CROATIAN-SERBIAN BORDER DEMILITARIZED

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001320 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL HR SR SUBJECT: CROATIAN-SERBIAN BORDER DEMILITARIZED ¶1. Over ten years after the Dayton Agreement ended armed conflict between Croatia and Serbia, Serbian troops have withdrawn from the Croatian-Serbian state border and handed control over to the police at a ceremony attended by Croatian and Serbian military and diplomatic officials. The Chief of the Croatian General Staff, Gen. Josip Lusic, attended the October 30 transfer of authority from the Serbian Army to the Ministry of Interior. The Croatian press reported that Serbian Army officers at the ceremony, including Serbian Army Chief of Staff Zdravko Ponos, stressed the constantly improving nature of bilateral relations and cooperation. ¶2. COMMENT: Croatian border police have controlled the Croatian side of the 260-km border since independence, and welcome the transition to civilian law enforcement on the Serbian side. The change bodes well for improved operational cooperation and the regional effort to secure borders against trafficking and other illegal trade. END COMMENT Bradtke