Nachricht Nummer : 107 Übertragungszeit : 3 min 38 sec Nachricht von : WAM@ZAMIR-ZG.ZER.sub.org Betrifft : Zagreb Diary 18 May, 1993 Erstellungsdatum : 20.05.1993 11:08:00 S+2 Realname: Wam Kat Zagreb Diary 18 May, 1993 Dobar dan, "I am fed up cease-fires, it is only a piece of paper with some signatures on it and nobody takes it serious, I wouldn't support any more of them.", Lord Owen in front of the UNPROFOR SpaBat barracks in Medjugorje, he stands on the same spot on which those drunken HVO soldiers during new years evening were standing watching how we empty their automatic guns, the SpaBat Barracks are the bungalows we lived in for a while working in Hercegovina. He continues saying that he agreed with the fighting parties, HVO and BiH Armija that the real cease fire they agreed upon in Zagreb some 10 days back will come in effect on 12.00 hours on the 19th of May (we will see). The meeting, which was planned for tomorrow in Mostar, between Tudjman, Izetbegovic and Boban took place today, half in Split and half in Medjugorje. They of course didn't came by bus, but fly in with separate helicopters. The people in Mostar could leave their houses and shelters again often for the first time in days, as long as the hot shots are in the neighbourhood it is quiet in the town. The meeting took place in the restaurant of the bungalow park in which most of us have had their nice experiences. Nearly a month I have been living down there in bungalow number 22, probably now taken by 3 or 4 Spanish soldiers. The black board on which stood "Spremi Za Dom" (Ready for Home), which was written on it during the time that the bungalows were used as HVO training's place, back in 1991 and kept that way was cleaned for the meeting. If this bungalows could speak they have seen so many different people coming and going. During the press conference in the dark, outside the restaurant, during which Owen spoke those remarkable words I started with today, Tudjman stood in-between him and Vance with a face if he didn't understand a word of what they were saying to the world press. Anyway I wonder if Tudjman speaks and understand english, up to now I never ever saw or hear it. In the crowd behind this trio stood Boban, president of the Croatian Community of Herceg Bosna, desperate to say something as well, but it was again Owen who at a certain moment just before the end of the press conference said "Wait, wait, Mr. Boban also likes to say something". Boban worked his way to the front and said his words, a little chaos, since half of the gathered press didn't understand it and then the translation came "You, the World, know how serious the word of Hercegovinian Croats has to been taken, when we give it, we never break it. We therefore promise ones more that we will keep to the letter the promises we have made today". Anyway this events pump at least the economy of Medjugorje a little up. I don't think that the fights have had a good influence on increase of pilgrims coming back to that place. On the other hand all the international humanitarian organisations, who used to be in Mostar are now in the village and for sure powered up the local cash flow in the restaurants and also all those International journalists are rather not cooking for themselves. During this meeting in Medjugorje I visit the peace centre in Zagreb, when I come in there are also people discussing the situation in Mostar and the role of the Croats in this fights. I sit down in the other room to prepare a computer which will go to Rijeka this week and hear them discussing in the other room. The majority is agree that the should write a strong statement against the Croatia Croatian involvement in the whole thing, some say that the even should say that they should support the BiH armija more. I went before I could the general agreement, but the electronic network has played a role in collecting the information of what went on down there, since besides the small reports taken of the International television nets there hasn't been much said about Croatian influence in the fights on the national media. Not only in Medjugorje there were peace talks today, also in the town of Topusko there were talks who resulted in a cease fire agreement between Croatia and the Serbian people in the UNPA area's (the so-called occupied regions (Krajina and East Slavonia). Thursday at 12 o'clock the cease fire will start. The leader of the Croatian delegation, Mr. Degovicija was enthusiast about the result and said that the "other side" was rather tolerant in their wishes. The resting practical questions will be worked out in special working groups, but those are mainly concerning electricity and the communication infrastructure. The coming days it will become quiet in this area, maybe after all that time this cease fires will hold and we can start building up something again, although the words of Owen are clear and not said after the first or second attempt, I think we are liven through cease fire 160-something at the moment. In Zagreb started an International chess festival, Kasporov arrived on the airport, saying that he was happy to be he and that he was always very sympathetic towards the Croatian case, the name of the festival is "Vukovar '92" and Kasporov will start the festival with a simultan games against 20 Vukovar veterans. The money he would get for coming here he donated to a foundation which is going to help the children of Vukovar, who lost one or both there parents, in honour to Kasporov this foundation will carry his name in the future. Bok I Mir from Zagreb, Wam ------------------------------------------------------ Zagreb Diary can be found on a lot of different electronic networks, it is copyright free and can be ported to any network or other means of communication you like, but please drop my a line, you can reach by sending a message to wam@zamir-zg.comlink.de or wam@zamir-zg.comlink.apc.org. Zagreb Diary is dedicated to Tyche, Pjort and Rik, so that they found out what there father have been doing all that time in Zagreb. Financial support for Grassroot relief work in Croatia or BiH can be send to Kollektief Rampenplan (atn. Lylette, Postbox 780, 6130 AN Sittard, Netherlands, tel:. +31-46-524803 and fax: +31-46-516460 or to Zagrebacka Banka, Zagreb, accountnr.: 2440291594, to Kat, Pieter Jan Herman Fredrik, Brace Domany 6 6fl nr3, 41000 Zagreb. Please notify me if you send or have send any donations. ## CrossPoint v2.1 ##