Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
92ZAGREB2586
1992-12-03 15:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CGY001: THE UGLY VIRUS OF MORAL SYMMETRY -

Tags:  PREF PHUM HR BK 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.


 CONFIDENTIAL


 CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02586 01 OF 03 041600Z
 COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1175
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 02586 

SIPDIS


GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH
-
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
-
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: CGY001: THE UGLY VIRUS OF MORAL SYMMETRY -
- WHO IS DOING THE "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN B-H?

REF: A) BELGRADE 12505 (NOTAL); B) ZAGREB 2554

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 02586

SIPDIS


GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH
-
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
-
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: CGY001: THE UGLY VIRUS OF MORAL SYMMETRY -
- WHO IS DOING THE "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN B-H?

REF: A) BELGRADE 12505 (NOTAL); B) ZAGREB 2554


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

--------------
SUMMARY COMMENT
--------------


2. WE ARE FRANKLY APPALLED BY THE THRICE-REPEATED
CLAIM IN REF A THAT THE EVENTS IN AND AROUND PROZOR
OVER 6 WEEKS AGO CONSTITUTE HARD EVIDENCE OF PAST AND
LIKELY FUTURE CROATIAN ETHNIC CLEANSING IN BOSNIA.
FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, THIS PERSISTENT ALLEGATION
IS DANGEROUSLY DISTRACTING. AND PLAINLY INACCURATE
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02586 01 OF 03 041600Z
IN FACT. END SUMMARY COMMENT.


3. WE ARE TROUBLED BY THE IMPLICATION THROUGHOUT
REF A THAT THE FLIGHT OF ANY NUMBER OF PERSONS OF ANY
ETHNIC GROUP IN B-H UNDER ANY ACTUAL OR FEARED THREAT
FROM MEMBERS OF ANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP CONSTITUTES,
IPSO FACTO, "ETHNIC CLEANSING." TO APPLY THIS VERY
EVOCATIVE TERM IN SUCH A MANNER IN OUR VIEW DEBASES
ITS CONSIDERABLE USEFULNESS. THROUGHOUT THE LONG,
WRENCHING SAGA OF YUGOSLAVIA'S BREAKUP, THE LEAP FROM
SIMPLE RECOGNITION THAT NO SIDE IS WITHOUT BLAME TO
THE POLICY-STULTIFYING CONCLUSION OF VIRTUAL MORAL
EQUIVALENCE HAS BEEN MADE FAR TOO OFTEN AND TOO
QUICKLY. AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND, WE LAUD THE FACT
THAT USG SPOKESMEN HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR
ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN
BOSNIA. AND WE THINK THE USG CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THE
LEADING ROLE IT HAS PLAYED BOTH IN PUSHING FOR A WAR
CRIMES TRIBUNAL TO IDENTIFY THE GUILTY (ON ANY SIDE)
AND IN ASSEMBLING EVIDENCE TO ASSIST IN THAT PROCESS.
CONTINUATION OF THIS USG CLEAR-HEADEDNESS WILL BE
VITAL, WE BELIEVE, IF WE ARE TO COUNTER REPORTED
SIGNALS FROM LORD OWEN, AMONG OTHERS, THAT TALK OF
WAR CRIMES TRIBUNALS MAY NEED TO BE MUTED IN THE
INTEREST OF FOSTERING POLITICAL COMPROMISE IN B-H
INVOLVING POTENTIALLY GUILTY PARTIES.


4. BASED ON THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US, IT IS
THE CONCLUSION OF ALL INTERESTED ELEMENTS OF THIS

EMBASSY THAT CROATIAN FORCES IN BOSNIA HAVE NOT
ENGAGED IN ETHNIC CLEANSING -- EITHER AS A MATTER OF
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02586 01 OF 03 041600Z
POLICY DIRECTED BY SENIOR LEADERS OR AS A WIDESPREAD
PRACTICE ON THE GROUND. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT IN
ISOLATED INSTANCES IN B-H MUSLIMS AND SERBS HAVE NOT
FLED IN THE FACE OF CROATIAN ARMS. NOR IS IT TO


CONFIDENTIAL









NNNN

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02586 02 OF 03 041602Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00
ANHR-01 CISA-02 EB-01 CSCE-00 FDRE-01 HA-09 H-01
INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02
PA-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SP-00
SR-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 FMP-00 /063W
-------------- 825F69 050505Z /21
P 031553Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2949
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2556
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02586 02 OF 03 041602Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1176

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 02586

SIPDIS


GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH
-
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
-
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: CGY001: THE UGLY VIRUS OF MORAL SYMMETRY -
- WHO IS DOING THE "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN B-H?

