US embassy cable - 95ZAGREB1869

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 001869 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR A/S HOLBROOKE 
 
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR ALBRIGHT 
 
EMBASSY BAKU FOR DCM FINN 
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E.O. 12356:  DECL:  05/16/96 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, HR, War Crimes 
SUBJECT:  GRANIC SAYS CROATIAN ARMY OUT OF SECTOR 
          SOUTH ZOS; COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL BY 5 PM 
 
REF:  ZAGREB 001867 
 
1.  FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC CALLED AT 12 NOON, 
MAY 16, TO SAY THAT CROATIAN ARMY FORCES HAD 
WITHDRAWN COMPLETELY FROM THE POSITIONS IN THE 
ZONE OF SEPARATION (ZOS) IN SECTOR SOUTH THAT 
HAD BEEN OCCUPIED SINCE MAY 1.  GRANIC AGAIN 
ASSURED ME THAT ALL FORCES WOULD BE BACK TO THE 
PRE-MAY 1 POSITIONS IN THE SECTORS NORTH AND 
EAST ZOS BY 5:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME, MAY 16 
(REFTEL). 
- 
2.  BOTH THE CROATIAN ARMY AND THE RSK HAD 
FORCES IN THE ZOS BEFORE MAY 1.  THIS PRESENCE, 
WHICH RELATES TO DIFFERING INTERPRETATIONS OF 
THE MAPS FOR THE MARCH 29, 1994 CEASE-FIRE 
AGREEMENT AS WELL AS SOME PRE-EXISTING WILLFUL 
VIOLATIONS, IS NOT AFFECTED BY CROATIA'S 
WITHDRAWAL PROMISE.  THUS THERE WILL CONTINUE TO 
BE VIOLATIONS OF THE ZOS AFTER THE DEADLINE. 
THE PRE-EXISTING VIOLATIONS ARE LESS DANGEROUS 
THAN THOSE THAT OCCURRED THIS MONTH, AND UNCRO 
PRESUMABLY WILL BE REASONABLY SATISFIED IF IT 
CAN ACHIEVE THE PRE-MAY STATUS QUO IN THE ZOS. 
 
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3.  UN REPORTING OFTEN RUNS EIGHT TO TWELVE 
HOURS BEHIND THE EVENT.  THEREFORE THE UN MAY 
NOT BE IN A POSITION TO CONFIRM THE CROATIAN 
WITHDRAWAL (ASSUMING THERE IS A FULL WITHDRAWAL) 
UNTIL MAY 17. 
 
4.  GRANIC TOLD ME THAT 180 OF THE 1400 SERB 
DETAINEES FROM WESTERN SLAVONIA ARE UNDER 
INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE WAR CRIMES.  FORTY 
SEVEN WERE AMNESTIED YESTERDAY AND HE SAID THE 
GOC WOULD TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE FURTHER THE 
NUMBER BEING HELD FOR POSSIBLE TRIAL. 
 
GALBRAITH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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