US embassy cable - 95ZAGREB3504

UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 01 ZAGREB  03504 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USLO SKOPJE 
AMCONSUL MUNICH 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE ZAGREB 003504 
 
 
USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL OSCE 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: 9/11/00 
TAGS: War Crimes 
SUBJECT:  SERB REFUGEES IN KNIN -- A STEP CLOSER TO 
          RELEASE 
 
 
1.  DECONTROL UPON RECEIPT -- SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - 
- PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. 
 
2.  TALKS BETWEEN SRSG AKASHI AND THE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF 
STAFF HRVOJE SARINIC TO RELEASE THE 780 SERB REFUGEES 
LOCATED ON THE UNCRO COMPOUND IN KNIN CONTINUED OVER THE 
WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 9-10.  (NOTE: OF THE 780 REFUGEES, 760 
HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO GO TO SERBIA.) 
 
3.  ON SEPTEMBER 11 THE UN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION TEAM TOLD 
US THAT, DESPITE CROATIAN PRESS REPORTS THAT AN AGREEMENT 
HAD BEEN REACHED, THE DEAL HAD NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED. 
DURING THE AKASHI-SARINIC TALKS, THE GOC AGREED TO NARROW 
THE LIST OF PEOPLE IT WANTS HELD FOR INVESTIGATION OF WAR 
CRIMES FROM 62 TO 35.  THE MAIN STICKING POINT HAS BEEN, 
AND REMAINS, FORMAL GOC ACCEPTANCE OF UN DEMANDS FOR LEGAL 
DOCUMENTATION OF THE CHARGES PENDING AGAINST THE 35 SERBS 
AND THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THESE DOCUMENTS TO DETERMINE THEIR 
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VALIDITY.  IF THE UN CONCLUDES THE CHARGES ARE VALID THEN 
THEY WILL ASSIST THE GOC IN IDENTIFYING PEOPLE AND 
TRANSFERRING THEM TO POLICE CUSTODY PROVIDED THE GOC 
ALLOWS UN MONITORS DURING TRANSFER AND COURT PROCEEDINGS, 
AS WELL AS REGULAR ACCESS AND GUARANTEES OF FAIR 
TREATMENT. 
 
4.  UN SOURCES TOLD US THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
REFUGEES HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING THESE TERMS. 
 
5.  THE UN ANTICIPATES GOC ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS WILL 
COME BY LATE AFTERNOON ON SEPTEMBER 11.  OUR SOURCE SAID 
THAT THEY EXPECT TO BEGIN MOVING REFUGEES ABOUT 48 HOURS 
AFTER THE AGREEMENT IS FORMALIZED.  (IT IS NOT YET KNOWN 
WHERE AUTHORITIES IN SERBIA WILL SEND THE REFUGEES ONCE 
THEY ARRIVE, ALTHOUGH PRESS REPORTS HAVE SPECULATED THE 
DESTINATION WILL BE KOSOVO.)  THE UN OFFICIAL WE SPOKE 
WITH SAID IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FORMULA FOR RESOLUTION 
OF THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN KNIN WILL BE APPLIED TO A 
SIMILAR SITUATION IN FORMER SECTOR NORTH, WHERE THE GOC 
HAS PREVENTED DEPARTURE OF 26 REFUGEES. 
 
GALBRAITH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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