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| Identifier: | 95ZAGREB3925 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 95ZAGREB3925 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Zagreb |
| Created: | 1995-10-06 17:26:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PGOV PHUM PREF PHUM PREF PHUM PREF HR 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.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 003925
SIPDIS
STATE PLEASE PASS NSC
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 03925 01 OF 03 061729Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: 9/30/10
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREF, PHUM, PREF, PHUM, PREF, HR, War Crimes
SUBJECT: A/S SHATTUCK'S 9/30 MEETING WITH INTERIOR
MINISTER
REF: STATE 231615
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT
2. SUMMARY: IN A MEETING WITH CROATIAN INTERIOR MINISTER
JARNJAK, ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHATTUCK EMPHASIZED CONCERN
OVER THE GOC'S FORCED REPATRIATION PLAN, THE CONTINUED
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE KRAJINA REGION, AND DISCUSSED
THE VOJNIC REFUGEE SITUATION. SHATTUCK ALSO ENCOURAGED
MORE PUBLIC STATEMENTS ABOUT THE RIGHT OF RETURN OF ETHNIC
SERBS TO THEIR HOMES IN CROATIA. IN DEFENDING CROATIA'S
RECORD, JARNJAK CITED EXAMPLES OF CROATIAN SUPPORT FOR
REFUGEES, PURSUIT OF PERPETRATORS OF CRIMINAL ACTS IN THE
KRAJINA, AND COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES
COMMISSION. HE ALSO AGREED TO PRESS FOR MORE PUBLIC
STATEMENTS ON RIGHTS OF REFUGEES TO RETURN AND TO RECLAIM
PROPERTY. COMMENT. JARNJAK MADE AN UNCONVINCING CASE. END
COMMENT. END SUMMARY.
3. ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHATTUCK MET WITH CROATIAN
INTERIOR MINISTER IVAN JARNJAK AT THE MINISTRY ON
SEPTEMBER 30. THE MINISTER WAS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
ASSISTANTS MARIJAN BENKO FOR POLICE AFFAIRS AND ZDRAVKO
ZIDOVEC FOR CIVIL AFFAIRS, PLUS THE HEAD OF THE
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT DR. JOSIP BESIC. DRL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 03925 01 OF 03 061729Z
STEVE COFFEY AND DCM (NOTETAKER) ACCOMPANIED MR. SHATTUCK.
4. SHATTUCK DREW ON REFTEL DEMARCHE IN EXPRESSING USG
CONCERN OVER THE GOC PLAN TO REPATRIATE REFUGEES AND
STRESSED THAT THE 1951 CONVENTION ON THE STATUS OF
REFUGEES PRECLUDES FORCED REPATRIATION. AT THE SAME TIME,
HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE BURDEN THAT CROATIA HAS FACED IN
CARING FOR REFUGEES, BUT STRESSED U.S. CONCERN THAT
UNILATERAL ABROGATION OF REFUGEE STATUS WAS A VIOLATION OF
THE 1951 CONVENTION.
5. JARNYAK REPLIED THAT CROATIA HOLDS HUMAN RIGHTS ABOVE
POLITICS AND OTHER MATTERS, BUT THAT HE WAS NOT IN A
POSITION TO DISCUSS THE REPATRIATION ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MR. ADALBERT REBIC, HEAD OF THE
OFFICE FOR DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES. HE COULD ONLY
STATE IN GENERAL AND AS A RULE THAT NO PEOPLE ARE FORCED
TO RETURN TO AREAS NOT CONSIDERED SAFE.
6. SHATTUCK RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE RIGHT OF RETURN FOR
CROATIAN SERB REFUGEES. SUCH PEOPLE SEEKING TO RETURN
HAVE BEEN FACING IMPEDIMENTS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE
MORE PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN CROATIA REGARDING THE RIGHT OF
SERBS TO RETURN, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPEDIMENT IS THE
CLIMATE OF INSINCERITY. SHATTUCK ALSO NOTED NUMEROUS
REPORTS THAT KILLING, BURNING AND LOOTING CONTINUES AND
THE AMPLE EVIDENCE OF DESTRUCTION HE SAW IN HIS TRAVELS
THROUGH THE NEWLY LIBERATED AREAS.
7. SHATTUCK MENTIONED THAT FONMIN GRANIC SAID THE
CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD WELCOME THE RETURN OF SERBS VERY
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 03925 01 OF 03 061729Z
MUCH AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INVESTIGATE ABUSES IF
THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION. HE URGED JARNJAK TO
TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF THE
LOOTING, BURNING AND KILLING.
