US embassy cable - 95ZAGREB2326

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 002326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN 
BAKU FOR DCM FINN 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: 06/15/05 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, HR, PINR, HR, PINR, HR, War Crimes 
SUBJECT:  CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY 
 
1.  CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT. 
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PAGE 02        ZAGREB  02326  01 OF 03  161531Z 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2.  IN AN APRIL 12 MEETING, CROATIA'S CARDINAL KUHARIC 
APPEALED TO THE AMBASSADOR FOR HELP FOR PERSECUTED 
MINORITIES IN THE BANJA LUKA REGION.  DISCUSSING THE 
SITUATION IN CROATIA, THE CARDINAL ADVOCATED "EQUALITY" 
FOR THE SERBIAN POPULATION BUT WAS UNABLE TO COMPREHEND 
WHY SERBS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS FEEL THEY ARE TREATED "EQUALLY" 
IN CROATIA.  BIO NOTE:  KUHARIC TURNED 75 ON APRIL 15, 
1995 AND, ACCORDING TO CANON LAW, SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO 
AUTOMATIC RETIREMENT.  HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THE POPE 
WANTS HIM TO STAY ON, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.  THERE 
ARE NO CLEAR FAVORITES TO SUCCEED HIM.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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LAST CHANCE TO HALT ETHNIC CLEANSING IN NORTHERN BOSNIA 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
3.  ON APRIL 12 THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH FRANJO CARDINAL 
KUHARIC WHO MADE AN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE LONG-SUFFERING 
MINORITIES IN BANJA LUKA, NOW UNDER EVEN GREATER PRESSURE 
AS A RESULT OF CROATIA HAVING RETAKEN SECTOR WEST AND 
OTHER MILITARY REVERSES SUFFERED BY THE SERBS.  THE 
CARDINAL ESTIMATED THAT IN THE NORTHERN BOSNIA AREA THERE 
ONLY REMAIN 30,000 MUSLIMS AND 20,000 CROATS "SLEEPING IN 
THE WOODS" (FROM A PRE-WAR POPULATION OP 356,000 MUSLIMS 
AND 181,000 CROATS).  HE SOUGHT A CLEARLY WORDED STATEMENT 
PROM THE WEST TO PUT THE SERBS ON NOTICE THAT ETHNIC 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  02326  01 OF 03  161531Z 
CLEANSING MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY. 
 
4.  THE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED SYMPATHY POR THE CARDINAL'S 
CONCERNS BUT QUESTIONED WHETHER MORE WORDS WOULD MAKE ANY 
DIPFERENCE.  HE NOTED THAT THE WORLD HAD ALREADY MADE 
CLEAR TO THE SERB AUTHORITIES THAT THEY WOULD BE HELD 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN BANJA LUKA AND ELSEWHERE. 
HE CITED THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL 
AND THE EFFORTS BY THE USG TO COLLECT EVIDENCE OP WAR 
CRIMES AND ATROCITIES.  YET IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE SERBS 
ONLY UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF PORCE. 
 
5.  ASKED IP HE SAW ANY CHANCE THAT THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX 
CHURCH MIGHT PLAY A ROLE IN BRINGING ABOUT A PEACE 
SETTLEMENT, KUHARIC REPLIED THAT SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 
WAS A NATIONAL CHURCH.  ALTHOUGH THERE EXISTS MORE THAN 
ONE CURRENT, AND SOME MODERATES ARE INCLINED TOWARD A JUST 
SOLUTION, THE LEADERSHIP VIEWS THE WAR AS A "FIGHT AGAINST 
ISLAM IN EUROPE AND CATHOLICISM IN THE BALKANS."  THEY 
EMBRACE THE RIGHT OF ALL SERRS TO LIVE IN ONE STATE AND AS 
SUCH ARE ALIGNED WITH THE MORE RADICAL POLITICAL ELEMENTS 
SUCH AS KARADZIC. 
 
