Nachricht Nummer : 546
Übertragungszeit : 3 min 37 sec
Nachricht von    : WAM@ZAMIR-ZG.ztn.zer.de (Wam)
Antworten an     : wam@zamir-zg.ztn.zer.de
Betrifft         : Zagreb Diary 15 November 1994
Kopienempfänger  : /REG/NEWS/DIARY/WAM, /SOC/CULTURE/YUGOSLAVIA, /SOC/CULTURE/CROATIA, /SOC/CULTURE/BOSNA-HERZGVNA, /CL/EUROPA/BALKAN, /APC/YUGO/ANTIWAR
Erstellungsdatum : 23.11.1994 10:29:00 W+1

Zagreb Diary, 15 November, 1994

Dobar Dan,

Tudjman, the president of Croatia, for those who don't know, if he 
rely has the power that is another question, but not discussed 
now, started today with setting up the tune for the "peace-talks" 
which are going on. The central committee of HDZ (the party with 
the majority of votes in Sabor (parliament) and for a small time the 
democratic replacement of the one party system party, the name 
central committee reminds a lot of those old days) had their 
monthly meeting and Tudjman couldn't resist to say some strong 
and remarkable words. So far as I have translation yet the text of 
his speech could more or less be combined in the following 
words. Up to next week Monday (21st of November) the Serbs 
from Knin have the time to show that they are willing to start relay 
negations, this of course to be decided by the Croatian side, 
Croatia no longer will take part in this peace talk theatre.

If by the 21st no first agreement is made, UNPROFOR will be told 
to leave the country (Croatia, including RSK in this case) before 1 
Jan. 1995 and Croatia will show that it is strong and ready to 
solve their own problems, literally he said that Croatia is now 
strong enough to take full control over the "occupied" territories. 
And not only, so he added in Croatia, but Croatia will do also his 
utmost best to bring the crisis in BiH to an acceptable solution. I 
don't know if he means war, But it surely don't looks like an offer 
for new extensive peace talks. I must be honest and I tried to 
remember when Tudjman for the last time, according to my 
knowledge said something similar. I remember back in January 
'93, during the fights around the Maslenica bridge that he used 
similar type of sentences, also during his triumph visit to 
Hercegovina in those days he expressed similar feelings. But 
those words are more known from the minister of defence or the 
general of the army. I can't remember really Tudjman saying those 
things in public.

Also today in Camp Plesmo, the military part of Zagreb Airport, 
where the main basis from UNPROFOR in Croatia is situated had 
a visit from Knin today. Another talk in the ongoing meetings about 
intregration of RSK in Croatia took place. Or rather about 
normalistion between the two. The delegation from Knin wanted at 
least to separate the ecomical and political points on the agenda. 
It is in their opinion good possible to talk about (re)construction of 
the (economic) infrastructure between the territories under their 
control and the republic of Croatia under control of Zagreb. The 
Croatian governmental delegation however absolutely didn't want 
to make that diversion. So the reports about the meeting on the 
television weren't that positive, although they mentioned that with 
some peace mediation talks done by the Z-4 (the Zagreb four, 
which really 5, besides Owen and Stoltenberg, also the two 
ambassadors of USA and Russia, as well as the UN special 
Envoy) in between the talks could continue. 

The press release from the Z-4 themselves was a lot more 
positive about what has happened today. Their report talked 
about new agreements. According to them both side have 
agreed to restore water supplies, repairing the electricity grid 
between the two side, opening up the highway in UNPA West and 
East and even opening up the oil pipe line through the Northern 
Knin area. The electricity grid, water and highway are things which 
we are hearing now for as long as I am here. Like restoring the 
telephone connections between Serbia and Croatia, since last 
year January this should be done in a matter of days. 

I am not so surprised to be honest that suddenly a lot of "former 
soldiers", who are now, at least some of them, redrafted are trying 
to get out of the country. When last summer the first one asked 
me what his changes were to get political asylum abroad I took it 
more as a late joke, nearly three years after the fighting's. But in 
the last weeks more and more friends are asking if there are still 
countries around the world with open doors. We keep hearing that 
more and more European countries are starting repatriating 
refugees from at least Croatia by just sending them here (home 
would have been the wrong thing to say, since it is obvious that 
they are returning to a different Croatia than from where they flee). 
So on the one hand you get questions from abroad how the living 
possibilities would be for a young former police agent, who has 
obvious Serbian ethnically nationality in an area in Zagreb where 
in the last 3 years a lot of Diaspora people from Kosovo and else 
where. And on the other if in Europe there would be a country 
which gives a shelter for a former commander of the Croatian 
National Guards.

Both answers are not really positive, I wouldn't advise that police 
agent to return, but in this case he has not much chances to 
country where he had shelter is throwing him out. He is from 
Zagreb and Zagreb is safe. And yes Zagreb is safe, only in some 
situation you shouldn't try to find out how safe it is, if you get the 
meaning. And knowing Europe a bit I don't see much countries 
taking in former soldiers who decided in the last year to desert all 
future army duties. At least not if they come from Zagreb, since 
Zagreb is safe. How safe Zagreb will be if it comes to new 
fighting's and this people get called up not as they reacted 3 
years ago to defend their homes, but now to really attack and 
liberate parts of Croatia, which with they have no emotional 
connection, and won't go, I don't know.  But I also have to be 
honest and say that up to now not anything real serious has 
happened towards people who didn't responded on the draft the 
last 3 years, and that is still at least 30% in Zagreb.

Mir za somewhere in or around Hrvatska,

							Wam
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