCED FOR NON-WAR
CRIMES ACTS COMMITTED IN THE WAR). HE EMPHASIZED THE
EFFORTS HIS GOVERNMENT WAS MAKING TOWARD RESTORATION
OF LAW AND ORDER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE
CROATIAN GOVERNMENT HAD WORKED TO REIN IN CROATIAN
EXTREMISTS AND HAD SEVERAL OF THEM WERE UNDER
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
PARLIAMENT DUKIC, A SERBIAN HIMSELF, POINTED OUT THAT
THE SERBS IN THE UNPAS ARE UNDER THE DOMINATION OF
THE 5-10 PERCENT EXTREMISTS WHO ARE CONTROLLED BY
BELGRADE.
20. IN CONCLUSION, PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TOLD THE CODEL
THAT CROATIA IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO DEMOCRACY AND TO
A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, INCLUDING A FREE PRESS.
NEITZKE
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