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CARDINAL STILL FIGHTING OLD BATTLES TO "CORRECT" HISTORY 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
6.  TURNING TO CROATIA, THE AMBASSADOR OPINED THAT A PEACE 
PROCESS WAS POSSIBLE BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE CROATS TO 
RETHINK HOW THEY VIEW SERBS.  REPEATED REFERENCES TO SERBS 
AS A "MINORITY" MAKE THEM FEEL UNWELCOME AND INFERIOR. 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  02326  01 OF 03  161531Z 
 
7.  KUHARIC REPLIED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE SERBS HAVE ALWAYS 
BEEN A MINORITY IN CROATIA, THEY FORMERLY FUNCTIONED AS A 
MAJORITY.  AFTER RULING FOR 75 YEARS THEY DO NOT WANT TO 
ACCEPT MERE "EQUALITY."  FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SERBS ARE LAID 
OFF FROM A JOB THEY CLAIM DISCRIMINATION, IGNORING THE 
FACT THAT THOUSANDS OF CROATS ARE LAID OFF AS WELL. 
KUHARIC THEN RECITED THE FAMILIAR LITANY OF SERB ABUSES 
AGAINST THE CROATIAN PEOPLE BEGINNING IN 1918 WHEN A GROUP 
OF CROATS PROTESTING THE CREATION OF YUGOSLAVIA WERE FIRED 
UPON IN ZAGREB'S MAIN SQUARE AND ENDING WITH THE JNA 
ARMING THE LOCAL MILITIAS IN 1991.  HE ARGUED THAT "THOSE 
WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FREE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGY 
OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SLAVES." 
 
8.  THE AMBASSADOR COMMENTED THAT A SERB MIGHT RECITE A 
SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT HISTORY OF YUGOSLAVIA, FOCUSSING MORE 
ON THE WWII NDH GOVERNMENT AND THE JASENOVAC CONCENTRATION 
CAMP. 
 
9.  THIS COMMENT LED THE CARDINAL TO DECLARE THAT, WHILE 
"IT WOULD BE A CRIME IF JUST ONE MAN WAS KILLED AT 
JASENOVAC," THE CHARGE THAT 700,000 WERE SLAUGHTERED COULD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  02326  02 OF 03  161532Z 
ACTION EUR-01 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00  INL-01   OASY-00  DODE-00 
      SRPP-00  FBIE-00  INLB-01  H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-08 
      LAB-01   L-01     ADS-00   M-00     NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   PA-01    PM-00    PRS-01   P-01     SP-00    SS-00 
      TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  SNIS-00  NISC-01  PMB-00   PRMC-01 
      DRL-09   G-00       /031W 
                  ------------------D096C1  161621Z /38 
R 161609Z JUN 95 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6155 
INFO USLO SKOPJE 
AMEMBASSY BAKU 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
NATO EU COLLECTIVE 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 002326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN 
BAKU FOR DCM FINN 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: 06/15/05 
TAGS:  PGOV, PINR, HR, (KUHARIC, F) 
SUBJECT:  CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY 
 
NOT BE TRUE OR THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY SERBS LEFT IN 
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PAGE 02        ZAGREB  02326  02 OF 03  161532Z 
CROATIA.  HE CITED NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF WWII ATROCITIES 
COMMITTED AGAINST CROATS.  HE EXPRESSED HIS WILLINGNESS TO 
"PITY OVER EVERY TOMB" BUT REFUSED TO ACCEPT "HALF A 
CENTURY OF UNJUST PROPAGANDA AND LIES."  HE INSISTED THAT 
ONE CANNOT CONDEMN AN ENTIRE NATION FOR CRIMES COMMITTED 
BY ITS LEADERS. 
 
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PRINCIPLES CLEAR BUT RECONCILIATION WILL BE LONG 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
10.  THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT WAS PRECISELY THE POINT. 
IF PEOPLE INSIST ON FIGHTING THE BATTLES OF THE PAST THERE 
CAN BE NO FUTURE.  CROATIA, AS A NEW, INDEPENDENT STATE, 
CAN AFFORD TO BE GENEROUS TO THE SERBS WHO LIVE HERE. 
SUCH A POLICY IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT ALSO 
MAKES SENSE IN THE QUEST FOR PEACE. 
 