8. JARNJAK SAID THE REFUGEES HAVE BEEN RETURNING ONLY
WHEN THEY FEEL SAFE. HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE WAR
BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CROATS IN BOSNIA IN 1991, CROATIA HAD
100,000 MUSLIMS HERE AND THE CROATIAN POLICE PROTECTED
THOSE REFUGEES. AS FOR THE CROATIAN SERB REFUGEES, THEIR
SAFETY IS FULLY GUARANTEED ACCORDING TO CROATIAN LAW AS
LONG AS THEY ARE CITIZENS OF CROATIA. IF THEY WISH THEY
CAN RETURN. THERE IS ONE REQUIREMENT: THEY HAVE TO
REPORT THEIR DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE CROATIAN OFFICE IN
BELGRADE. (COMMENT. THERE IS ONE CLERK TO PROCESS ALL
APPLICATIONS FOR RETURN IN BELGRADE. END COMMENT)
9. THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO INFORMATION SO HAD NO WAY OF
KNOWING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO RETURN,
JARNJAK CLAIMED. HE ALSO ASSERTED THAT ALL THOSE WHO COME
TO THE BORDER OR BORDER POINTS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER INTO
CROATIA. ONLY ONE OR TWO HUNDRED HAVE COME THIS WAY.
(COMMENT. NOT ACCORDING TO EYEWITNESS REPORTS BY PRESS AND
EMBASSY PERSONNEL, WHO SAY SERBS AND MUSLIMS ARE NOT
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNNPTQ8479
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8479
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 03925 02 OF 03 061729Z
ACTION EUR-01
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 OASY-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-01 SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01
FBIE-00 INLB-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01
L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01
PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00
SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-01
PMB-00 PRM-10 PRME-01 PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /038W
------------------F42C7C 061730Z /38
O 061726Z OCT 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7528
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USLO SKOPJE
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 003925
SIPDIS
STATE PLEASE PASS NSC
CONFIDENTIAL
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 03925 02 OF 03 061729Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: 9/30/10
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREF, HR
SUBJECT: A/S SHATTUCK'S 9/30 MEETING WITH INTERIOR
MINISTER
ALLOWED INTO CROATIA. END COMMENT)
10. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN SERBIA OR
BOSNIA HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOC'S WILLINGNESS TO
RECEIVE THEM BACK BECAUSE CROATIAN MEDIA IS INACCESSIBLE
TO THEM. COMMENT. SERBIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION ARE READILY
AVAILABLE IN CROATIA; THE CONVERSE IS PRESUMABLY TRUE AS
WELL. END COMMENT. THE MINISTER SAID THE GOC MADE AN
APPEAL EVERY HOUR WHEN THE KRAJINA OPERATION BEGAN; NOW IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE REFUGEES. HE NOTED
THAT THE INHABITANTS OF SECTOR NORTH AND SOUTH LEFT IN AN
EXODUS COORDINATED BY THEIR OWN CIVIL AND MILITARY
AUTHORITIES.
11. THE MINISTER MAINTAINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT LOOKED
INTO EVERY CASE OF BURNING, LOOTING OR KILLING AND HIS
ASSISTANT FOR POLICE AFFAIRS MR. BENKO HAD DOSSIERS
AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. HE ADMITTED THERE HAD BEEN
INDIVIDUAL CASES OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. HE NOTED
THAT CROATIA HAS COOPERATED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE AND RECEIVED LETTERS OF GRATITUDE
FROM THEM. THE SPECIAL SERVICE ACTIVE WITH WAR CRIMES AND
TERRORISM HAS BEEN WORKING IN CROATIA SINCE 1991.
12. SHATTUCK RAISED THE RECLAIMING OF PROPERTY ISSUE,
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 03925 02 OF 03 061729Z
STRESSING THAT THE EXISTING PROCEDURES WERE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT FOR THE CROATIAN SERB REFUGEES TO BE ABLE TO
COMPLY. THE CITIZENS WHO WANT TO RECLAIM THEIR PROPERTY
MUST HAVE DOCUMENTS AND PERMANENTLY RESIDE IN CROATIA. IT
IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN THESE DOCUMENTS OUTSIDE OF CROATIA
AND DIFFICULT FOR THE REFUGEES TO GET BACK INTO CROATIA.
IN ADDITION, IN MANY CASES THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN
DESTROYED. IN SUMMARY, IT APPEARS THAT DE FACTO THE
PROPERTY HAS BEEN CONFISCATED. MAYBE THAT IS NOT THE
INTENT, BUT THAT IS THE EFFECT.
13. THE DIRECTIVE ON PROPERTY, ACCORDING TO JARNJAK, IS
INTENDED TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM FURTHER
DESTRUCTION BY MAKING CROATIA THE TEMPORARY OWNER. THE
CROATIAN LAW ON PROPERTY RIGHTS PROVIDES FOR THE RETURN OF
THE PROPERTY AS SOON AS ITS LEGAL OWNERS RETURN. THE
PROPERTY OF THOSE WHO DECIDE NOT TO RETURN WILL BE
UTILIZED FOR THOSE IN NEED, SUCH AS REFUGEES. THE
PROPERTY IS NOT GIVEN PERMANENTLY, ONLY PROVIDED FOR USE.