ARGUE THAT CERTAIN CROATIAN ELEMENTS, NOTABLY HOS,
DID NOT ENGAGE IN ISOLATED CRIMES AS HEINOUS AS SOME
OF THOSE ROUTINELY COMMITTED BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES.
BUT WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF CROATIAN FORCES ENGAGING
IN ETHNIC CLEANSING AS THAT TERM IS NOW USEFULLY
APPLIED TO THE CONCLUSIVELY-DOCUMENTED BOSNIAN SERB
PRACTICE OF: BOMBARDING A VILLAGE FROM AFAR, ENTERING
IT IN A SHOWY DISPLAY OF MILITARY FORCE, IMMEDIATELY
COMMITTING SUCH TERRORIZING PUBLIC ATROCITIES AS
SLITTING A DOZEN OR SO PERSONS' THROATS ON THEIR
DOORSTEP AND RAPING A YOUNG GIRL OR TWO IN FRONT OF
THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHER TOWNSFOLK IN THE PUBLIC
SQUARE, THEN TRANSPORTING THE MEN AND BOYS TO TORTURE
AND DEATH CAMPS AND THE WOMEN AND GIRLS TO SERBIAN
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02586 02 OF 03 041602Z
MILITARY BROTHELS. ANYONE WHO HAS READ THE ACCOUNTS
OF THE SERBIAN DEATH CAMP SURVIVORS WILL KNOW THAT
THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE.
-

5. CULPABILITY FOR THE EVENTS IN NOVI TRAVNIK AND
PROZOR IN MID-OCTOBER IS DISPUTED. THE CROATS CLAIM
TO HAVE RADIO INTERCEPT "PROOF" OF ORDERS GIVEN BY
RADICAL MUSLIM ELEMENTS TO KILL CROATS. THERE ARE
OTHER REPORTS OF BATTLE CRIES FROM CROATIAN ELEMENTS
TO KILL MUSLIMS. AND THE AFTERMATH INDICATES THAT
MUSLIM CIVILIANS DID SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY.
NOTWITHSTANDING WHO IS MORE GUILTY FOR THIS BOUT OF
CROATIAN/MUSLIM MADNESS, BOTH SIDES ARE PAINFULLY
AWARE THAT IT CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THE FALL OF
JAJCE. IN THE WAKE OF THAT TRAGEDY, IZETBEGOVIC AND
TUDJMAN SAY THEY HAVE CLEARED THE AIR, AND CROATIAN
AND MUSLIM FORCES APPEAR TO HAVE REESTABLISHED A
MODICUM OF CIVILITY AND COOPERATION IN MILITARY
ACTIONS. ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT AWARE OF SUBSEQUENT
"PROZORS," NONE OF THIS IS TO SAY THAT THERE WON'T BE
OTHER CROATIAN/MUSLIM SKIRMISHES FROM WHICH MUSLIMS
AND/OR CROATS MAY FLEE. IT IS TO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT
BY NO REASONABLE STRETCH OF MIND OR LANGUAGE DOES
"PROZOR" CONSTITUTE EVIDENCE OF CROATIAN ETHNIC
CLEANSING, LET ALONE A LIKELIHOOD OF "CONTINUED"
CROATIAN ETHNIC CLEANSING.


6. THE PERVERSE IRONY IN THIS TIRESOME CHARGE IS
EVIDENT IN WHAT UNHCR SPECIAL ENVOY MENDILUCE TOLD
EUR/EE DIRECTOR HABIB NOV 20. MENDILUCE OBSERVED
THAT SOME 350,000 MUSLIMS ARE NOW LIVING OR SHELTERING
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02586 02 OF 03 041602Z
IN CROATIAN-DEFENDED B-H (IN ADDITION TO THE OVER
350,000 B-H MUSLIM REFUGEES IN CROATIA). MENDILUCE
NOTED THAT ONE OF THE KEY PROBLEMS WITH THE BOSNIAN
CROATS WAS THEIR APPARENT DETERMINATION TO KEEP OUT


CONFIDENTIAL









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CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02586 03 OF 03 041604Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00
ANHR-01 CISA-02 EB-01 CSCE-00 FDRE-01 HA-09 H-01
INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02
PA-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SP-00
SR-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 FMP-00 /063W
-------------- 825F7A 050507Z /21
P 031553Z DEC 92
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2950
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2557
CONFIDENTIAL


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02586 03 OF 03 041604Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1177

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 02586

SIPDIS


GENEVA FOR USDEL ICFY - JACKOVICH
-
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
-
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: CGY001: THE UGLY VIRUS OF MORAL SYMMETRY -
- WHO IS DOING THE "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN B-H?

THE VAST NUMBER OF SERB-GENERATED MUSLIM REFUGEES
SEEKING TO FLEE DISPUTED OR B-H GOV'T-DEFENDED
TERRITORY FOR THE RELATIVE SECURITY OF BOSNIAN
CROAT-DEFENDED TURF. THIS PRACTICE, ESPECIALLY IF IT
PERSISTS, WILL WARRANT GREATER ATTENTION, AS WILL
REPORTED SPORADIC CROATIAN BLOCKAGES OF RELIEF
CONVOYS. BUT IT STANDS ON ITS HEAD THE ALLEGATION
THAT CROATS ARE NOW ENGAGED IN ETHNIC CLEANSING OF
MUSLIMS IN B-H.

NEITZKE



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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02586 03 OF 03 041604Z
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