11.  THE CARDINAL RESPONDED SAYING THE SERBS DO NOT WANT 
PEACE AND THAT IS WHY THEY STARTED THE WAR.  THE 
AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT IN 1991 IT WAS NOT THE SERBIAN 
PEOPLE BUT THE YUGOSLAV NATIONAL ARMY AND CERTAIN LEADERS 
IN KNIN WHO CHOSE TO FIGHT AGAINST AN INDEPENDENT CROATIA. 
THE MAJORITY OF SERBS CHOSE TO REMAIN IN CROATIA AND NOW 
THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT MUST CONVINCE THESE PEOPLE TO 
ACCEPT REALITY AND MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME. 
 
12.  THE CARDINAL EXPRESSED HIS AGREEMENT SAYING THAT THE 
PRINCIPLES ARE CLEAR BUT THE PROCESS WILL BE LONG AND 
HARD.  ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE VICTIMS, 
THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT A SERB AFTER HE HAS 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  02326  02 OF 03  161532Z 
DESTROYED YOUR HOUSE AND MURDERED YOUR FAMILY.  TO WHICH 
THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT THE ANGER MUST BE DIRECTED 
TOWARD THE CRIMINAL, NOT TOWARD ALL SERBS. 
 
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COMMENT 
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13.  KUHARIC IS CLEARLY WELL-INTENTIONED AND HAS TRIED TO 
PUT INTO PRACTICE THE TOLERANCE THAT HE PREACHES.  ON 
NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HE HAS REACHED OUT TO CROATIA'S OTHER 
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.  DURING THE WAR IN 1991 HE VISITED 
AN ORTHODOX CHURCH NEAR THE FRONTLINES AND SPOKE OUT 
AGAINST ANY ATTEMPTS TO TAKE REVENGE ON CROATIA'S ORTHODOX 
COMMUNITY.  HE HAS STEADFASTLY SUPPORTED A UNITED BOSNIA 
AND CAME UNDER STRONG CRITICISM IN OFFICIAL CIRCLES AND 
EVEN AMONG HIS OWN CLERGY WHEN HE PROTESTED CRIMES 
COMMITTED AGAINST MUSLIMS DURING THE CROAT-MUSLIM CONFLICT 
IN B-H.  FORMER "HERCEG-BOSNA PRESIDENT" MATE BOBAN WROTE 
AN OPEN LETTER ACCUSING KUHARIC OF "BETRAYING THE 
INTERESTS OF THE CROATIAN PEOPLE." 
 
14.  BUT, LIKE SO MANY CROATS (ESPECIALLY OF HIS 
GENERATION), HE APPEARS UNABLE TO SHAKE THE DUST OF 
HISTORY OFF HIS FEET AND GIVE UP THE OLD BATTLES OF WHO 
DID WHAT TO WHOM AND WHEN.  ALSO, LIKE MOST CROATS, HE IS 
UNABLE TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE PLACE OF OTHERS AND SEE WHAT 
DAILY LIFE AND ECONOMIC PROSPECTS MUST LOOK LIKE TO THE 
AVERAGE SERB LIVING IN CROATIA.  ISOLATED BECAUSE OF HIS 
POSITION, HE FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SERBS ARE NOT 
ALWAYS TREATED "EQUALLY" IN CROATIAN SOCIETY.  SO, WHILE 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  02326  02 OF 03  161532Z 
HE CAN PROBABLY BE COUNTED ON TO SPEAK UP IN THE FACE OF 
BLATANT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, HE IS NOT LIKELY TO PLAY 
A FORCEFUL LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF NATIONAL 
RECONCILIATION. 
 
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BIO NOTE 
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15.  FRANJO CARDINAL KUHARIC TURNED 75 ON APRIL 15, 1994 
AND, ACCORDING TO CANON LAW, SHOULD BE FACING MANDATORY 
RETIREMENT.  HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN THAT THE 
CARDINAL IS ABOUT TO STEP DOWN NOR HAS A COADJUTOR BEEN 
NAMED.  GIVEN THAT NOTHING WAS SAID ON THE SUBJECT DURING 
THE VISIT OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO ZAGREB LAST SEPTEMBER, 
IT IS GENERALLY FELT THAT THE CARDINAL WILL BE ALLOWED TO 
REMAIN ON FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE YEARS. 
- 
 