(COMMENT: THE TITO GOVERNMENT EXPROPRIATED THOUSANDS OF
PROPERTIES WHEN IT CAME INTO POWER, AND MANY ORIGINAL
OWNERS ARE NOW IN LITIGATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN
THEIR RETURN. END COMMENT)
14. A/S SHATTUCK NOTED HE HAD PERSONALLY VISITED THE
VOJNIC REFUGEES. HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WILL BE A
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE WINTER, BUT THERE IS AN
IMMEDIATE CRISIS OF SANITATION. ONE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO
MOVE THE REFUGEES TO HIGHER GROUND. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
IF THE GOC WORKED WITH UNHCR AND ICRC ON THIS MATTER.
THERE IS ALSO A SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE CAMP. IT IS
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 03925 02 OF 03 061729Z
BECOMING INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS, WITH REPORTS OF VIOLENCE
AND THAT THE MILITARY ARE TAKING YOUNG MEN.
15. THIS CAMP IS A LARGE AND SERIOUS PROBLEM, ACCORDING
TO JARNJAK. THE INTERIOR MINISTERS OF TURKEY, B-H AND
CROATIA WILL MEET NEXT WEEK. THERE WILL BE A THREE PART
POLICE WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE PEOPLE IN SUCH A
WAY THAT THEY CAN RETURN TO VELIKA KLADUSA. JARNJAK SAID
HE HOPED IN THIS WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM POSITIVELY.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO FORCIBLE RETURN THE GOC WILL
SEEK A SOLUTION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO RETURN.
JARNJAK ADDED THAT THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT MAKE
ANY PERSON RETURN TO A POSITION WHERE HE COULD NOT LIVE
SAFELY AND IN PEACE. "IF I HADN'T BEEN OF THIS
OPINION. WE WOULD NOT HAVE LET THEM COME TO CROATIA."
(COMMENT. EMBASSY IS REPORTING SEPARATELY ON FORCIBLE
RETURN OF CROATIANS TO BOSNIA. END COMMENT.)
16. A/S SHATTUCK SAID HE APPRECIATED THE COOPERATION
BETWEEN CROATIA AND THE WAR CRIMES COMMISSION, AND
STRESSED THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
17. A/S SHATTUCK SUGGESTED THAT JARNJAK ASK THE PRESIDENT
TO MAKE A STATEMENT, BECAUSE THE SIGNAL THAT IS NOW BEING
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNNPTQ8480
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8480
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 03925 03 OF 03 061730Z
ACTION EUR-01
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-01 OASY-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ANHR-01 SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01
FBIE-00 INLB-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01
L-01 ADS-00 M-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01
PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00
SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-01
PMB-00 PRM-10 PRME-01 PRMC-01 DRL-09 G-00 /038W
------------------F42C80 061730Z /38
O 061726Z OCT 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7529
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USLO SKOPJE
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 003925
SIPDIS
STATE PLEASE PASS NSC
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 03925 03 OF 03 061730Z
E.O. 12356: DECL: 9/30/10
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREF, HR
SUBJECT: A/S SHATTUCK'S 9/30 MEETING WITH INTERIOR
MINISTER
GIVEN IS THAT SERBS ARE NOT WELCOME. JARNJAK SAID BOTH
TUDJMAN AND THE PRIME MINISTER HAVE SPOKEN TWICE ON THIS
ISSUE, BUT THAT HE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE PRESIDENT
ADDRESS IT AGAIN IN HIS NEXT PRESS CONFERENCE, THE
PROBLEM, HE REPEATED, IS THAT THE NEWS WOULD ONLY BE HEARD
DOMESTICALLY AND NOT REACH THE REFUGEES. ANOTHER PROBLEM,
HE ADDED, IS THAT THE THE SERBS CONSIDER IT AN ADVANTAGE
FOR THEM TO HAVE THE REFUGEES. THEY WOULD USE THEM TO
ALTER THE ETHNIC BALANCE IN KOSOVO AND DID NOT WISH THEIR
RETURN TO CROATIA.
18. NOT ALL THE REFUGEES ARE GOING TO KOSOVO, SHATTUCK
REPLIED. HE NOTED THAT HE SPOKEN TO THE SERBS ABOUT THE
DESTRUCTION OF VUKOVAR A YEAR AGO AND EARLIER CONDEMNED
THE MASS KILLINGS IN NORTHEAST BOSNIA. HE WISHED THE
MINISTER TO KNOW HIS INTEREST WAS HUMAN RIGHTS. HE HAD
COME IN THAT SPIRIT TO RAISE CONCERNS WITH THE GOVERNMENT,
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE ALL CITIZENS OF CROATIA.
19. A/S SHATTUCK DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR ON
THIS MESSAGE BEFORE DEPARTING ZAGREB.
20. SARAJEVO MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
GALBRAITH
CONFIDENTIAL
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 03925 03 OF 03 061730Z
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
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