ZAGREB UPDATE: JUNE 23, 1992

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 01028 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - DEPT PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC HR SUBJECT: ZAGREB UPDATE: JUNE 23, 1992 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. THE OSIJEK MAYOR THREATENED TO RESIGN IF THE MILITARY DOES NOT POLICE UP LAWLESS ELEMENTS WITHIN ITS RANKS. THE MOD AGAIN DENIED THAT CROATIAN UNITS ARE FIGHTING IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA. VP MESIC CALLED ON HDZ CROATS IN B-H TO COOPERATE WITH ALL POLITICAL UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01028 01 OF 03 231446Z PARTIES. THE PAKRAC COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS RETURNED TO ITS SEAT AFTER A NINE MONTH EXILE. DUBROVNIK AND SURROUNDING REGIONS WERE SHELLED OVER THE WEEKEND. SLOVENIAN RTV DIRECTOR RESIGNED AFTER COMPLAINING OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE. END SUMMARY. OSIJEK MAYOR KRAMARIC THREATENS RESIGNATION -------------- ¶2. THE YOUNG AND DYNAMIC MAYOR OF THE EMBATTLED CROATIAN TOWN OF OSIJEK, ZLATKO KRAMARIC, COMPLAINED TO A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE LOCAL MILITARY POLICE ARE FAILING TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIMINAL ELEMENTS WHO HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE ARMY. HE CITED A RECENT CAR BOMBING WHICH KILLED A YOUNG CROAT MAN AS THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE OF A GROWING LAWLESS TREND IN THE TOWN. HE SAID THAT IF THE MILITARY POLICE WILL NOT PREVENT CRIMES CARRIED OUT BY ARMED RENEGADES DRESSED IN UNIFORMS, HE WILL BE OBLIGED TO SUBMIT HIS RESIGNATION. KRAMARIC HAD ASKED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE MILITARY POLICE AND MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR, SO FAR WITHOUT RESULT, GET RID OF THOSE CRIMINALS WHO ARE BURNING HOUSES, SHOPS, AND CARS. ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR, THE ARMED FORCES DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE RECRUITMENT OF PEOPLE WITH AN UNSAVORY BACKGROUND, AND THESE PERSONS NOW TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR UNIFORMS AND WEAPONS TO CARRY OUT CRIMINAL ACTS. - CROATIAN MOD DENIES ITS UNITS ARE IN B-H -------------- UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01028 01 OF 03 231446Z ¶3. THE CROATIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE HAS ISSUED ANOTHER DENIAL THAT ITS UNITS ARE ENGAGED IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA. THE MOD NOTED, AS IT HAS PREVIOUSLY, THAT A NUMBER OF DEMOBILIZED MEMBERS OF UNCLASSIFIED ; NNNN UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01028 02 OF 03 231447Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CEA-01 CIAE-00 PFIP-01 CTME-00 C-01 DODE-00 ITCE-00 CISA-02 DS-00 EAP-01 EB-01 EXME-00 E-01 FRB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ITC-01 JUSE-00 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-08 PA-02 PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SSO-00 SS-01 STR-20 T-01 /106W -------------- 42181E 231448Z /38 O 221444Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1214 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE USIA WASHDC 1673 USDOC WASHDC AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01028 02 OF 03 231447Z AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0554 USMISSION GENEVA DEPTTREASURY WASHDC UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 01028 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - DEPT PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC HR SUBJECT: ZAGREB UPDATE: JUNE 23, 1992 THE CROATIAN ARMY WHO ARE CITIZENS OF B-H HAD RETURNED TO DEFEND THEIR HOMETOWNS. THE MINISTRY INVITED INTERESTED JOURNALISTS TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER WITH THE MINISTRY'S ASSISTANCE. LOCAL SOURCES CLAIM THAT SOME, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL, OF THE CONFUSION REVOLVES AROUND ARM PATCH IDENTIFICATIONS. IN CROATIAN, THE MILITARY PATCHES CARRY AN "HV" FOR "HRVATSKA VOJSKA" (CROATIAN ARMY). UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01028 02 OF 03 231447Z SOME B-H UNITS COMPOSED OF CROATIAN NATIONALITY DEFENDERS CARRY ARMS PATCHES "HVO," WHICH IS "HRVATSKO VIJECE OBRANE" (CROATIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL). SIGHTINGS OF THESE PATCHES ON THE B-H FRONT, OR PERHAPS EVEN ON DEMOBILIZED FORMER-HV BOSNIAN SOLDIERS WHO KEPT THEIR ORIGINAL "HV" PATCHES FOR PERSONAL REASONS, GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT CROATIAN ARMY UNITS ARE PRESENT IN STRENGTH IN BOSNIA-HERCEGOVNIA. MESIC IN LJUBUSKI CALLS FOR CROAT/B-H COOPERATION -------------- -------------- ¶4. STIPE MESIC, PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE RULING HDZ (CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION),WHICH INCLUDES "OFF-SHORE" BRANCHES, VISITED LJUBUSKI (HERCEGOVINA) TO DISCUSS THE RELATIONSHIP OF HDZ TO OTHER PARTIES IN B-H. MESIC CALLED ON THE HDZ TO IMPROVE ITS EFFORTS TO WORK WITH OTHER POLITICAL GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY. HE LAMENTED THE RECENT ARMED CLASH BEWTEEN THE "HVO" (CROATIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL) UNITS AND THE "TO" (B-H TERRITORIAL DEFENSE) UNITS WHICH RESULTED IN TEN INJURED. MESIC ALSO STOPPED IN MEDJUGORJE WHERE HE MET WITH AMERICAN AND FRENCH PILGRIMS WHO WERE AT THE CATHOLIC SHRINE TO CELEBRATE THE ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HOLY VIRGIN. - LIFE RETURNS TO PAKRAC -------------- UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01028 02 OF 03 231447Z ¶5. ON JUNE 23, THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE POR PAKRAC COUNTY (UNPROPOR SECTOR WEST) RETURNED TO THE TOWN APTER NINE MONTHS OF EXILE. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE RETURN OP REFUGEES TO THE TWELVE TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN THIS AREA. RESETTLEMENT WILL BE UNCLASSIFIED NNNN UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01028 03 OF 03 231449Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CEA-01 CIAE-00 PFIP-01 CTME-00 C-01 DODE-00 ITCE-00 CISA-02 DS-00 EAP-01 EB-01 EXME-00 E-01 FRB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ITC-01 JUSE-00 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NEA-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-08 PA-02 PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SIL-01 SNP-01 SP-01 SR-01 SSO-00 SS-01 STR-20 T-01 /106W -------------- 421855 231450Z /38 O 221444Z JUN 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1215 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE USIA WASHDC 1674 USDOC WASHDC AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KIEV AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG AMEMBASSY MADRID AMCONSUL MILAN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01028 03 OF 03 231449Z AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL MUNICH AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0555 USMISSION GENEVA DEPTTREASURY WASHDC UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 01028 SIPDIS VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSBM; ISLAMABAD FOR POL/JPOGUE - DEPT PASS TO AID FOR EUR/RME AND FHA/OFDA/DRD - E.O. 12356:N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC PREL ECON EFIN PHUM MOPS EC HR SUBJECT: ZAGREB UPDATE: JUNE 23, 1992 NEITHER FAST NOR EASY. NEARLY 90 PERCENT OP THE HOUSES ARE DESTROYED OR DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO OFPICIAL SOURCES, SOME 1,500 INHABITANTS OP PAKRAC, LIPIK AND PREKOPAKRA, HAVE ALREADY RETURNED ON THEIR OWN. THE GLASS PACTORY IN PAKRAC HAS STARTED PRODUCTION BUT AT A REDUCED CAPACITY BECAUSE OF WAR DAMAGE. THE BOTTLING OP THE WELL KNOWN MINERAL WATER "LIPICKI STUDENAC" WILL BE RESUMED AT THE BEGINNING UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01028 03 OF 03 231449Z OP NEXT MONTH. UPDATE ON DUBROVNIK -------------- ¶6. ACCORDING TO THE ZAGREB PRESS, DURING THE WEEKEND JNA/SERB SHELLING RESULTED IN SIGNIPICANT DAMAGE TO HISTORICAL BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE CHURCHES OP ST. JOSEPH AND ST. VLAHO, THE ORTHODOX CHURCH, AS WELL AS THE FRANCISCAN AND DOMINICAN MONASTERIES, PALACE SPONZA, THE MUSICAL SCHOOL, AND MANY HOUSES ON STRADUN (THE OLDEST STREET IN DUBROVNIK). EXPLOSIVES PELL ALSO ON OTHER PARTS OP DUBROVNIK, PLOCE AND PILE. THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT IN DUBROVNIK ON JUNE 23, TOLD US THAT JNA/SERB PORCES SHELLED THE OUTSKIRTS OF DUBROVNIK, RIJEKA DUBROVACKA, AND MOKOSICA ON JUNE ¶22. ACCORDING TO HIS INFORMATION, IT WAS QUIET THIS MORNING IN THE DUBROVNIK AREA. SLOVENIAN RTV DIRECTOR RESIGNED -------------- ¶7. ON JUNE 19, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE SLOVENIAN RADIO AND TV, JANEZ JEROVSEK, SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION. ACCORDING TO JEROVSEK, THE INFLUENCE OF "THE LEADING PARTY" (PRIME MINISTER DRNOVSEK'S LIBERAL DEMOCRATS) ON TV AND RADIO IS SO STRONG THAT IT RENDERS "IMPOSSIBLE" REGULAR WORK. HE ACCUSED DRNOVSEK'S LIBERAL DEMOCRATS OF USING THE MASS MEDIA TO START THEIR RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. RTV COUNCIL MEMBER, PAVLE GANTAR, COUNTERED THAT JEROVSEK'S UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01028 03 OF 03 231449Z ACCUSATION OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE WAS RAISED IN ORDER TO HIDE THE ACTUAL ECONOMIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL DIFFICULTIES OF SLOVENIAN TV. EINIK UNCLASSIFIED NNNN