16.  THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE OPEN SPECULATION OVER KUHARIC'S 
POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS.  THOSE MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ARE 
HIS SECRETARY, STJEPAN KOZUL; ZAGREB'S ASSISTANT BISHOPS 
MARKO CULEJ AND JURAJ JEZERINAC (RECENTLY RETURNED FROM 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  02326  03 OF 03  161532Z 
ACTION EUR-01 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00  INL-01   OASY-00  DODE-00 
      SRPP-00  FBIE-00  INLB-01  H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-08 
      LAB-01   L-01     ADS-00   M-00     NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   PA-01    PM-00    PRS-01   P-01     SP-00    SS-00 
      TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  SNIS-00  NISC-01  PMB-00   PRMC-01 
      DRL-09   G-00       /031W 
                  ------------------D096CD  161621Z /38 
R 161609Z JUN 95 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6156 
INFO USLO SKOPJE 
AMEMBASSY BAKU 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
NATO EU COLLECTIVE 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 002326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
ROME ALSO FOR VATICAN 
BAKU FOR DCM FINN 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: 06/15/05 
TAGS:  PGOV, PINR, HR, (KUHARIC, F) 
SUBJECT:  CROATIA'S CARDINAL UNABLE TO ESCAPE HISTORY 
 
CANADA); THE BISHOP OF SIBENIK, SRECKO BADURINA; CARITAS 
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PAGE 02        ZAGREB  02326  03 OF 03  161532Z 
DIRECTOR MONSIGNOR VLADIMIR STANKOVIC AND SARAJEVO 
ARCHBISHOP VINKO PULJIC PRIOR TO HIS BEING MADE A CARDINAL 
IN HIS OWN RIGHT IN NOVEMRER OF LAST YEAR.  ALL ARE 
RELATIVELY YOUNG (LATE 40'S EARLY 50'S) EXCEPT BADURINA 
WHO IS ALSO SAID TO BE IN POOR HEALTH. 
 
17.  KUHARIC APPEARS TO ENJOY EXCELLENT HEALTH AND IS 
THOUGHT BY MANY TO BE THE RIGHT PERSON TO GUIDE THE 
REGION'S CATHOLIC POPULATION THROUGH THESE TROUBLED TIMES. 
THE CARDINAL IS VALUED AS A MEDIATOR.  HE HAS KEPT HIS 
LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN WITH THE ORTHODOX CHURCH.  IN 
MAY OF 1994 KUHARIC MET IN SARAJEVO WITH SERBIAN ORTHODOX 
PATRIARCH PAVLE AND RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH ALEKSEJ II. 
TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN HE MET WITH JOVAN PAVLOVIC, 
METROPOLITAN FOR CROATIA, SLOVENIA AND ITALY (RESIDENT IN 
LJUBLJANA).  WHEN THE AMBASSADOR LEFT HIS OFFICE, VELJKO 
KNEZEVIC, THE HEAD OF THE FRY'S LIAISON OFFICE IN ZAGREB 
WAS WAITING IN THE ANTEROOM. 
 
18.  AFTER THROWING THE CHURCH'S UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT 
BEHIND THE HDZ DURING CROATIA'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE, 
KUHARIC WAS QUICK TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM TUDJMAN AND THE 
OFFICIAL PARTY AFTERWARDS.  HE HAS OPENLY OPPOSED THE IDEA 
OF CROATIAN STATE IN WHICH CROATS WOULD HAVE GREATER 
RIGHTS THAN OTHER NATIONALITIES.  IN AUGUST OF 1993, AFTER 
THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION ON WHICH TUDJMAN DELIVERED A 
POLITICAL ADDRESS IN A DALMATIAN CHURCH, THE CARDINAL 
STRICTLY FORBID THAT ANY POLITICIAN BE PERMITTED SPEAK ON 
CHURCH PREMISES.  HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TUDJMAN HAS BEEN 
COOL.  A TUDJMAN AIDE REPORTEDLY ASKED ONCE, "WHY DOESN'T 
THE CARDINAL INVITE THE PRESIDENT IN FOR A COFFEE WHEN HE 
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COMES TO MASS IN THE CATHEDRAL?" 
 
19.  SARAJEVO MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
GALBRAITH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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